The Sun in culture: Difference between revisions
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Humans have long recognized the '''[[Sun]]'s''' role in supporting life on [[Earth]] ''(see [[Organism]])'', and as a result many societies throughout history have paid homage to the Sun by giving it prominent roles in their [[religion]]s and [[Mythology|mythologies]]. |
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The Sun is sometimes referred to by its [[Latin]] name ''[[Sol]]'' or by its [[Greek language|Greek]] name ''[[Helios]]''. The [[English language|English]] word ''sun'' stems from [[Old High German]] ''sunna'', but took the male gender of the Latin ''sol'' (the sun, "he", but now also "it").<ref>In most romance languages the sun is male (e.g. ''le soleil'' in French, ''el sol'' in Spanish, ''Il Sole'' in Italian). In most Germanic languages it is female (e.g. ''Die Sonne'' in German).</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.create.org/elchai/herbcer1.htm |title=WINTER SOLSTICE}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://m-w.com/dictionary/sun |title=sun |work=Merriam Webster dictionary}}</ref> Its [[astrology|astrological]] and [[astronomical symbol]] is a [[circled dot|circle with a point at its center]]: [[Image:Sun symbol.svg|20px]]. The ancient Greeks grouped the Sun together with the other [[celestial bodies]] which moved across the [[sky]] (in relation to the [[fixed star|starfield]]), calling them all [[planet#History|planets]]. This was before the acceptance of [[heliocentrism]]. |
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==In Western society== |
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The religious significance of the Sun has its roots in the very earliest of recorded [[Western world|Western]] history. Both the [[Ancient Greece|ancient Greeks]] and [[Ancient Rome|ancient Romans]] worshipped one or more [[solar deities]]. [[Christianity]] would go on to adapt some of the characteristics of these gods into the figure of [[Jesus]], although the direct identification with the physical Sun was not adapted. |
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===Greek mythology=== |
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Many Greek [[Mythology|myths]] personify the Sun as a [[Titan (mythology)|Titan]] named [[Helios]], who wore a shining crown and rode a [[chariot]] across the sky, causing day. Over time, the Sun became increasingly associated with [[Apollo]]. [[Icarus]] attempted to fly but the sun melted his wings. |
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===Roman mythology=== |
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{{main|Sol Invictus}} |
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The [[Roman Empire]] adopted Helios into their own mythology as [[Sol]]. The title ''Sol Invictus'' ("the undefeated Sun") was applied to several solar deities, and depicted on several types of Roman [[coins]] during the 3rd and 4th centuries. The birth of "the undefeated Sun" was celebrated on the [[December 25th|25th of December]] from at least as early as 354. |
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===Christianity=== |
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Early Christian [[iconography]] reveals [[Jesus]] as reflecting several attributes of [[Sol Invictus]]. These attributes included a radiated [[Crown (headgear)|crown]] or, occasionally, a solar chariot. [[Sol invictus#Sol Invictus and Christianity|It is also speculated]] that the observation of [[Christmas]] on [[December 25]] is derived from the [[pagan]] Sun holiday which occurred on the same date. Jesus is also considered the "Sun of [[Righteousness]]" ([[Malachi]] 4:2). |
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==In the Americas== |
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The Sun was also worshiped in many [[pre-Columbian]] societies in the [[Americas]], including the [[Incas]] and [[Aztecs]].<ref>[http://www.sacred-text.com Sacred scripts and descriptions at Sacred text.com]</ref> |
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==In Non-Western Cultures== |
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The worship of the Sun in the [[Eastern world]] has its historical origin in [[Ancient Egypt]]. The Egyptians identified the Sun with [[Ra]], one of the major deities in their [[Ancient Egyptian religion|religion]], and the visible disk of the Sun (known as [[Aten]]) was either seen as the body or the eye of Ra. The [[pharaoh]] [[Akhenaten]] established a [[monotheistic]] religion during his reign, with [[Aten]] as its central figure. |
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===Hinduism=== |
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In [[Hindu]] religious literature, the Sun is notably mentioned as the visible form of [[God]] that one can see every day. In [[Hinduism]], [[Surya]] (Devanagari: सूर्य, sūrya) is the chief solar deity, son of Dyaus Pitar. The ritual of [[sandhyavandanam]], performed by some [[Hindu]]s, is meant to worship the Sun. Many scripts from Hindu mythology referred sun as a King, who rides on seven horses (this is indication of seven colors from Sunlight) |
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===Islam=== |
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In the [[Qur'an]], the Islamic religious scripture, the Sun like other celestial objects is not endowed with any particular religious significance or symbolic meaning. Due to the widespread presence of Sun-worshiping cults in Pre-Islamic Arabia, [[Muslim]] doctrine, the [[Shariah]] forbade all prayers during the rising and setting of the Sun, to symbolically refute its divinity. Pre-Islamic Arab pagans considered [[solar eclipses]] and other celestial occurrences as omens signaling the passing of an important figure or other earthly events. However, this belief was refuted explicitly by the Prophet [[Muhammad]] in the year 632 C.E, when the death of his son coincided with a solar eclipse: "The Sun and the Moon are from among the evidences of God. They do not eclipse because of someone's death or life."<ref name=Haykal>[[Muhammad Husayn Haykal]], Translated by Isma'il Razi A. al-Faruqi, ''The Life of Muhammad (Allah's peace and blessing be upon him)'', American Trush Publications, 1976, ISBN 0-89259-002-5 [http://www.witness-pioneer.org/vil/Books/MH_LM/campaign_of_tabuk_and_death_of_ibrahim.htm]</ref> |
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==See also== |
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* [[Solar deity]] |
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==References== |
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<div class="references-small"> |
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<references /> |
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</div> |
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[[Category:Sun]] |
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[[no:Sol (kulturelt)]] |
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