A Storm By Any Other Name

Photo By Max LaRochelle on Unsplash

When the skies turn grey and the clouds roll over the horizon, bringing with them a low rumble and the occasional flash of lightning, what comes to mind? Do you envision the inevitable downpour of rain washing over the earth? Or do you envision a great deity with a lightning bolt in his hand? 

I can tell you honestly that I often imagine the latter. There is something about the chaotic energy of a storm that I have always been fascinated by. Is it any wonder that I have chosen to share the stories of two of the most well-known storm deities, Zeus and Thor? 

I’ll let you in on a secret: there’s more to them than meets the eye. Beyond the lightning, beyond the thunder, there is justice, protection, and strength. 

Let’s dive in, shall we?

Zeus: Dispenser of Justice

“Zeus with Hera expelling Hephaestus” by Gaetana Gandolfi

First and foremost, we have Zeus. He is the king and patriarch of the gods. He was positioned at the head of the Greek pantheon and was a weather deity, which included being a god of thunder, lightning, wind and rain. Through his control of the weather, he would provide signs and omens to both the other deities and the mortals who lived on the earth below.

Let us consider Zeus in his role as a punisher. Did you know that, according to some myths, Zeus had the Titans — children of heaven (Uranus) and earth (Gaea) — imprisoned because they disrespected him? That is not somebody I want to mess with.

In the world of mortals, he is seen as a god who dispenses justice. It is said that at his feet, there are two jars; these are the Jars of Fate. One is meant for good and the other evil and he would dispense both with careful thought. 

I think that this makes him a protector as well. To some, he is a protector of cities, homes, and strangers. From my understanding, he is an all-seeing god who sits on the summit of Olympus and observes the human world. From his place atop the mountain (a logical place for a weather god), he is can dispense justice as he sees fit. 

So, despite his association as a weather god, it turns out that he’s responsible for a lot more than the conjuration of storms.

Thor: Defender of Asgard and Slayer of Giants

Tor's Fight with the Giants by Marten Eskil Winge

As for Thor, his story is a little different. We all know him from Marvel’s Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth, but he is more than a handsome face who wields a magical hammer.

Thor, as you may already know, is the Norse god of thunder. He is also thought of as the god of the sky and agriculture. His father is Odin, the all-father, and his mother is Jord. Jord is the embodiment of the earth and one of Odin’s consorts. Part of Thor’s responsibilities includes defending Asgard (the realm of the Aesir) and Midgard (the realm of humans). 

He has three items that aid him in his protection of these realms: Mjolnir (his magic hammer), Megingjord (his belt of strength), and a pair of iron gloves that help him wield Mjolnir. 

You may have picked up on the ways in which Thor is a protector god, like Zeus. His protection often comes in the form of slaying giants, which is no small feat. He is also sometimes linked with natural phenomena such as thunder. When thunder rolls across the skies, it is said to be the rumbling sound of Thor’s chariot wheels as he rides across the heavens. 

However, like most of the Norse deities, Thor is destined to die at Ragnarok. If you don’t know, Ragnarok is the so-called end of the world. During this battle, Thor will fall after he kills Jormungand the Great Serpent using Mjolnir.

Even though his destiny is interwoven with the end of the world, I think that his story is still fascinating.

Rumbling Thunder

What I love the most about both deities, is that they are made out to be more than simply storm gods. Both are protectors, warriors. 

Maybe the next time you hear thunder rumbling in the distance, you will think of Thor in his great chariot. Or if you see lightning flash across the skies, you will think of Zeus atop his mountain, overlooking our mortal world. 

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Sarah Clarke

Sarah is a 20-something aspiring author who has a passion for writing. She is also an avid fan of movies, TV shows, video games, and of course, books. Her favourite genres include fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction, and various others. Why have one favourite when you can have many?