Originally published in 1911, this book constitutes an archaeological survey of the thunderweapon and its significance in a variety of different cultures. Initially the intention was to focus on Ancient Greece, but it soon became apparent that the evolution of the thunderweapon could not be made intelligible until seen in terms of the connections between diverse traditions. Containing numerous illustrative figures and detailed information on sources, this book will be of value to anyone with an interest in archaeology, anthropology and human prehistory.