All You Need To Know About Lightning

Myths and Mythology

    Let's get stated with myths.

        Some people think that if it is not raining, you cannot get hit by lightning...Wrong

            Lightning can strike as far as 10 miles away from rainfall.

        It is thought that rubber between you and the ground would help protect you...Wrong

            Rubber tires or rubber-soled shoes do not protect you in the least.

        If a person is struck by lightning, you should not touch them due to an electrical charge...Wrong

            Victims do not carry a charge and should be treated immediately with CPR and first aid as needed.

        Lightning comes down from the sky...Wrong

            Lightning goes in both direction.  It comes from the sky and up from the ground.

        A person struck by lightning bursts into flames...Wrong

            They may have burn marks and their cloths may be smoking and singed but that is all.

        Lightning doesn't strike the same place twice...Wrong

            Lightning strikes the same place twice or usually more in one bolt that we see.

    Now on to my favorite...Mythology.  The ancient people of different civilizations had Gods or Goddess and worship this phenomenon.  Many of them believed that thunder was the primary and lightning the secondary.  We have come to see it the other way around.

       In Greek, Zeus is the supreme ruler.  He was Lord of the Sky, the Rain-god and the                      Cloud-gatherer, who wielded the awful thunder-bolt.  The Greeks worshipped him because rain was an        important necessity for agriculture, but feared his random lightning strikes.1

        The Romans had the same god except he was called Jupiter.1

        In Norse the god is Thor.  Thor controls the sky, thunder and lightning.1

        The Japanese has a god whose name is Susanowo.  This is a spiteful storm god of Shinto belief.  He was God of tempest.  Instead of looking after the oceans, Susanowo just hung around in heaven and on earth, causing trouble wherever he went.  He uprooted trees, destroyed rice paddies, and knocked down buildings.  Some believe he and his powerful storms are still causing mischief on earth.1

        The Egyptian god is Set also known as Seth.  He is lord of the desert and god of storms, confusion, and destruction.1

        The Aztec had a god named Tlaloc.  This fearsome god was the bringer not only of beneficial rain but of storms, killing lightning bolts, flood, and disease.2

        In Babylonian they have Enlil.  A god of the wind.  Enlil acted as Anu's enforcer, destroying mortal cities that refuses to pay tribute and enemies with lightning, hurricanes, and tornadoes.2

        India has a god of storms and warriors.  His name is Indra.2

        Persians god is Vayu.  He is god of the winds.  Vayu controls the winds, storms and lightning.2

        The Brule Sioux Indians god is Wakinyan Tanka.  The great Thunderbird.  There are also four large, old Thunderbirds, one for each direction - north, east, south, west.  They are wrapped in robes of dark clouds.  Their symbol is the zigzag lightning, forked at the ends.  If you lie, the Wakinyan will kill you with their lightning bolts.  so the Sioux believe the thunderbirds stand for rain, fire, and the truth.3

        The Miwok Indians believe that whenever the fawn girls known as Thunders, ran around in the sky they made rain and hail fall.  The sound of thunder was made from the two fawn girls running with the dried bear skin who tried to eat them.  The pieces of skin crackled loudly to make thunder.3

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   1.   The Illustrated Book Of Myths by Neil Philip.

   2.    Rifts Conversion Book Two: Pantheons of the Megaverse by C. J. Carella.

   3.    American Indian Myths and Legends by  Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz.