Sun Gods And Goddesses

[*~*Chary*~*]

Mnemosyne and I were talking about this and we thought that a thread on the different dieties of the sun might be quite nice. Please feel free to choose a deity and tell us more about him/her or comment on those already posted :) My choice was OBVIOUSLY egyptian LMAO and it has to be Re

Re - The Sun God

Re was a creator sun god of Heliopolis. Re is the quintessence(sp?) of all maifestations of the sun-god, permeating the three realms of the sky, earth, and underworld. Hence many deities enhance their own divinity by coalescing with this aspect of the sun god - e.g Amun-Re, Khnum-Re.

His main cult was centered at Heliopolis which is greek for "sun-city", now all but disappeared through depredations or below the suburbs of modern Cairo. The Sun temple area was called Yunu by the Ancient Egyptians, and was written by a heiroglyph representing a column

Re was most commonly manifested physically as a Falcon wearing the fiery disk of the sun on its head. The disk was surrounded by the body of the cobra goddess, symbolising Re's ability to provide death instantly. He is representes as a ram-headed god in the underworld. He was known as "sacred ram in the west", or "ram in charge of his harems" When it comes to literature, he was occasionaly described as an ageing king with skin made of gold, who's bones are silver and his hair was lapiz lazuli. Evidence from inscriptions on the cult of the sun-god is found in the name of the first Pharaoh of the second Dynsasty - Rened which means "Re is lord". Architectural symbolism in the form of both the stepped-pyramid and true pyramid - stairway to the sun-god and image of the "high-stand" at Heliopolis on which Re stood to form the cosmos - provides further evidence of Re's worship during Dynasties III and IV . Courtiers of the IV dynasty proclaim their office of "great seer" or high priest of Heliopolis

[PrincessHLHofMW]

kay let me find the one and i'll be right back....i promise!!!!!!!

[PrincessHLHofMW]

The god Lugh was worshipped in Ireland as a deity of the sun. This connection with the sun may explain his name (it means "shining one"), and it also may account for the attributes that he displayed: he was handsome, perpetually youthful, and had a tremendous energy and vitality. This energy manifests itself especially in the number of skills he had, according to legend, mastered. In fact, there was a tale that related Lugh's myriad abilities at arts and crafts.
As told in the Battle of Magh Tuiredh, the god travelled to Tara, and arrived during a tremendous feast for the royal court. Lugh was greeted at the door by the keeper of the gate, and was immediately asked what talent he had - for it was a tradition there that only those who had a special or unique ability could enter the palace. The god offered his reply: "I am a wright". In response, the gate keeper said: "We already have a wright. Your services are not needed here". Still, Lugh, not to be so easily dismissed, continued: "I am a smith". Again, the guard retorted that the court had a smith that was quite adequate; but the god was not to be dissuaded. In short order, he noted that he was also a champion, a harper, a hero, a poet, an historian, a sorcerer, and a craftsman. To this list, the gate keeper merely nodded his head, and stated matter of factly that all of these various trades were represented in the court by other members of the Tuatha de Danaan. "Ah, but you do have an individual who possesses all of these skills simultaneously?", was Lugh's clever and inspired reply. The guard was forced to admit his defeat, and so Lugh was allowed to enter and join the festivities.

According to Celtic mythology, Lugh was the son of Cian and Ethlinn. After the god Nuada was killed in the Second Battle of Magh Tuiredh, Lugh became the leader of the Tuatha De Danaan (the term for the gods and goddesses who descended from the goddess Danu).

By the way i got this from http://www.loggia.com/myth/lugh.html
It's a free site go check it out if you really want to!

[*~*Chary*~*]

Incidentally Lugh is the Irish sun god, and a god of war (a trait which seems to be quite common in the sun gods, perhaps we could discuss this aswell ?). Lugh was the grandson of Balor, a Formorian King. There was a druidic prophecy that Balor would be slain by his own grandson. Therefore he had his only child Ethnia locked up in a high tower, Tor Mor, with twelve matrons to keep her away from all men. One day, a man named Kian wanted revenge on Balor for stealing his magic cow, so with the help of a druidess he disguised himself as a woman and sought shelter at the tower. The druidess put an enchantment on the matrons, and when they had left again, Ethnia was pregnant and gave birth to three sons nine months later. When Balor heard of this, he ordered that the children were drowned. A servant wrapped the babies in a cloths and took them with to drown. But one of the babies fell out of the wrapping and the servant only drowned the other two. This child was Lugh. Lugh grew up and learned many trades. He was a carpenter, warrior, druid, mason, smith, harper, poet, physician and goldsmith. In the second battle of Moy Tura he threw a stone into Balors eye and killed him, thus fulfilling the prophecy. Lugh was the father of the famous Celtic hero Cu Chulainn.

[Mnemosyne]

Originally posted by *~*Chary*~*
Incidentally Lugh is the Irish sun god, and a god of war (a trait which seems to be quite common in the sun gods, perhaps we could discuss this aswell ?).

Lugh grew up and learned many trades. He was a carpenter, warrior, druid, mason, smith, harper, poet, physician and goldsmith.

Good idea, Chary. We should definitely discuss sun gods who are gods of war as well. That idea slipped past my head. Clearly, you have illustrated your point though by bringing up Lugh as being both a sun god and a war god.

Furthermore, you state how Lugh had so many trades. When I read that point, I immediately thought of a famous god associated with the sun, Apollo. Ok, I think of Helios as being the official Greek sun god. (remember Chary brought up in her first post when discussing the etymology of Heliopolis that "helios" means "sun.") However, I think of Apollo when I think of the sun, because this powerful god drives his golden chariot across the sky each morning in order to draw out the sun. Besides bringing out the sun each morning, Apollo does work in medicine, prophecy, music, the arts, and archery. My, my. these sun deities sure have some talents.

:sunny:

[*~*Chary*~*]

Hee hee well heres another Egyptian God: Khepri

Khepri

Khepri was a Sun-god creator (sorry had to do this but most of the Sun gods seem to be creators aswell ... perhpas there is some sort of pattern emerging? ). He is invisioned in the form of a scarab beatle. The image of the scarab beatle is almost synonymous(sp?) with ancient Egypt. the choice of an insect to convey one of the forms of the sun-god illustrates IMO the keen eye of the Egyptian in observing nature and his imagination in trying to understand the universe. Khepri is the sun-god at dawn on the eastern horizon.

His iconography is that of the scarab beatle (well DUH ;)) of which there are many different varieties of in Ancient Egypt. He is seen to be poushing the disk of the sun upwards from the underworld across the scky. In their own local enviroment the Egyptians would have noticed the Scarab beatle busy rolling balls of dirt across the ground and translated this message of propulsion(sp?) into an explantion of the sun's circuit. However, the analogy did not stop there. Observing that out of the ball would emerge the scarab beatle, apparently spontaneously(sp?), it was logical to see the insect as Khepr- "he who is coming into being", i.e self-created of his own accord without undergoing the natural cycle of reproduction. The creator sun-god was therefore aptly manifest in the "scarabaeus sacer" (i think thats right) or dung beetle.

Again evidence from inscriptions on Khepri occurs in the pyramids of the Old Kingdom: a wish expressed for the sun-god to come into being in it's name of Khepri. the priesthood of the sun-god combined his different forms to assert that Atum-Khepri arises on the primeval mound in the mansion of Benu in Heliopolis. Referring to the myth of the sun-gods journey through the hours of the night, Kjepri is said to raise his beauty into the body of Nut the sky-goddess. From noticing the somewhat slimy consistency of the scarb-beatles dung ball, the earth is apparently made from the spittle coming from Khepri

[*~*Chary*~*]

From about the middle Kingdom , representations of Khepri as the ovoid scarab reguarly occur in three-dimensional form carved as the amuletic backing of seals. These scarabs, by implication, connect the wearer with the sun-god. The underside could be incised, not just with the titles and names of the official, but also with good-luck designs, deities and the names of Royalty used for protective power. Kings would use the undersides of large scarabs to commemorate specific events - Amenhotep III has left a number of these news bulletins which inter alia givew information on his prowess at lion hunting and celbrate the arrival of a Syrian princess into his harem.

The scarab could from the bezel of a ring or be part of a necklace or bracelet - the tomb of Tutankhamun has provided us with splendid examples of scarabs made of semi-precious stones like Lapiz lazuli set in gold. One of the young king's pectoral(sp?) in particular stress the King's dominance of Khepri the sun-god as well as being a masterpiece of the jewellers craft: in the chelcedony(sp?) combined with wings and talons of the solar hawk, representing Khepri, who, as contoller of the celestial motion, is shown in this pectoral pushing the boat of the moon eye.

[*~*Chary*~*]

Speaking of such ... here is a pectoral from the tomb of Tutankhamun of Khepri as a hawk winged scarab

[Armitage]

Amaterasu-no-kami
(info from Yahoo Reference, will try to find something less generic when i have more time.)

In Shinto, the sun goddess from whom the Japanese royal family traditionally claims descent. She was given domain over heaven while her brother, the storm god Susa-no-o, was set to rule over the sea. The two produced children together, but Susa-no-o began to behave rudely and destructively, and Amaterasu withdrew in protest into a cave, plunging the world into darkness. She was lured out by the other gods and goddesses and a rope was place over its entrance to prevent her return. Her chief place of worship is the Grand Shrine of Ise, Shinto's most important shrine.

[Mnemosyne]

Amaterasu is such a fascinating goddess! Armitage, I too love the story how Amaerasu found refuge in a cave in order to hide from Susano-Wo, her storm god brother. (Remember to post the link from yahoo, so you can give that author credit. :) ) When Amaterasu was hiding in the cave, the sun stopped shining. Evil gods rejoiced that there was no sun, since they could perform their deeds in the darkness. The good deities wanted Amaterasu to come out of the cave. Finally, she emerged. When she came out of the cave, the gods had placed a mirror, so she could see her reflection. Struck by her own beautiful reflection in the mirror, Amaterasu decided to permanantely come out of her hiding place. Now, the mirror is thought of being Amaterasu's symbol. So next time when you see your lovely reflection in the mirror, think of the beautiful Japanese sun goddess, Amaterasu.

Interesting that you mentioned that Japanese royalty trace their ancestory back to Amaterasu. Clearly, she is very important to the Japanese people. They represent her, the sun, on their flag today.

Read more about her at
http://www.mothergoddess.com/ama.html

By the way, loved the image of the scarab and the info on Khepri, Chary.


:sunny:

[Emaleth]

Inspired by this thread I decided to search the myths of my own people - the Slavs:). Here's a Slavic sun - god.


DAZBOG
Dazbog was a major trans-Slavic god associated with the sun and daylight. Different and sometimes conflicting accounts give us a somewhat vague picture of his character, role, and geneology, but a conglomerate view suggests he was originally the Slavic 'clear sky god', though he perhaps later overlapped or was synonymous with the sun-god in many regions. A sixth-century Byzantine chronicler equated him with the Greek sun-god Helios. In the 'Russian Primary Chronicle', his is one of the idols erected by Vladimir at Kiev, along with Perun, Khors, Stribog, Simargl, and Mokosh. His festival was at the summer solstice, when his 'heavenly wedding' to the moon- or dawn- goddess was celebrated. Today this celebration has been Christianized as St. Ivan's day. In Slavic tradition, people swore oaths to him, as the sun was omniscient. As such, Dazbog was the god of law and moral order. His interest was in ensuring justice serves the good and that evil be punished.

In one Russian myth, his attributes were the sword and the cudgel, found with the 'clear-sky' war-god and 'storm-god', respectively. His identity with the latter is also found in Polish mythology as the son of Svarog, the Slavic 'heavenly sky father', and either the dawn-goddess Zorya Dennitsa or the summer- and love-goddess Lada. The Russians seem to have him as the son of the thunder-god Perun and the mermaid ('sea nymph') Ros. Other attributes include a fiery shield and a diamond chariot - both of which identify him with as a sun-god. Dazbog is served by four beautiful maidens: Zorya Utrennyaya, the Aurora of the Dawn, opens the palace gates in the morning. Zorya Vechernyaya, the Aurora of the Evening, closes them in the evening. Vechernyaya Zvezda, the Evening Star, and Zvezda Dennitsa, the Morning Star, tend Dazbog's horses.

[Emaleth]

As the Slavic sun-god, he lived in a magnificent golden palace to the east, the land of eternal summer. From his gold and purple throne he has no fear of neither shadows, nor cold or discomfort. Indeed, he was called the god of summer and of happiness. Each morning he rides out as a young man in his golden, diamond-studded chariot, pulled westward by a team of twelve white, golden-maned fire-breathing horses. He rode through his twelve kingdoms (zodiac signs?) before ending his day as an old man in the sunset.

In some myths, as the sun-god he is married either to the moon-goddess Myesyats or the morning star goddess Zvezda Dennitsa. In one Russian myth, however, he is thrice married: first to Zlatogorka ('Golden Hill'), daughter of the Underworld god Vij; then to the winter- and/or death-goddess Marena, and finally to Zhiva ('Life').

Of these three, Marena is interesting because her role closely parallels that found in Welsh myth as Blodeuwedd. Both wives conspired to kill their husbands. In Welsh myth, this was Llew Llaw Gyffes, as sun- and summer- fertility god with many similarities to Dazbog. In Russian, it was the death-god Kashchej who sought to destroy Dazbog, aided by Marena, who drugged him before her paramour threw him into the abyss, and finally nailed him to a mountain in the Caucasus. In Welsh myth, meanwhile, Blodeuwedd also tricked Llew into a compromising situation, whereupon her paramour, the death-god Gronwy, wounded him. Llew and Dazbog both survived their misfortunes and finally took revenge upon their persecutors.

In one Russian myth, he and his wife Zhiva ('life') created the world and people, with Russians calling themselves his 'grandchildren'.

[*~*Chary*~*]

WOW !!!
Thanx Emaleth ... i had never heard of him before :thumbsup:

And on the subject i have another one hee hee hee Egyptian again:

Shu

The god of sunlight and air. Shu takes a human form wearing a plume (the heiroglyph of his name) on his head with his arms raised supporting the sky-goddess Nut whom he holds apart from her consort the earth-god Geb

He is one of the first two deities created by Atum (i'll post on him later) the sun-god of Heliopolis. His birth, like that of his sister Tefnut, was from the semen of Atum; as an alternative explanation involving a play on wordss, Shu originated from the mucus which atukm sneezed from his nostrils.

In the Pyramiud texts the bones of Shu, probably the couds in the sky, are used by the king in his asscent to heaven. the lakes of Shu (perhaps the mist that gathers over the nile - just my oppinion) purify the monarch.

Shu as a god of sunshine is first attested in the Old kingdom where he is responsible for the bringing Re and the king into life everyday. The pharoah Akhenaten over a thousand years later empahsises this theme by describing Shu as dwelling in the sun's disk.

The role of Shu as air-god gives rise to his identification with some head-rests which then provide the user with a circulating oxygen forever.

In the underworld Shu is a dangerous god leading a band of torturers and executioners and whose slaughtering-block is a great peril for the deceased. But he can also be a protection against the annihalting snake-god Apophis (yes we've all seen him in Stargate). In a similar way on earth, the power of the poisons of Shu are conjured up in magickal spells to ward off the threat to a persons internal organs by Akhu or Samana (malevolent demons of Middle eastern origin)

[*~*Chary*~*]

Here is a picture of shu

[*~*Chary*~*]

Ok in the spirit of completing my Egyptian saga - at least for the time being - i will post info on Atum

Atum

Atum, the sun-god and creator of the universe. The name Atum carries the idea of "totality" in the sense of an ultimate and unalterable state of perfection. Atum is frequently called "Lord of Heliopolis" ('Yunu' in Egyptian), the amjor centre of sun worship. The prescence of another solar deity on this site leads to a coalescence of the two gods into Re-Atum

Illustrations of Atum normally show him in anthropormorphic form sometimes wearing the combined crowns of Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt, sometimes the royal head-cloth. He can appear upright and stately or in the stance of a respected official leaning on his staff of office. The notion of an elderly Atum IMO symbolises the setting sun.

Anumber of creatures are sacred to Atum including the lion, bull, ichneumon and lizard. Also Atum as a snake is very significant because it represents a concept not as a rule mentioned by the Egyptians - namely a cosmic collapse and a 'Gotterdamerung' from which only Atum and Osiris survive. In a dialogue between these two deities in the Book Of The Dead Atum states that he will eventually destroy the world, submerging gods, men and Egypt in the primal waters (nun) which were all that existed at the beginning of time. In this holocaust Atum and Osiris will live on in the form of serpents. A similar idea occurs in a rock inscription in Harnub in Middle Egypt where, in myhtological time, an earlier cycle of catastrophe resulted in the only survivor being the 'kerhet' snake. The imagery is taken from the snake shedding it's skin (i.e destruction) and emerging in its new form (i.e survival)

[Armitage]

Inspired by this thread I decided to search the myths of my own people - the Slavs. Here's a Slavic sun - god.

Is he any relation to the brothers Bielebog and Czernobog?

[Mnemosyne]

Hmmm. I don't know. Maybe Emaleth will answer that question, Armitage. All that I know about Dazbog is what I have learned from Emaleth's post.

I thought that it was interesting that Dazbog has a golden chariot. So many pantheons believe that their sun gods have chariots. For example, in Greece, Helios and Apollo have golden chariots. In the Celtic pantheon, the sun gods Mog Ruith and Belenus have golden chariots. And in the Norse pantheon, the sun god Sol uses a chariot also. In the Egyptian pantheon, is the sun god ever identified with a chariot? Or do other pantheons believe that their sun deities use chariots?

[Emaleth]

Originally posted by Armitage


Is he any relation to the brothers Bielebog and Czernobog?

Bielebog and Dazbog seem to be the same deity or at least to have similar functions. Bielebog is the god of daylight, brightness and whiteness. However, Dazbog is usually considered to be one of the great gods and Bielebog is only one of minor deities. Many names of Slavic deities have the -bog ending. In most Slavic languages bog means a god. So Czernobog is the Black God and Bielobog is White God.

Blessed Be

[*~*Chary*~*]

Thanx emaleth xxx

I thought of another one hehe

Mandulis

Sun God of Lower Nubia. Mandulis wears a crown of ram-horns surmounted by high plumes, sun disks and cobras. His name in Egyptian inscriptions is 'Merwel' but the Greek version, as found in the text known as the 'vision of Mandulis' is used almost universally.

A chapel to Mandulis existed on the island of Philae off the eastern colonnade approaching the temple of Aset, a goddess who seems to be regarded at least as his close companion. But it is in the temple of Kalabsha (now resited just above the High Dam at aswan - i think thats correct), the most impressive monument in Lower Nubia from the graeco-Roman period, that the best evidence of the cult of Mandulis can be found. Constructed on the site of an earlier New Kingdom sanctuary Kalabasha (Ancient Talmis) took its present form furing the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus. Mandulis, as represented on its walls, does not seem at all out of place among the other members of the egyptian pantheon placed in his company. From the "vision of mandulis" you will find the unforced equation of this deity to Horus and the greek apollo.

[*~*Chary*~*]

Hehehe in the spirit of continuance

Huitzilopochti

The god of the sun and war, the national god of the Aztecs, also known as the Blue Tezcatlipoca. Huitzilopochtli (hummin bird of the south) was a uniquely Aztec god and may have been a legendary hero, later deified.

Huitzilopochtli was conceived by magic when a heavenly ball of down entered the womd of his mother, the Goddess Coatlicue, at coatepec (Serpent Hill). Her existing offspring, the goddess Coyolxauhqui and her four hundred brothers, were angry at her pregancy and cut off her hands and head. At the moment she died Coatlicuye gave birth to the fully formed Huitzilopochtli, who avenged his mothers death by Killing Coyolxauhqui and hurling her dismembered corpse to the bottom of Coatepec. He then routed his brothers.

The god was said to have guided the Aztec people from their place of origin, Aztlan, on a great southwad trek to the future side of Teochtitlan, the capital of the Aztec empire (modern mexico city). A historical migration apparently lasted from 1150ad to 1350ad.

Huitzilopochtli, the lord of the fifth sun, the current worl epoch, was a forbidding deity closely associated with war and death (hummingbirds were said to be the souls of fallen warriors). He was central to the Aztec cult of human of human sacrifice, which was believed to be necessary to feed Tonatiuh, the sun, with whom the god was identified. His most important shrine, at the top of the Templo Mayor (Great Temple) in Tenochtitlan, was the site of human sacrifices, often on a massive scale.

[*~*Chary*~*]

Here is a picture of Huitzilopochti

[*~*Chary*~*]

Incidentally, here is a picture of Ameterasu emerging from her cave from a 19th century print tryptich

[*~*Chary*~*]

In the Egyptian pantheon, is the sun god ever identified with a chariot? Or do other pantheons believe that their sun deities use chariots?

Sorry i cpompletely missed this ... in the egyptian pantheon the solar deities have boats ;)

[*~*Chary*~*]

Nut

The sky goddess, the daughter of Shu and Tefnut and sister of Geb. According to the most detailed Egyptian creation myth, Nut and geb had interocurse, but embraced so tightly that Nut did not have enough room to bear her children, isis, Osiris, neohtys and seth. Aided by the eight deities of the Ogdoad, Shu parted the couple lifting Nut high above Geb.

Nut, the sky was at times portrayed as a naked oman arching over Geb, the earth, and sometimes as a star-covered cow. She was said to swallow the sun every evening. Sometimese it was said that she wanted to devour her own offspring, then she was depicted as a sow, which will also eat its farrow

[Mnemosyne]

Oh, I loved the bit how Nut would swallow the sun each day- signifying the setting sun. Did she work with a specific moon god? I ask because the moon usually comes out when the sun sets. At least, the moon is much more visible whn the sun disappears. Basically, I am asking whether Nut would tell a moon god that she was about to swallow the sun, it is time for the moon to appear. I really never thought about the Greek deities of the sun and moon working together. As many of you know, a Greek sun god, Apollo, and the Greek moon goddess, Artemis, were twins. Twins seem to have an uncanny sense of working together.

What is with myths about deities devouring their offspring? In Greek mythology, Cronus eats his children to avoid a more powerful child taking over his supreme position.

[Emaleth]

I also think it's interesting that most sun - gods used chariots. Here is another one I found and he also rides in a golden chariot.

SAVITAR
The Vedic sun-god who urges man and beast to act. He rides in a golden chariot from which he surveys the entire sky.

Blessed Be

[*~*Chary*~*]

It's quite big but it's a good picture of Ra or Re

[buttercup]

TONATIUH was the Aztec God of the Sun. Tonatiuh was poor and sick and so he cast himself into a fire. After being burnt , he was resurrected. Each day Tonatiuh repeats his passage across the heavens, down into darkness, and back again into the sky. He carries all brave warriors who have died in battle and all brave women who have died in childbirth. The greatest heroes Tonatiuh carries with him to the greatest heights. Those who are even greater than the heroes live in his home, Tonatiuhican, the House of the Sun.

[Mnemosyne]

Ok, this guy isn't a sun god, but I love the story. Phaethon "the shining one" is the son of the Greek sun god, Helios. Well, Phaethon wanted to borrow his father's chariot. Helios agreed. Once in the chariot, Phaethon grew scared about being so high in the sky. When he drove it low, he almost set fire to earth. When he drove it high, the stars were complaining. hhmmm. It was not a good idea to allow Phaethon to use the chariot. (the story ends tragically) Helios, keep your chariot to yourself.

[*~*Chary*~*]

Did she work with a specific moon god? I ask because the moon usually comes out when the sun sets. At least, the moon is much more visible whn the sun disappears. Basically, I am asking whether Nut would tell a moon god that she was about to swallow the sun, it is time for the moon to appear

i didn't answer this straight away because i wanted to confirm what i thought ... after checking 127 books and still nothing ... one of my enlightened friends confirmes it for me.

Simply that Nut, as mother and daughter to Ra...swallows Ra (the sun) so he can make his nightly journey thru the night sky of the Duat.
'As she swallows the sun, she gives birth to the moon
Ra makes his nightly travels, fighting off Apep
then in the morning, Nut gives birth to him, and swallows the moon

[Arzhela]

So I researched a goddess and was very interested by what I found. This was a great idea, Chary!

Saule, "the golden apple," was the Baltic sun goddess. She rode in a chariot with iron wheels drawn by wild white, golden-maned horses managed with whips of silk, and appears at Misummer, or "ligo" to dance in silver shoes on the hills and reign until Midwinter. She drives her chariot accross the sky each day, returning into the sea at night to bathe herself and her horses.

She is a goddess of fertility and light, but also of morals and justice, and it is she who punishes evildoers. As goddess of the sky she is the mother of the planets, her daughters: Vaivora, Ausrine (also Vakar...which is Ausrine, Venus, only setting), Zemyna, Ziezdre, Selija, and Indraja (Mercury, Morning Star/Venus, Earth, Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter, respectively). Her festival was at Midwinter, or "kaleda." At this time the smith god, Kalvis, caught the sun's light in a specially forged golden cup and the goddess was reborn as the morning star, her daughter Ausrine, driving her chariot once more over dawn's hills. She has many associations with the apple tree. Stories range from her being a great red apple, setting in the west, to her sleeping in an apple tree and going to her apple garden when she is sad to weep tears of amber.

There are many versions of Saule's marriages. She is said to be the wife of Dievas, the sky god, Perkunas, God of Thunder, and the moon, Menulis. Through all of these, however, she remains independent.
In one story, Saule was married to Menulis, but divorced him for his carrying on with their daughter, Ausrine, the dawn. There are two ends: one, that Dievas or Perkunas struck Menulis leaving him disfigured, the second that Saule punished Menulis by scarring his face. In any case, this accounts for Menulis' moon phrases.
In another story Ausrine is the daughter of Perkunas and Saule, and Menulis hides his face from Saule in shame.

Other associations for Saule include: spinning, childbirth, orphans, weaving, laundring, music, and the hearth.
Symbols for Saule: eggs, golden apples, wheels, flax, amber, and sun crosses.

[Emaleth]

Sorry for bumping this, but this is very interesting and connected with Yule time, the return of the sun.

Sol

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Norse mythology, Sol is the sun goddess, daughter of Mundilfari. She is married to Glen. Sol rides through the sky in a chariot pulled by the horses Alsvid ("all swift") and Arvak ("early riser"). Below their shoulder-blades the gods inserted iron-cold bellows to keep them cool.
She is chased during the daytime by the wolf Skoll who tries to devour her, just like her brother Mani is chased by the wolf Hati at night. It was believed that during solar eclipses the sun was in danger of being eaten by Skoll. Both wolves are the offspring of the giantess Hrodvitnir who lives in the Iron Wood. Eventually, the wolf will catch her. The goddess Svalin stands in front of the sun and shields the earth from the full intensity of its heat.


So we have a goddess with a chariot, I think that's quite exceptional, more often it was a god as I recall.

Blessed Be

[Mnemosyne]

Thanks for bumping this thread for Yule, Emaleth. :) People also honor Apollo, Ra, Saturn, Odin, the Horned God, Lugh, Mitra, Brighid, et als.

The return of the sun happens tomorrow, so happy Yule to all.

[Agaliha]

Wow, this is an old thread.

I just wanted to mention Surya. He is the Chief Sun God. He's Vedic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surya (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surya)
http://www.mythfolklore.net/india/encyclopedia/sanjna.htm (http://www.mythfolklore.net/india/encyclopedia/sanjna.htm)

His wife is Sanjna.
He has a handmaid, Chhaya (Shadow/Shade)
And is sometimes the consort of Ushas (Dawn)

Here is a beautiful story of Ushas and Surya:
http://www.indiaprofile.com/religion-culture/ushas.htm (http://www.indiaprofile.com/religion-culture/ushas.htm)
and here: http://www.indiaprofile.com/religion-culture/surya.htm (http://www.indiaprofile.com/religion-culture/surya.htm)

:)

[Happy Shrew]

I've noticed some Helios/Apollo talk, so I'll share a random bit to make your heads hurt.

There is a viewpoint, and I don't remember what name it might go by, that the Greek gods and goddesses consisted of varying aspects that are capable of overlapping. Zeus and Apollo both have some solar aspects (I don't remember why Zeus does, but I do remember it being mentioned on one of my mailing lists). The solar aspect that Zeus and Apollo share could be regarded as:
- Something the two just have in common
- A part of them that actually overlaps
- A third and separate entity (Helios)

Therefore, you could talk about Apollo the Sun God, Helios the Sun God or Zeus the Sun God in theory, though most people only recognize the first two.

More well-versed Hellenes can probably provide more clear information on that, but I just thought I'd throw it out there.

[BlackEyed_Susan]

I don't know if she'd qualify as a sun goddess, at least not primarily, but whenever I think of Brighid I think of the story of her hanging her cloak on a sunbeam to dry :) Now I'm wishing I could remember where I read that...

[Agaliha]

I don't know if she'd qualify as a sun goddess, at least not primarily, but whenever I think of Brighid I think of the story of her hanging her cloak on a sunbeam to dry :) Now I'm wishing I could remember where I read that...

I believe you are right.



Brigit was probably originally a Sun Goddess, and a charming story of her birth is that she was born at sunrise and a tower of flame burst from the forehead of the new born Goddess that reached from Earth to Heaven.
http://inanna.virtualave.net/brigit.html#Titels (http://inanna.virtualave.net/brigit.html#Titels)


Plus the link to fire and heat could qualify Her.

[Khuinaset]

Let's see, solar gods/goddesses...

Aset is an Eye of Ra and is a solar goddess, though the association isn't as strong as with a lot of deities. Het-Hert and Sekhmet are both solar goddesses, as is Bast. Solar gods abound in the Egyptian pantheon, Nefertem is one, any god that's portrayed with a hawk or lion head is one in at least some form. For more information on Nefertem, there's a link in my signature that has most of the info you'll find on the web in one spot. Best resources for Aset are www.per-aset.org (www.per-aset.org) and http://www.philae.nu/akhet/Aset.html (http://www.philae.nu/akhet/Aset.html) . Bast: www.per-bast.org(though (www.per-bast.org(though) that appears to be down right now, check out the rest of the Akhet site, there's a large Netjeru glossary with links). I think there's a comprehensive site on Het-Hert and Sekhmet apiece, which should be VERY easy to find with some googling. I would type some up, but I'm tired and too lazy to right now :p

[Gyda]

A quick note on Sol from God Checker (http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/norse-mythology.php?deity=SOL) :viking:

The Norse Sun Goddess

Norse Mythology : SOL
Also known as SUNNA

SOL: Sun Goddess. Like her brother MANI, she rides through the sky in a horse-drawn chariot. And also like her brother, she is chased by a wolf.

Occasionally SKOLL, the wolf in question, gets close enough to risk a bite and we get an eclipse. But he'll never catch her properly until RAGNAROK.

Page last modified on 12 June 2003

[Caelia RavenWolf]

The god Lugh was worshipped in Ireland as a deity of the sun. This connection with the sun may explain his name (it means "shining one"), and it also may account for the attributes that he displayed: he was handsome, perpetually youthful, and had a tremendous energy and vitality.


I think this is a great thread and all... but Lugh is not a sun god and his name doesn't mean "shining one;" it's a mistranslation. He was a God of many, many things, but the sun was not one of them.

You might try these links, they're the only ones that really have anything decent on them:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lugh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lugh)

http://www.mythicalireland.com/mythology/tuathade/lugus.html (http://www.mythicalireland.com/mythology/tuathade/lugus.html)

[Windsmith]

I would get a major Divine kick in the butt if I didn't mention the Phoenician sun Goddess Shapshu, also known as Shapash.


Called the Luminary of the Deities, the Torch of the Gods, She sees all that transpires on Earth by day and guards the souls of the dead in the underworld by night. A major deity of the Ugaritic pantheon, She assists 'Anat in Her search for Ba'al. Like the Akkadian Shamash, She is a deity of justice, often serving to mediate for the deities in disputes.Taken from http://www.ancientsites.com/aw/Post/311701; that's a ridiculous picture of Her, but it's the best capsule summary I've found of what She's all about.

[Agaliha]

Yesterday I found this:



Sawelyosyo Dhughter
"Daughter of the Sun” - and yes, the figure connected with the Indo-European sun is female. She is not necessarily the sun herself, though, but rather the daughter of the sun as a symbol of Dyéus Patér, or a maiden who conducts the sun through the sky. Her name has survived as Greek Helen, Vedic Surya, Baltic and Saules meita.
Sawelyosyo Dhughter is the sister of the Twins, although in some of the descendant traditions she has merged with Ekwamedha and become their mother. The merge may have occurred because Sawelyosyo Dhughter is closely connected with horses. This forms part of her link with the Twins. It is most likely to be seen as describing the sun as either a horse in itself, carried on the back of a horse, or pulled in a chariot by a horse (or by two, who are the Twins).
As well as the Twins' sister, she is the wife or lover of one or both of them. Thus in Wales we have Cigfa, daughter of "Fair Shining One," married to Pryderi (who was twinned with a horse), the Vedic Asvins as the husbands of Surya, and the Baltic Saules Meita being wooed by the Sons of Dievas.
A phrase *suens kwekwlos, "wheel of the sun," is reconstructible from Sanskrit, Germanic, Celtic, and Slavic (Gamkrelidze and Ivanov, 1995, p. 624). The symbol of the sun is a circle, usually with rays, and sometimes with an equal-armed cross inside it. This was commonly put in graves (Jones-Bley, 1993, p. 432). Maybe it represented a hope that as the sun emerged from darkness so would the dead person. This does not necessarily imply a belief in reincarnation, since the rebirth could have been in the land of the dead, but it does show that Sawelyosyo Dhughter was a helper to the dead.
Bright One, who shines in the midst of the dark,
Helper of those on life's final journey:
Watch over those who give you worship.
http://www.ceisiwrserith.com/pier/deities.htm#10 (http://www.ceisiwrserith.com/pier/deities.htm#10)