Ra, ancient Egyptian god of the sun and king of the gods.
A solar deity (also sun god or sun goddess) is a sky deity who represents the Sun, or an aspect of it, usually by its perceived power and strength. Solar deities and Sun worship can be found throughout most of recorded history in various forms. The Sun is sometimes referred to by it's Latin name Sol or by its Greek name Helios. The English word sun stems from Proto-Germanic *sunnĒ.
Mythology[]
Egyptian mythology[]
The primary solar deity of Egyptian mythology is Ra. However, Horakhty and his wife Amentet, are gods of the rising sun and Khepri is god of the morning sun and Atum of the evening sun.
Mesopotamian mythology[]
In Mesopotamian mythologies, such as those of Assyria, Sumeria, and Babylon, Shamash is the solar deity. However, the god of the underworld, Nergal, is also considered a solar deity.
Proto-Indo-European mythology[]
In Proto-Indo-European mythology, the god of the sun is Sehāul, this deity has a daughter called the Sun Maiden and they are considered the Eye of Dyeus. This deity became other sun gods in other Indo-European religions like Helios, Sol, Surya, SĆ³l, Sowilo, Saule, and among many others.
Greek mythology[]
In Greek mythology, Helios has the title of sun god. However Apollon is also considered a god of the sun during the Roman period. Eos, sister of Helios, is goddess of the Dawn. Hemera is the goddess of the day.
Roman mythology[]
In Roman mythology, Sol is the god of the sun, later during the Roman Empire Sol became popular and became Sol Invcitus. Aurora is the goddess of the Dawn
Norse mythology[]
In Norse mythology, Dagr is the god of the day. However SĆ³l is the goddess of the sun.
German mythology[]
In German mythology, Sowilo is the continental god of the sun.
Slavic mythology[]
In Slavic mythology, Khors and Dazhdbog are both the gods of the Sun.
Hindu mythology[]
In Hindu mythology, Surya is god of the sun and it's power. However, the Adityas, the seven solar deities, are lesser gods of the sun. The Suryawanshi dynasty claimed descendance from him.
Japanese mythology[]
In Japanese myth, Amaterasu is the sun goddess and ancestress of the Emperors of Japan. She famously hid in a cave and had to be enticed outside by her fellow immortals.
Aztec mythology[]
In Aztec mythology, Huitzilopochtli is considered god of the sun, as well as god of war and sacrifice. Tonatiuh is considered of of the movements of the sun.
Incan mythology[]
In Incan mythology, Inti is the supreme sun god, and is ancestor of the Inca emperors and all humans. He is son of Viracocha, god of creation, and is patron of the Inca Empire.
Gallery of Solar deities[]
