Goddess Series: Astrape The Lightning Goddess

As apart of our Goddess Series, we have the powerful Goddess Astrape, just one of the many divine beings associated with lightning. In our shop we have an art print designed by our co-founder artist Tony Laidig, which features this Lightning Goddess.

Astrape is the embodiment of several powerful qualities: power, clarity, sacredness, emotion, creativity, revelation, illumination, and inspiration. She is known as the personification of lightning and works alongside her twin sister, Bronte (Thunder), in service to Zeus. Together they work to help Zeus maintain order, demonstrate his authority, and deal out divine justice. Astrape’s presence evokes a sense of awe and reverence for the forces of nature.

It is said that Astrape's essence shines through a rainbow-colored lightning bolt. This multicolored bolt represents a harmonious blend of energies and signifies the divine connection between the celestial and earthly realms. According to legend, Zeus gifted Astrape with the ability to control thunderstorms, setting her apart as an incredibly powerful deity and adding to her already impressive arsenal of attributes. This symbolizes her authority over the natural forces and it represents her ability to bring swift and dramatic changes. 

While there are not any myths that extensively speak of Astrape on her own, she is mentioned or alluded to in tales with others. She is briefly mentioned in the myth of Titanomachy. This is a myth that depicts the war between the Titans and the Gods in Greek mythology. This war was fought to decide who would have control over the universe. Zeus went to war with his father Cronos. During this battle, Zeus utilized his authority over lightning and thunder, with Astrape and Bronte, to win the war. With this incredible amount of power, the Gods managed to overthrow the Titans. This loss for the Titans meant that Zeus would become the ruler of the universe while they were banished away.

Another myth that highlights the power of lightning to keep others in order is Prometheus and the Theft of Fire. This is the story of how a Titan disobeyed the Gods. Prometheus was a Titan who believed that humans should have access to fire for survival. Zeus on the other hand, didn’t think humans deserved fire. Prometheus then went against Zeus and stole fire from the Gods to give to the humans anyways. Zeus then punished Prometheus by binding him to a rock where an Eagle would eat his liver for eternity. Zeus also sent Lightning storms to torment him. Even though Astrape isn’t directly named, since she is associated with lightning, one can assume that Zeus sent her and her sister as a form of divine punishment and retribution.

Lightning is an equally beautiful yet fierce phenomenon, which can be seen through the power and beauty of the Goddess Astrape.