Thunderbolt (Period)

A thunderbolt is a winged, swirling pillar of flame, thrown from the hand of God or the gods.  It may be shown with lightning bolts behind it, crossed in saltire; the pillar is palewise by default.  The thunderbolt is described in de Bara’s Blason des Armoiries, 1581 [128], and Guillim’s Display of Heraldrie, 1610 [99]; we have a example of its actual use in the arms granted in 1590 by Philip II of Spain to the family of Balthasar Gerards, the assassin of William the Silent.

Sextus Calpurnius Bestia bears:  Gules, a thunderbolt argent.

Caris Maniske bears:  Per fess argent and purpure, a thunderbolt counterchanged.

Huldah von Jal bears:  Per bend sinister sable and gules, a thunderbolt Or.

Marcus Marius Leontius Britannicus bears:  Gules, a thunderbolt and a chief embattled Or.