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.
Perkūnas, Baltic god of thunder, rain, mountains, and oak trees. Servant of the creator god Dievas.
Perun, Slavic god of thunder and lightning and king of the gods
Celtic
Taranis, Celtic god of thunder, often depicted with a wheel as well as a thunderbolt[4]
Germanic
Freyr, Norse god of agriculture, medicine, fertility, sunshine, summer, abundance, and rain
Thor, Norse god of thunder/lightning, oak trees, protection, strength, and hallowing. Also Thunor and Donar, the Anglo-Saxon and Continental Germanic versions, respectively, of him. All descend from Common Germanic *Thunraz, the reflex of the PIE thunder god for this language branch of the Indo-Europeans.[5]
Anitun Tauo, the Sambal goddess of wind and rain who was reduced in rank by Malayari for her conceit[8]
Anitun Tabu, the Tagalog goddess of wind and rain and daughter of Idianale and Dumangan[9]
Bulan-hari, one of the Tagalog deities sent by Bathala to aid the people of Pinak; can command rain to fall; married to Bitu-in[10]
Santonilyo, a Bisaya deity who brings rain when its image is immersed at sea[11]
Diwata Kat Sidpan, a Tagbanwa deity who lives in the western region called Sidpan;[12] controls the rains[13]
Diwata Kat Libatan, a Tagbanwa deity who lives in the eastern region called Babatan;[14] controls the rain[15]
Diwata na Magbabaya, simply referred as Magbabaya, the good Bukidnon supreme deity and supreme planner who looks like a man; created the earth and the first eight elements, namely bronze, gold, coins, rock, clouds, rain, iron, and water; using the elements, he also created the sea, sky, moon, and stars; also known as the pure god who wills all things; one of three deities living in the realm called Banting[16]
Anit: also called Anitan; the Manobo guardian of the thunderbolt[17]
Guabancex, top Taíno storm goddess; the Lady of the Winds who also dishes out earthquakes and other natural disasters.
Guatauva, Taíno god of thunder and lightning who is also responsible for rallying the other storm gods.
Huari, Pre-Incan god of water, rain, lightning, agriculture and war. After a period of time, he was identified as a giant god of war, sun, water and agriculture.
Huracán, K'iche Maya god of the weather, wind, storms, and fire.
Illapa, Inca god of lightning, thunder, rain and war. He is considered one of the most important and powerful Inca gods.
Juracán, Taíno zemi or deity of chaos and disorder believed to control the weather, particularly hurricanes.
Kon, Inca god of wind and rain. Kon is also a creator god.
Pachakamaq, Inca god of earthquakes, fire, the clouds and sky. Commonly described as a reissue of Wiracocha. He was one of the most important Inca gods, as well as he is considered the creator god of the universe and controller of the balance of the world.
Paryaqaqa, Pre-Incan god of water, torrential rains, storms and lightning. Regional variant of the god Illapa.
Tupã, the Guaraní god of thunder and light. Creator of the universe.
Wiracocha, the Inca and Pre-Incan god of everything. Absolute creator of the entire Cosmos, as well as everything in existence. Considered the father of all the Inca gods and supreme god of the Inca pantheon. Wiracocha was associated with the sun, lightning, and storms.
Yana Raman, Pre-Incan god of lightning. Considered creator by the Yaros or Llacuaces ethnic group. Regional variant of the god Illapa.
^Scheffer, Johannes (1674). The History of Lapland. Oxford
^Eesti Keele Instituut (Eesti Teaduste Akadeemia); Eesti Rahvaluule Arhiiv (1 January 2004). Folklore: electronic journal of folklore. The Institute. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
^Wilson, L. L. (1947). Ilongot Life and Legends. Southeast Asia Institute.
^Llamzon, Teodoro A. 1978. Handbook of Philippine language groups. Quezon City, Philippines: Ateneo de Manila University Press.
^Jocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House Inc.
^Jocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House Inc.
^Eugenio, D. L. (2013). Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press
^San Agustín, G. (1998). Conquistas de las Islas Filipinas, 1565–1615 (Spanish Edition): Bilingual ed edition. San Agustin Museum.
^Filipino Heritage: The metal age in the Philippines (1977). Manila: Lahing Pilipino Pub.
^Fox, R. B. (1982). Religion and Society Among the Tagbanuas of Palawan Island, Philippines. Manila: National Museum.
^Filipino Heritage: The metal age in the Philippines (1977). Manila: Lahing Pilipino Pub.
^Fox, R. B. (1982). Religion and Society Among the Tagbanuas of Palawan Island, Philippines. Manila: National Museum.
^Unabia, C. C. (1986). THe Bukidnon Batbatonon and Pamuhay: A Socio-Literary Study. Quezon City : UP Press.
^Jocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House Inc.
^Jocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House Inc.
^Jocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House Inc.
^Jocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House Inc.
^Jocano, F. L. (1969). Philippine Mythology. Quezon City: Capitol Publishing House Inc.
Further reading
Holtom, D. C. "The Storm God Theme in Japanese Mythology." Sociologus, Neue Folge / New Series, 6, no. 1 (1956): 44-56. https://www.jstor.org/stable/43643852.
