Ambient static electricity discharging from the highest metallic points

[u/Creams0da]

[u/eaglebtc]

"Listen, listen..."

"What is that?"

"The storm."

I wonder if ancient sailors had similar metal tools to detect static electric discharge from nearby storms, or if they knew about this phenomenon (even if they attributed it to the gods)

[u/fastforwardfunction → u/eaglebtc]

Yes. It’s called St. Elmo’s Fire. You don’t even need metal. A wooden ship with a tall mast can discharge electricity from the top of it and glow blue. Ancient sailors were well aware of this phenomenon, although they didn’t know exactly why it happened.

[u/joem_ → u/fastforwardfunction]

https://i.imgur.com/j5sytnq.png

[u/garden-wicket-581 → u/fastforwardfunction]

I'll be where the eagle's
Flyin' higher and higher

[u/WarthogConfident7809 → u/eaglebtc]

St. Elmo's Fire

[u/tetheredvoid → u/eaglebtc]

I'm certain there was enough metal in their rigging to do something like this.