Suns in alchemy

There is a persistent belief in alchemic and hermetic tradition in the existence of two suns: a hidden one of pure "philosophical gold," consisting of the essential Fire conjoined with aether, and the apparent one of profane "material gold." The "dark, consuming fire" of the material sun leads to its being called the "Dark" or "Black Sun."

It is possible that these teachings influenced Philolaus in the development of his groundbreaking theory of the Central Fire. This is supported by the fact that the various teachings regarding multiple suns are sometimes attributed to Empedocles, who was a contemporary of Philolaus, and his senior. However, this connection may be coincidental, and it is likely that the attribution of these ideas to Empedocles stems from an imperfect understanding of his cosmology in regard to the reflective nature of the Sun.

Sol niger

Sol niger (black sun) can also refer to the result of the first stage of the magnum opus in alchemy, the nigredo (blackening). The complete magnum opus (Great Work) ends with the production of gold. The magnum opus can also be understood in a mystic way.

Contemporary usage of the term "Black Sun" can be found in the works of esoteric musicians such as COIL and Boyd Rice, and occult groups such as Black Sun Rising (a Pylon of the Temple of Set).

In popular culture

• "Alchemy of the Black Sun Cult" is the first single and video from the American black metal band Goatwhore's 2006 album "A Haunting Curse".
• Sol Niger Within is the first and only release by Fredrik Thordendal's Special Defects, a side project of Meshuggah guitarist Fredrik Thordendal.
• "Black Hole Sun" (1994) is by Soundgarden
• Globe Trekker uses what appears to be a black sun on its title sequence
• "A Thousand Suns" album cover by Linkin Park

See also

• Black Sun (mythology)
• Five Suns (mythology)
• Solar symbol