Chronology of Solar Religions
© Paul V Young 2016
This article first appeared in New Dawn Magazine Special Issue Vol 10 No. 6 (Dec 2016)
Solar religions date to the Neolithic era, demonstrated by megalithic solar alignments such as Nabta Playa from the 7th millennium BC. Indigenous cultures in North America, Africa, Australia and Polynesia have legends of ancient Sun-gods and there are well-documented sites on other continents.
EGYPT
From Egypt’s Old Kingdom (25th century BC), Ra is Sun-god, later merged with the creator-god and worshipped as Amun-Ra through Middle and Intermediate periods.
From 1353BC the 18th Dynasty Pharaoh Akhenaten introduces monotheism, with the solar disc Aten as material representation of an impersonal god. Disgruntled priesthood denounces him posthumously and persuade Tutankhaten’s people to again worship multiple anthropomorphic deities.
Religion beyond Late Period is influenced successively by Persians, Libyans, Greeks and Romans.
INDIA
Solar religion is well-entrenched in India by 2nd millennium BC.
Hindu scriptures and hymns such as the solar-themed Gayatri Mantra are dedicated to Mitra, Varuna, and Savitr.
The Brahmana period sees the Adityas worshipped as a conglomerate of solar deities.
In later Hinduism they lose their individuality, merging into one composite Sun-god, Surya.
SUMERIA
In 2nd millennium BC Sumerians worship the Sun-god Utu, corresponding to the ancient Semitic Shamash in Mesopotamia, forming a trinity with Moon (Nanna) and Earth (Ishtar).
Temples with ‘shining house’ sanctuaries dedicated to Sun-god Utu/Shamash are erected in Babylon, Ur, Mari, Nippur, and Nineveh.
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, he and Enkidu make offerings to Shamash toward the rising Sun to ensure safe travels.
CHINA
The Chinese Sun-god is Ri Gong Tai Yang Xing Jun (Grandfather-Sun).
Acknowledged down the centuries from predynastic Longshan culture (prior to 2000BC) he is still held dear as recently as the Ming Dynasty.
The Sun-god’s holy days remain commemorated on cultural calendars today.
BRITAIN
Newgrange passage built in Ireland 3200BC is aligned to winter solstice Sunrise.
First timber-form Stonehenge dates from 3100 BC, followed next millennium by stone structure - a solar observatory and probably a Sun-temple.
In 2500BC the seven islands at Glastonbury form a Zodiacal solar temple, on a site dedicated to the Sun since Neolithic times. Solar alignment is reflected in nearby great stone circles of Stanton Drew and even in the floor pattern of the 5th century Old Church.
Solar tribe Tuatha Dé Danann appear in Ireland early 2nd millennium BC led by Sun-goddess Anu, (later Danu, hence the name Danaan).
Pre-Christian Gauls merge their solar deities Alaunus and Belenus with local Celtic entities.
The Druids adopt the Tuatha Dé Danann’s Lugh as their Sun-god.
GREECE
8th century BC Greeks know the Sun as the Titan Helios, while Apollo is the Olympian Sun-god dwelling on Earth. Though most deities have different Greek and Roman names, Apollo has just one. His temple and oracle at Delphi are used right through to the 4th century AD until finally succumbing to Christianity.
ROME
As the Roman Empire emerges, Apollo is their god of the Sun.
In later centuries BC Sol Invictus becomes officially recognised, being the Sun itself, much like the Greek Helios and Egyptian Aten.
The cult of solar deity Mithra arises, principally embraced by Roman soldiers.
Hadrian has buildings and obelisks including the Pantheon aligned to the Sun.
PALESTINE & SYRIA
The Essene community thrives 200 BC to 1st Century AD around Palestine, Syria, and Egypt.
Jesus is associated with them. Their Qumran communal building is aligned to the summer solstice Sunset and houses a limestone Sundial.
Later offshoot, the Sampsæans, practice Sun-worship on the shores of the Dead Sea.
CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA
From 1400 BC the Olmecs build solar temples and pyramids in Mexico.
The Mayan civilization, 300BC to 900AD, worships Sun-god Ah Kin.
The Inca, 1300AD to Spanish era, revere Sun-god Inti.
The Aztecs in the same period follow solar deities Huitzilopochtli and Nanauatzin.
Pre-Columbian Sun-deity Viracocha first appears at Sacred Rock on Island of the Sun in Lake Titicaca and travels via the Gateway of the Sun at Tiwanaku.
JAPAN
Predating Japanese recorded history, Shinto Sun-goddess Amaterasu appears from 1st millennium BC.
The fair-skinned Ainu ethnic group who survive in Hokkaido today record in their Yukar Upopo legends that, “The Ainu lived in this place a hundred thousand years before the Children of the Sun came”.
This article first appeared in New Dawn Magazine Special Issue Vol 10 No. 6 (Dec 2016)
Solar religions date to the Neolithic era, demonstrated by megalithic solar alignments such as Nabta Playa from the 7th millennium BC. Indigenous cultures in North America, Africa, Australia and Polynesia have legends of ancient Sun-gods and there are well-documented sites on other continents.
EGYPT
From Egypt’s Old Kingdom (25th century BC), Ra is Sun-god, later merged with the creator-god and worshipped as Amun-Ra through Middle and Intermediate periods.
From 1353BC the 18th Dynasty Pharaoh Akhenaten introduces monotheism, with the solar disc Aten as material representation of an impersonal god. Disgruntled priesthood denounces him posthumously and persuade Tutankhaten’s people to again worship multiple anthropomorphic deities.
Religion beyond Late Period is influenced successively by Persians, Libyans, Greeks and Romans.
INDIA
Solar religion is well-entrenched in India by 2nd millennium BC.
Hindu scriptures and hymns such as the solar-themed Gayatri Mantra are dedicated to Mitra, Varuna, and Savitr.
The Brahmana period sees the Adityas worshipped as a conglomerate of solar deities.
In later Hinduism they lose their individuality, merging into one composite Sun-god, Surya.
SUMERIA
In 2nd millennium BC Sumerians worship the Sun-god Utu, corresponding to the ancient Semitic Shamash in Mesopotamia, forming a trinity with Moon (Nanna) and Earth (Ishtar).
Temples with ‘shining house’ sanctuaries dedicated to Sun-god Utu/Shamash are erected in Babylon, Ur, Mari, Nippur, and Nineveh.
In the Epic of Gilgamesh, he and Enkidu make offerings to Shamash toward the rising Sun to ensure safe travels.
CHINA
The Chinese Sun-god is Ri Gong Tai Yang Xing Jun (Grandfather-Sun).
Acknowledged down the centuries from predynastic Longshan culture (prior to 2000BC) he is still held dear as recently as the Ming Dynasty.
The Sun-god’s holy days remain commemorated on cultural calendars today.
BRITAIN
Newgrange passage built in Ireland 3200BC is aligned to winter solstice Sunrise.
First timber-form Stonehenge dates from 3100 BC, followed next millennium by stone structure - a solar observatory and probably a Sun-temple.
In 2500BC the seven islands at Glastonbury form a Zodiacal solar temple, on a site dedicated to the Sun since Neolithic times. Solar alignment is reflected in nearby great stone circles of Stanton Drew and even in the floor pattern of the 5th century Old Church.
Solar tribe Tuatha Dé Danann appear in Ireland early 2nd millennium BC led by Sun-goddess Anu, (later Danu, hence the name Danaan).
Pre-Christian Gauls merge their solar deities Alaunus and Belenus with local Celtic entities.
The Druids adopt the Tuatha Dé Danann’s Lugh as their Sun-god.
GREECE
8th century BC Greeks know the Sun as the Titan Helios, while Apollo is the Olympian Sun-god dwelling on Earth. Though most deities have different Greek and Roman names, Apollo has just one. His temple and oracle at Delphi are used right through to the 4th century AD until finally succumbing to Christianity.
ROME
As the Roman Empire emerges, Apollo is their god of the Sun.
In later centuries BC Sol Invictus becomes officially recognised, being the Sun itself, much like the Greek Helios and Egyptian Aten.
The cult of solar deity Mithra arises, principally embraced by Roman soldiers.
Hadrian has buildings and obelisks including the Pantheon aligned to the Sun.
PALESTINE & SYRIA
The Essene community thrives 200 BC to 1st Century AD around Palestine, Syria, and Egypt.
Jesus is associated with them. Their Qumran communal building is aligned to the summer solstice Sunset and houses a limestone Sundial.
Later offshoot, the Sampsæans, practice Sun-worship on the shores of the Dead Sea.
CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA
From 1400 BC the Olmecs build solar temples and pyramids in Mexico.
The Mayan civilization, 300BC to 900AD, worships Sun-god Ah Kin.
The Inca, 1300AD to Spanish era, revere Sun-god Inti.
The Aztecs in the same period follow solar deities Huitzilopochtli and Nanauatzin.
Pre-Columbian Sun-deity Viracocha first appears at Sacred Rock on Island of the Sun in Lake Titicaca and travels via the Gateway of the Sun at Tiwanaku.
JAPAN
Predating Japanese recorded history, Shinto Sun-goddess Amaterasu appears from 1st millennium BC.
The fair-skinned Ainu ethnic group who survive in Hokkaido today record in their Yukar Upopo legends that, “The Ainu lived in this place a hundred thousand years before the Children of the Sun came”.