The Divine Thunderbolt

About the Book

The divine thunderbolt is one of the most ancient and pervasive religio-folkloric symbols of the human race. The divine thunderbolt—a sudden, never-missing missile of supernatural fire—has been a universal worldwide phenomenon since prehistoric times. Some thunderbolt motifs were indigenous to a given locale; others can be traced to far-distant lands. This volume will examine the development and dispersion of symbols, folklore, and religious aspects of such a divinely generated thunderbolt, focusing on the Near East and Europe. Emphasis will be placed on the thunderbolt-wielding sky gods, their thunder weapons and the graphic symbols for them, and the role of the supernatural thunderbolt in magic, religion, myth, superstition, and folklore.

About the Author

Jane T. Sibley, Ph.D. (author) is a specialist in Norse mythology, folklore, and runes. She did part of her work at the University of Oslo, and currently teaches and writes. This is her first published book, although more are on the way. Joel A. Leib (illustrator) has taught at the Bradley Academy for the Visual Arts since 1994. His work has also been seen in Harley training manuals, McMillan Publishers/Progressive Typographers, and the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center, to name a few. Both of us have had fun exploring a humorous side of Norse mythology.