How about a 'what if'........ What if, in eras prior to those with electricity/light pollution, it was normal to catch glimpses of red sprites and other upper atmospheric events? And they often looked as though they were low on the horizon, even though they weren't. They are sometimes photographed nowadays looking as if they're hunched over the skyline. And what if the people had no explanation for this phenomenon, so they attributed it to gods, elves, spirits, etc. Ancient fire/lightning beings, will-the-wisps, flashing fires, flying fireballs emitting light, red men riding goats across the horizon, deities from all over the world. Sometimes these deities were naturally attributed to cometary other celestial activity, but I would guess they witnessed these sprites as well, with much better visibility than we have today. I mean, every time I see images of atmospheric sprites, I find myself staring at them in reverent amazement as well. If this is a possibility, how serendipitous that we gave them those monikers.