Weather god explained

A weather god or goddess, also frequently known as a storm god or goddess, is a deity in mythology associated with weather phenomena such as thunder, snow, lightning, rain, wind, storms, tornadoes, and hurricanes. Should they only be in charge of one feature of a storm, they will be called after that attribute, such as a rain god or a lightning/thunder god. This singular attribute might then be emphasized more than the generic, all-encompassing term "storm god", though with thunder/lightning gods, the two terms seem interchangeable. They feature commonly in polytheistic religions, especially in Proto-Indo-European ones.

Storm gods are most often conceived of as wielding thunder and/or lightning (some lightning gods' names actually mean "thunder",[1] [2] [3] but since one cannot have thunder without lightning, they presumably wielded both). The ancients didn't seem to differentiate between the two, which is presumably why both the words "lightning bolt" and "thunderbolt" exist despite being synonyms. Of the examples currently listed storm themed deities are more frequently depicted as male, but both male and female storm or other rain, wind, or weather deities are described.

Africa and the Middle East

Sub-Sahara Africa

Afroasiatic Middle East

Canaanite

Egyptian

Mesopotamian

Western Eurasia

Albanian

Balto-Slavic

Celtic

Germanic

Greco-Roman

Western Asia

Anatolian-Caucasian

Hindu-Vedic

Persian-Zoroastrian

Uralic

Asia-Pacific / Oceania

Chinese

Filipino

Japanese

Vietnamese

Oceania

Native Americas

Central America, South America and the Caribbean

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Scheffer, Johannes (1674). The History of Lapland. Oxford
  2. Eesti Keele Instituut (Eesti Teaduste Akadeemia); Eesti Rahvaluule Arhiiv (1 January 2004). Folklore: electronic journal of folklore. The Institute. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  3. Orel (2003:429)
  4. Paul-Marie Duval. 2002. Les Dieux de la Gaule. Paris, Éditions Payot.
  5. Orel (2003:429)
  6. Wilson, L. L. (1947). Ilongot Life and Legends. Southeast Asia Institute.
  7. Llamzon, Teodoro A. 1978. Handbook of Philippine language groups. Quezon City, Philippines: Ateneo de Manila University Press.
  8. Jocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House Inc.
  9. Jocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House Inc.
  10. Eugenio, D. L. (2013). Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press
  11. San Agustín, G. (1998). Conquistas de las Islas Filipinas, 1565–1615 (Spanish Edition): Bilingual ed edition. San Agustin Museum.
  12. Filipino Heritage: The metal age in the Philippines (1977). Manila: Lahing Pilipino Pub.
  13. Fox, R. B. (1982). Religion and Society Among the Tagbanuas of Palawan Island, Philippines. Manila: National Museum.
  14. Filipino Heritage: The metal age in the Philippines (1977). Manila: Lahing Pilipino Pub.
  15. Fox, R. B. (1982). Religion and Society Among the Tagbanuas of Palawan Island, Philippines. Manila: National Museum.
  16. Unabia, C. C. (1986). THe Bukidnon Batbatonon and Pamuhay: A Socio-Literary Study. Quezon City : UP Press.
  17. Jocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House Inc.
  18. Jocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House Inc.
  19. Jocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House Inc.
  20. Jocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House Inc.
  21. Jocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House Inc.