Zeus – deity of the sky, thunderbolt, thunder, law, order and justice. In ancient Greece he was known as the most mighty figure in pantheon, who oversaw the world. Ancient artist showed him mostly in standing pose with a lightning levelled in his raised right hand. The lighting bold has been donated him by Cyclops and from this point he had force over it. Zeus used it in many battles. According to Hesiod’s poem Zeus, in Greek believes, was a wise, fair, inconcerned, but also unforeseeable deity. He could get angry very quickly. In this moments he brought violent storms and disasters. The only one with who he like to shared his lightning was his darling child Athena, the goddess of wisdom, skill and battle.
Perun – the highest deity in Slavic hierarchy, the master of thunderbolts and thunders. He was also a god of fight. Perun was presented as a rude person with a copper hair and an weapon (or hammer). In many tales he battle with dragon or a giant snake, which show powers of evil. Prince Vladimir the Great in X century tried to made Perun the only diety in Kievan Rus’, but it turned out that Christianity is a better choice.
Thanks to Marvel Cinematic Universe (e.g. films: Avengers, Capitan America: The Winter Soldier, Thor), nowadays, the most popular ancient god is Thor. In Norse myths he was a son of Odin and Jord, and one of the most mighty gods. He was described as a big person with red beard and eyes of thunderbolt. His most recognisable attribute is a large hammer, which always go back to his lord. Thor was very popular among his believers (usually depicted as a fearless defender against bad). As well as Perun Thor fight with snake(dark powers). At the day of Ragnarok (twilight of the gods) Thor will assassinate the serpent, but he will decease from his toxin. This deity was very valid in mans believes, as a matter of fact his name is connected to many places and even to the day of the week – Thursday means “Thor’s day”, the day of Thor.
In the past storm, lightening, thunder were something extraordinary and frightening. In people’s minds these phenomena were always related with mighty figure, who rule the universe and must be glorified. That’s why Thunder Gods were so high in the mythological hierarchy.