The Powers of the Lightning Tattoo
Given the impressive display that lightning can make as well as its destructive powers there is no surprise that it has been tattooed on so many people. In early times men most often associated lightning and thunder with the Gods.
The Greeks believed that lightning was thrown by the god Zeus, who was the father of all the gods.
Lightning symbolized power and unpredictability. Since lightning usually brings on a rainstorm it also became associated with fertility.
Romans believed that lightning was a sign from their main god Jupiter, while in Norse mythology it belonged to Thor, the God of Thunder, and was caused by Thor banging his hammer on something hard, like the skull of a Frost Giant.
A double lightning bolt became the insignia of the Nazi Germany SS, and because of its continuing power to inflict fear to this day it is popular with some gangs and biker groups wishing to show their superiority.
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