weather worship

Weather worship, often intertwined with the worship of heaven, centers on the reverence of atmospheric powers. Many cultures identify their high god with thunderstorms and rain. Examples include the Indo-European thunder gods like Thor, Taranis, Indra, and Zeus, who are depicted as wielding thunderbolts. Other cultures have specific deities for wind and storms, such as the Maya deity Huracan. In arid regions, reverence might be directed towards spirits of sand funnels or desert gods. These weather deities are frequently associated with fertility and warfare, and their power is often symbolized by animals like goats or rams, or mythical beings like thunderbirds. Rainmaking rituals and magic are also common practices when prayers to gods are deemed ineffective.12