Su n L o re O f A l l A ge s
A Co l l e c t i o n o f M yth s a n d L e ge n d s
Concerning the Sun and Its
Wo r ship
illiam T ler l M W O cott A . . y ?
Aut hor of A Fi B ‘ eld oo k of t he St ars St ar Lore ot AiEfi s } etc . , g ;
La x Del , L a x D i a l
With 30 F all - p age Ill ustra tions a nd Severa l Drawings
’ P . P n G . u t am s So ns
N ew Y ork and London
(t he finickerbochet p ress 1 9 1 4
Su n L o re O f A l l
‘ A C o l l e c t i o n O f M y t h s a n d L e ge n d smm Concerning the Su n an d Its
Worship
i li l r l W l am Ty e O cott , A . M .
Author of
A Field B ook of the Stars Star Lore Of All A es , g ,
“ Lex D c i , La x D i e t
With 30 F ull - p age Ill ustra tions a nd Severa l Drawings
m’ n G . P . Pu tna s So s New Y ork and London (the finicket bocket Dress
1 9 1 4 ‘ Efifl-l- Z A OPYRIGHT 1 1 C , 9 4 B Y WILLIAM TYLER OLCO TT
” - ot h t he h atchet backer p ress , new m
In t ro du c t i o n
IN the compil ation Of the volume S tar Lore of All A es a a r a a g , we lth Of inte esting m teri l pertaining t o the mythology and folk - lore Of the sun and oo was o m n disc vered , which seemed
a a ara o worth coll ting in sep te v lume . F urther research in the field Of the solar myth revealed sufficient matter t o warrant the publica
o a o o o ti n Of v lume dev ted s lely to the legends ,
a o and r o a all a and tr diti ns , supe stiti ns th t ges
a o a o o a n ti ns h ve w ven ab ut the sun , especi lly in
’ a t o or View Of the f ct that , the auth s knowledge , no o has a a such publicati n yet ppe red . The literature Of the subject is teeming with
r as f - or m an inte est , linked it is with the li e st y Of
ro ra ra t o r da kind f m the c dle Of the ce the p esent y , for the solar myth lies at the very foundation Of all
t o my hol gy , and as such must forever claim pre eminence .
a a l a o N tur l y , there clusters b ut the sun a rich
o - o ro orb mine Of f lk l re . The p minence Of the Of da o a a and y , its imp rtance in the m inten nce the
o r a has r devel pment Of life , the myste y th t eve Introduction
nfl - enveloped it , its great i uence in the well being Of
r for r mankind , have secu ed the sun a histo y Of
o r interest equalled by n ne , to which eve y age and
a every race have contributed their p ges .
In the light Of modern science , this mass Of myt h and legend may seem childish and Of trifling
a own v lue , but each age spells its advance , and the all - important present soon fades into the shadowy
o and forgotten past . It is theref re in reviving past history that progress is best measured and inter
re ed a o a p t . The f ncy SO prevalent am ng the ncients that the sun entered the sea each night with a
o n hissing n ise seems to us utterly foolish and ina e , but let us not ridicule past ages for their crude
o a n tions and qu int fancies , lest some Of the cherished ideas Of which we boast be transmuted
o by the touch Of time int naught but idle visions . It is therefore important for the student of
a history to study the p st in all its phases , and whatever can be brought to light Of the lore Of bygone ages shoul d have for us a charm and should
li e find a place in our intellectual v S. W . T . O .
N W C . OR ICH , ONN N o t e
The thanks Of the author are due The Mac
a C a nd o C for mill n ompany , Henry H lt ompany, permi ssion t o use much valuable material from their copyrighted publications ; and also to Pro fe or W a r lma s M s . . . ree n s . . . o C A V J cks n , J R , M r o C and mi Instit u . Le n ampbell , the S thsonian
o a A o o for ti n , Bure u Of merican Ethn l gy , rare illustrations .
C o n t en t s
I — . SOLAR CREATION MYTHS
— E OF II . ANCIENT ID AS THE SUN AND THE MOON — III . SOLAR MYTHOLOGY
— Conti nued IV . SOLAR MYTHOLOGY ( ) — F - V . SOLAR OLK LORE
I — W V . SUN ORSHIP
I — UN W Conti nued V I . S ORSHIP ( ) — - VIII . SUN CATCHER MYTHS — IX SOLAR F ESTI VALS — X . O SUPERSTI SOLAR MENS , TRADITIONS , AND TIONS
X I — F F O B M . . SOLAR SIGNI ICANCE URIAL CUSTO S
ORIENTATION .
—EM M M F XII . BLE ATIC AND SY BOLIC F ORMS O THE SUN
— R V XIII . THE SUN E EALED BY SCIENCE B IBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX
Illu st ra t i o n s
PAGE
AURORA F ronti spi ece
F rom the drawin uido eni g by G R . Phot And r n o by e so .
THE DAYS OF CRE ATION
F rom the drawin urn - n g by B e Jo es . Permission F rederi c Holl er ( Of k y . )
THE DAYS OF CREATION
F m t urn - n ro he drawing by B e Jo es . i i ll (Perm ss on Of F rederick Ho yer. )
THE NIMBUS - CROW NED F IGURE (MITHRAS) d h M Cou rt es of Pro essor A. W . ac son an T e ac ( y f V . J k n mill a CO . )
THE HORSES OF THE SUN
F rom the scul t ure b o ert Le Lorrain m rimerie p y R b , I p National Pari e, s .
Phot o Gir ud n by a o .
APOLLO AND DAPHNE
F rom the hot o b Anderson rom the stat ue b ernini p y f y B , l o al er r hese ome. G y B g , R
APOLLO B ELVE DERE
m the h t o n M m f at ican ome F ro o b Anderso useu O . p y , V , R
KE PHALO S AND PROKRI S
F rom the d rawin b uido eni g y G R . P t A ru h c mann . o o by V . . B k xi xii Ill ustrations
P A GE SAINT MICHAEL F rom the hot o b Anderson Of the drawin b uido p y g y G Reni .
E OF P ISL SUN , LAKE TITICACA , ERU M L l rt eon Cam el . (Cou esy Of r. pb )
R OF INCA UINS , ISLE SUN , LAKE TITICACA M r L n m ll rt eo Ca e . (Cou esy Of . pb )
’ R O F B OF UINS THE INCAS ATH , ISLE SUN , LAKE TITICACA r m ll Court es of M . Leon Ca e ( y pb . )
THE E O F B T MPLE JUPITER , AALBEK , SYRIA Co ri ht b nderwood nde d py g y U U rwoo .
THE DELPHIC SIBYL F rom the phot o by Anderson from the painting by Mi chel l i tine Cha el i an e o s at can . g , S p , V
THE RUINS OF THE GREEK TEMPLES OF HERCULES
AND APOLLO , SELINUNTE , SICILY ri ht b nderwood nde ood Copy g y U U rw .
THE R OF OF C Z UINS THE TEMPLE THE SUN , U CO , PERU m rt M r Leon Ca ell . (Cou esy Of . pb )
THE R OF M OF C Z UINS THE TE PLE THE SUN , U CO , PERU l r Leon Cam e l . (Court esy Of M . pb )
TH E P D OF THE SUN SAN O YRAMI , JUAN TE TIHUACAN ’ F rom the photo by Det roit Pub g CO .
E STONEHENGE , NGLAND t n r oo nde ood Copyrigh by U de w d U rw .
JOSHUA COMMANDING THE SU N m i ri Ma iore o e. Mosa c . Ma a S gg , R r n F rom the photo by Ande so . Ill ustrations xiii
PAGE
THE B V ULL APIS , LOU RE i Photo by G raudon .
MEDICINE LODGE SIOUX INDIAN SUN DANCE h h t o M oon F rom t e p o b y ey . Court es of mithsonian nstit ut ion ureau American ( y S I , B Of l Ethno ogy . )
TH E MAYPOLE DANCE
o ri ht nde ood nde ood C py g by U rw U rw .
THE O F - RA K E TEMPLE AMEN , ARNAK , GYPT
h nd d nd r d Copyrig t by U erwoo U e woo .
THE G W OF P K ATE AY TOLEMY , ARNAK
THE AZTEC CALENDAR STONE lm Cree an . (Courtesy Of M rs . J . R . )
THE ROYAL ARMS OF ENGLAND GREEK LETTER F RATERNITY ESCUTCHEON
’ SUN s D W G ISK SHO ING SPOTS AND RANULATION , JULY
Yerkes.
’ SUN S LIMB SHOWING PROM1NENCES MILES H H 2 1 1 0 IG , AUGUST , 9 9
F r h M il ol om t e hot o at t W son ar servator . p . S Ob y
Chapter I
Sol ar Creat i o n Myths
N r t o I the literatu e Of celestial my h logy , the legends that relate to the creation Of the chief
was luminaries occupy no small part . It natural
l a s ecu a that primitive man should at an ear y d te p , late on the great problem Of the creation Of the
and a a t o visible universe , especi lly in reg rd the source whence Sprang the Sun and the Moon .
a o This gre t questi n , Of such vital interest to all
o a ro nati ns since the dawn Of history , presents p blem that is still unsolved even in this enlightened
for o f age , , alth ugh the nebula hypothesis is airly
are a r o well established , there st on mers Of note t o - day who do not altogether accept it . The myths that relate t o the creation Of the sun generally regard that orb as manufactured and
a o o a or pl ced in m ti n by a primitive r ce , by the
God a as t he Of Light , rather th n existing before birth Of the world . In other legends , the Sun was r o or f eed from a cave by a champi n , sprang into
as ifi or life the sacr ce Of the life Of a god hero . 4 S u n Lore O f All Ages
These traditions doubtless arose from the funda mental belief that the Sun and the Moon were per
’ sonified a at one beings , and th t time in the world s history man lived in a state Of darkness or dim
for o Obscurity . The necessity light w uld suggest
and a Of o the invention Of it , hence a v riety ingeni us methods for procuring it found their way into the
t o a my hol gy Of the ancient n tions . Of all the solar creation myths that have come
o a a s down to us , those Of the N rth Americ n Indi n are by far the most interesting because Of the n Of and i genuity the legends , their great variety . We would expect t o find the same myt h relating
o o a to the creati n Of the sun pred minating , as reg rds
f . its chief eatures , among most Of the Indian tribes
ra a On the cont ry , the m jority Of the tribes had their own individual traditions as t o how the sun
for o . o came int existence They agree , h wever ,
or the most part , in ascribing to the w ld a state
Of darkness or semi - darkness before the sun was
or manufactured , found , and placed in the sky .
“ The great tribes Of the Northi- west coast believe that the Raven , who was their supreme deity ,
da and found the sun one y quite accidentally , ,
a s realising its v lue to man , placed it in the heaven
r where it has been eve since .
o t o a a Acc rding the Yum Indi n tradition , their great god Tuchaipa created the world and then
S olar Creation Myths 5
oo r a was f the m n . Pe ceiving th t its light insu ficient
’ for a a a ar r and r m n s needs , he m de l ge a b ighter orb o r u a o , the sun , which pr vided the eq isite m unt
Of light . The Kootenays believed that the sun was created
o o or hi a out a by the c y te , c cken h wk , Of ball Of
a C m th I a t o gre se , but the herokee y that rel ted
r o o a a the c eati n Of the sun was m re el bor te , and seems t o imply that the Deluge myth was known t o them . When the earth was dry and the a nimals came
o w as ar so ot sun d wn , it still d k , they g the and set it in a track t o go every day across the island
r o o h f om east t west just overhead . It was t o ot
wa and Crawfish had this y , the Red his shell
co a a a was o s rched bright red so th t his me t sp iled , and o do no eat o r the Cher kee t it . The c njure s then put the sun another handbreadth higher in
ai r wa oo ho s t . the , but it still t They raised it
r and a o wa s a anothe time , n ther until it seven h nd
r a and un a b e dths high , just der the sky rch , then
was and r da it right they left it so . Eve y y the sun goes along under thi s arch and returns at ” on r r night the uppe Side t o the sta ting place .
r a a m o t o a This myth eve ls belief , co m n m ny Of
a r a or a w as the Indi n t ibes , th t igin lly the sun much
a t o r a now and o ne rer the ea th th n , his sc rching heat
l th r h e o t . . t nolo ureau g R p U S E gy B . 6 S un Lore O f All Ages
a . a o greatly Oppressed m nkind Str ngely en ugh ,
o can o a o alth ugh it be n thing but c incidence , the nebul ar hypothesis Of modern science predicates that the solar system resul ted from the gradual
a contraction Of nebul a . This implies that the planet earth and the sun were once in compara
l r tiv e y close p oximity .
o Yokut Am ng the Indians , there was a tradition
o Of that at one time the world was c mposed rock, and there was no such thing as fire and light .
o who Of The c yote , all the animals was chief in
the o o importance , told wolf to g up int the mount a a ins till he c me to a great lake , where he would see a fire which he must seize and bring back . The
as o a wolf did he was rdered , but it was not e sy to
and o take the fire , SO he Obtained nly a small part
r f Of . O it , which he b ought back Out this the
and ut coyote made the moon , then the sun , and p them in the sky where they have been to this day .
f Of The significant eature this myth is the fact ,
’ that , contrary to the general notion , the moon s r o a c eati n anted ted that Of the sun . The explana tion Of this seeming incongruity appears in the
o e legend Of the Yuma Indians given ab v . The
o o ffi mo n , alth ugh created first , did not give su cient
a a ur light , hence it was necess ry to manuf ct e a o r f Of o and o s u ce O light greater p wer lumin sity . The legends Of the Mission Indians of California
8 S un Lore O f All Ages for r " a a thei well being . It was s id th t her entire body was covered with the beautiful iridescent
a a o and o Shells Of the b l ne , the light which sh ne r a f om these was difficult t o g ze upon .
t o W di a t According a yandot In n my h , the Little Turtle created the Sun by order Of a great
Of a Mo t o council animals , and he m de the on be
’ o a a the Sun s wife . He als cre ted the fixed st rs , “ ” but the stars which run about the sky are
o o supp sed t be the children Of the Sun and Moon . The following Yuma legend I indicates that the moon was considered by their a ncestors as Of greater importance than the sun : Kwikum at ‘ a s id , I will make the moon first . He faced the
on o of east , and placing spittle the f refinger his right hand rubbed it like paint on the eastern sky ‘ a it until he made a round shiny place . I c ll the
’ m K ik o od o w umat . N oon , said ow an ther g , wh m
Kwikum at a hi s cre ted , rubbed fingers till they
o Sk w sh ne , and drawing the y do n to himself he painted a great face upon it rubbing it till it shone ”
r hi a . b ightly . T s he c lled the sun There is a tradition among the Porno Indians Of
C o a a alif rni , that , in very e rly times , the sun did
a as now not move d ily across the heavens it does , but only rose a short distance above the eastern
o and a . h rizon each morning , then sank b ck again
- x J ournal American F olk Lore, v ol . xn.
S olar Creation Myths 9
r not o This a rangement did suit pe ple very well , and o o - Man r t o r o o C y te dete mined bette c nditi ns , so he started eastward t o see what the trouble was with the sun .
oo o a He t k with him some f od , a m gic sleep
r d our o a an . pr ducing tuft Of fe the s , f mice On the
u da ar at o o fo rth y he rived the h me Of the sun pe ple,
r or a and a r a a wa who eceived him c di lly , g e t d nce s
a a o arr nged in the d nce h use . In the midst Of this building the sun was suspended from the
of a - rafters by ropes gr pe vines .
Co o - Man ra and o y te libe ted the mice , t ld them
a at a - ro a to gn w the gr pe vine pes th t held the sun .
M a o eanwhile , he d nced with the sun pe ple , and ,
- o r by the aid Of the Sleep pr ducing feathe s , he
all r mi succeeded in stupefying the dance s . The ce
had C o - M an by this time freed the sun , which oy te
Off seized and carried with him . On his home
o sun a on oun c ming , the was l id the gr d , and the
o a oul o pe ple discussed wh t sh d be d ne with it , but
Coyote - Man decided that it shoul d be hung up in
f ul the middle Of the sky . This di fic t task was
t o all a delegated the birds , but they f iled until it
’ a ul c me the crows turn . They were successf in
a has a h nging up the sun , and it rem ined in its
r r r p ope place eve since . The Apache myth agrees with most Of the Indian myths as regards the darkness that tra ditionally 1 0 S u n Lore O f All Ages
’ o or and for reigned ver the w ld , the peoples desire
o a o light , but their n tion Of the cre ti n Of the sun itself diff ers materially from the other Indian myths .
o The myth relates that , originally , the nly light in the world w as that which emanated from the large eagle feathers that people carried about with
was a a Of them . This such an uns tisf ctory means
a o a illumin ting the w rld , that council Of the tribe was called for the purpose Of devising a better
Of s system lighting . It was sugge ted that they
a u a set o . A m n f cture a sun , so they ab ut it great disk was made , and painted a bright yellow , and
a not this was pl ced in the Sky . The legend does
a ho fir rel te w this was accomplished . This st a ttempt at sun4 maki ng was not altogether success
w as t oo . o r ful , as the disk small H weve , they permitted it to make one circui t of the heavens
a r F o r before it was t ken down and enla ged . u
a o b e times it was t ken d wn , and increased in size , fore it was as large as the earth and gave sufficient
o a at - light . Enc ur ged by their success sun making ,
o o and the pe ple made a mo n , hung it up in the
’ a a o a sky . It ppe rs that this light c mp ny s business , and i re Of a ar and its success , aroused the wiz d a witch who lived in the underworld . They regarded the manuf acture Of the sun and moon as presump t u ous a on a man and a cts the p rt Of , ttempted to S olar Creation Myths 1 1
destroy the luminaries ; but the sun and moon fled
o or av a fr m the underw ld , le ing it in perpetu l dark
oun a a a a ness , and f d a s fe biding pl ce in the he vens ,
a a o where they h ve ever rem ined unm lested . The Navaj o Indian legend Of the creation Of the
a o a sun , moon , and st rs is decidedly n vel , and reve ls the wide range Of the imagination Of primitive man in his conception Of the creation of the
celestial bodies .
ar a a o a a The e ly N v j , it ppe rs , in common with
a o r a r o t o con m ny the Indi n t ibes , met in c uncil sider a means Of introducing more light into the
r for r o wo ld ; , in ea ly times , the pe ple lived in semi
ar ur Of . d kness , the Obsc ity resembling that twilight The wise men concluded that they must have a
o a a a o sun , and mo n , and a v riety Of st rs pl ced ab ve
ar and or a w as o t o the e th , the first w k th t d ne bring this about was the creation Of the heavens
a a of in which to pl ce the lumin ries . The Old men the tribe made the sun in a house constructed for
a o r a o o this speci l purp se , but the c e ti n Of the mo n
a t o o and st rs they left ther tribes . The work Of creating the sun was soon aecom
lished and p , the problem then presented itself Of
a t o a and r ising it up the he vens fixing it there .
flut ers had a o a Two dumb , who g ined c nsider ble
r a prominence in the tribe , we e selected to be r the
sun and moon (for they had also constructed a 1 2 S un Lore of All Ages
- oul moon) , Atlas like , on their respective sh ders .
r a ur t o on for These we e gre t b dens impose them ,
o o or the orbs were exceedingly p nder us . Theref e , the fiut ers staggered at first under the great weight
a o o and one ar th t b re them d wn , the be ing the sun came near burning up the earth before he raised it sufficiently high ; but the Old men of the tribe lit their pipes and puffed smoke vigorously at the
and a sun , this caused it to retire to greater distance in the heavens . F our successive times they had to do this t o
r ur Of or for a p event the b ning up the w ld , the e rth has increased greatly in size since a ncient times ;
had t o r and , consequently , the sun be p ojected
a so a o higher in the he vens , th t its great heat w uld
n fire not set the world o .
o a a a It will be n ted th t the l ngu ge Of the myths ,
has o o o as translated , been f ll wed cl sely . This was in order t o bring out more ful ly their quaint
a a o and a im gery . The Indi n was ever a p et , study Of the tribal legends reveals many charm ing bits that woul d lose their beauty of expression were they transposed into the diction Of our more
a o pros ic t ngue .
a o o In the Ute Indi n myth which f ll ws , it appears that the sun had t o be conquered and subjected
’ t o or o a man s will , bef e it w uld perform its d ily a and r ar w a t sk in an orderly egul y .
14 S un Lore of All Ages
od and out the eyes Of the g burst , gushed a flood of tears which extinguished the fire .
- But the Sun God had been conquered , and
a aw ited sentence . A great council was called , and f - was , a ter much discussion , the Sun God condemned to pursue a definite path across the sk y each day , and the days , nights , and seasons w a hi ere arr nged in an orderly fas on . The following Cherokee Indian myth reveals the
’ “ Sun as the arbiter of man s fate : A number of people were engaged to construct a sun , which was O the first planet made . riginally it was intended
ul that man sho d live forever , but the sun , when
o he came to survey the situati n , decided that , inasmuch as the earth was insufficient to support
ul man , it wo d be better to have him succumb to ” death , and so it was decreed .
Creati on M ths o P ri m ti v Amer ca In y f i e i , by
r m C a Je e iah urtin , there is particul arly interesting l solar myth . It is , therefore , given in much detai , as it is considered one Of the most remarkable Of the o ar s a r s l legends . A pure p oduct Of the imagina
o a Of n ti n , it r nks with the best examples Egyptia
a o and Greci n mythol gy . The myth relates the efforts Of a wicked and
I o - a bl od thirsty Old man n med Sas , to kill his son in - l h rri aw Tul c uh e s . a , After m ny ineffectual at
Sas was the Wintu ndian word for Sun I . S olar Creation Myths 1 5
t o a o o ro tempts cc mplish his fell purp se , he p posed a - o for a pine bending c ntest , he felt sure th t , by getting his son - in - l aw to Climb to the t op Of a lofty
r ul low and o t ee , he co d bend it , , by letting g Of it , suddenly hurl the Object Of his enmity into the sky and thus destroy him .
T ul chuherris had r o o , howeve , a wise pr tect r
a a r hidden in his h ir , in the guise Of little Sp ite
a Winishu at who n med y , warned him Of his peril , and enabled him t o turn the tables on his wicked
a - in - f ther law .
In the words of the myth : He [Tul chuherris]
o r o ar Sas and a r se in the night , tu ned t w d , s id
hu whu whu a ou as t o o W S . , , , I w nt y Sleep s undly
a a o ard Then he re ched his right h nd t w the west ,
’ o a r a - ra o r a nd a a t w rd his g e t g ndm the s , stick c me
o ar a a int it . He c ved and p inted the stick be uti
ul red and a and a a fire- r f ly , bl ck , m de d ill . Then
r a hi s a o ar a oo he e ched left h nd t w d the e st , and w d f r a o o arro ra a o He o m k s [ w st ightener] c me int it .
a o o and a fox do for a fox m de the m k s , sked the g
fox a a a a skin . The g ve it . Of this he m de he d
a a b nd , and p inted it red . All these things he put
o We are r a a Tul chuh rri e s . int his quiver . e dy , s id
‘ ’ N a o t o o r a a ow u . , D ylight , I wish y c me ight w y
a o oo a D ylight came . Sas r se , and s n fter they
’ a for M son - in - l aw o first st rted the tree y , I will g ,
‘ ’ l GO a Sas and . r s id , he c imbed the tree highe , 1 6 S un Lore O f All Age
‘ a Tul chuherris not r a ul O s id , I will give a g e t p l , g up higher He went high and Tul chuherris did not a a ul a Sas give gre t p l so th t came down safely .
Tulchuh erris now a t o th climbed the tree , lmost e
oo at a was top . Sas l ked him , saw th t he near
t o the top , and then drew the great pine almost the a a of e rth , standing with his b ck to the top the r Tul chuherris off f t ee . sprang rom the tree behind
Sas and ran a a o r ra , w y int the field . The t ee sp ng
o sk a o You are now int the y with r ar . killed , my ‘ son - in - a Sas not r law , s id , you will t ouble me
’ a a hereafter . He talked on to himself and w s gl d .
‘ ’ Wh a ou a r- in - law ? a t were y s ying , fathe sked
Tul chuherris o a . S s , c ming up from behind turned , ‘ " - in - law was ra a Oh my son , I af id th t I had hurt
‘ ’ rr Now ro ou . o . y I was s y , my b ther , said ‘ h as u Winis u at S ou o . y , will kill y unless y kill him At midday he will kill you surely unless you suc
e ou as ? ce d in killing him . Are y not strong as Sas ‘ F - i n - a o ather law , try ag in , then I will g to
is Tul chuherr . the very top and beat you , said That morning the elder daughter Of Sas said to her r a Sas had o M r our Siste fter g ne , y siste , a r has all o has all f the tried pe ple , and conquered
d not o far . Of them SO , but to ay he will c nquer
o . DO Tod ay he will die . I kn w this not look
- o da o . for him t y . He will not c me back He will never come back t o us . S olar Creatio n Myths 1 7
hi m now o Sas went up high . I will kill th ught
Tul chuherris and was orr r : , he very s y , still he c ied
r o t o r . GO a little highe . I went highe I will g
t o . not ou o a the p next time I will hurt y , g little
r Sas r and hi r at a highe . went highe ghe , till l st ‘ : a o an o at t het o he said I c nn t climb y m re , I am p ,
’ - in - la Tul chu do not a son w . give big pull , my
rr o o r one a he is to k h ld Of the t ee with h nd , pulled
as as ul o it far it would bend , p led it till it t uched
ar and W the e th , then let it fly . hen the tree
o r a an ul o and rushed t wa d the sky it m de awf n ise ,
o a r a ra was a r so n fte c sh he rd , a hund ed times
r a an r ar loude th t y thunde . All living things he d
o and a o lelbi s . o O it The wh le sky e rth Sh k . , who a a lives in the highest pl ce , he rd it . All living ‘ things said : Tulchuherris is killing his father - in
’ law Tulchuherris has a . split Sas . The wful
as f as Tul chuh erris noise w the splitting o S .
oo a a r r r a st d w iting . He w ited th ee hou s pe h ps , a r ar o r l far fte the e th st pped t emb ing , then , up in ‘ ar a a : son - in the sky he he d voice s ying Oh , my l aw am am a o was , I split ; I de d . I th ught I the
ro o r am not F st ngest p we living , but I . rom this time on I Shall say Tul chuherri s is the greatest
’ o o p wer in the w rld . “ Tul chuh erris ul not one o l co d see any . He n y heard a voice far up in the Sky saying : My son - in l aw ask ou for a W ou , I will y few things . ill y give 1 8 S un Lore of All Ages me your fox- skin head - band? Tul chuh erri s put
o - i ui oo out his hand int his fox Sk n q ver , t k the
a band , and tossed it to him . It went str ight up
N w ou to Sas and he caught it . o will y give me your mokos ? Tul chuherri s took out the mokos
’
- fire . and threw it . Give me your drill He threw that . ‘ A now not nother voice was heard , so loud , I wish you would give me a head - band of white
r Of as quartz . This voice was the smalle part S .
When Tul chuherris had given the head - band as
a : M - in - law ou are requested , he s id y father , y
You a of ou split . are two . The larger p rt y will
r C a be Sas (the Sun) , the smaller pa t han h (the
M one and hi o oon) , the white , t s divisi n is what you
a one have needed for long time , but no had the
t o ou You a strength divide y . are in a good st te C now . You , hanah , will grow Old quickly and die ,
ou o t o o a . then y will c me life , and be y ung gain
Yo a or . Sas u will be lways like that in this w ld ,
ou a r y will travel west all the time , tr vel eve y
a da You a da d ay without missing y . will tr vel y
You all after day without resting . will see things
M a r o . in the w rld , as they live and die y f the
w
- Tul chuh rris in l aw . e , take this too from me then f threw up t o Sas a quiver made O porcupine Skin . ’
w a a a . I ill t ke it , said Sas , and I will carry it lw ys Then Tul chuh erris gave Chanah the quartz head S olar Creation Myths 1 9
a a : W a ar a b nd , and s id e r it ound your he d a a so a ou r ou lw ys , th t when y t avel in the night y
ll all o wi be seen by pe ple .
Sas fox- a put the skin round his head , and fastened the mokos crosswise in front Of his fore
fire- a a r head . The drill he f stened in his h i behind ,
la a r of p cing it upright . At sunrise we see the h i the fox - skin around the head Of Sas before we see
Tul chuh rri s r Sas himself . Next e th ew up two ‘ red berries saying : Take these and make red
on a o a so a ou cheeks e ch side Of y ur f ce , th t when y
r ou a rise in the mo ning , y will be bright and m ke everything bright . “ T ul chuherris then went west and got some
r o ro a r white o ts f m the mount ins , and th ew them up t o Sas saying : Put these across your forehead .
r a and Next he st etched his right hand westw rd ,
w o r t a . l ge shells , blue inside , came to his palm ‘ He threw these also up to Sas saying : Put these On your forehead for a Sign when you come up in
o a the m rning . There is place in the east which
ll r and a fi e. W ou a a is hen y reach th t pl ce , go in
a o GO o l l an now Olelbis ur . t O e ti . w rm y self p ,
r a r ou t o you f the , lives there . He will tell y where
7 go Sas therefore went to Olelpanti where he
o - f und a wonderful and very big sweat house . It
wa s or Olelbis . toward m ning , and was sleeping 20 S u n Lore O f All Ages
and a a nd Presently he was startled by a noise woke ,
one saw some near him , He knew at once who it ‘ a : M was . Sas turned to him and s id y father , I
r r am split . I thought myself the st ongest pe son in the world but I am not ; Tul chuherri s is the
W Sas Ol elb is strongest . ell my son , , said , ‘ where do you wish to be? and how do you wish to
’ ‘ ’ ‘ ’ ? ask ou a S s . W live I am come to y , replied ell ,
Olelbis ou answered , y must travel all the time , If and it is better that you go from east to west .
’ ou a and r o y go northw rd t avel s uthward , I don t
o think that would be well . If you g west and
’ travel eastward I don t think that will be well
ou o r ar either . If y go s uth and travel no thw d I
’ o a b d n t think th t will e right . I think that best
Tul chuherris o which told you . He t ld you to go
a r t o . r a e st , and t avel the west He said the e is hot place in the east that you must go into and get
o hot before you start every m rning . I will Show
o a you the road from east t west . In a pl ce right
a south Of this is very big tree , a tobacco tree , just
- a W ou half way between e st and west . hen y come r o a f om the east , sit d wn in the sh de Of the tree ,
r o on . r o o est a few minutes , and g Neve f rget y ur porcupine quiver or other ornaments when you
a GO t o a a GO t o . tr vel . the e st the hot pl ce
r al a fire every morning . The e is w ys a in it . Take a oak aff of fire white st , thrust the end it into the ,
22 S un Lore Of All Ages o o a r l ng j urney they re ched thei destination , and
who w as a now the uncle , a m gician , knowing his
’ was nephew in great peril , entered his nephew s
a he rt . W akara received the youth cordially , and after a time placing him in the midst Of a magic family
r o a o ci cle , perf rmed an incant ti n , and the group
a o a a t o o Of a were tr nsp rted m gic lly the h use Tuin ,
was the Sun . Tuina wont t o slay men by giving
o a o them poisoned t b cco to sm ke , but , although he
Pun Mi au a o presented five pipes to p , he sm ked
all ff them with no ill e ects , being protected from
a l h rm by his uncle , who all the time dwe t in his heart ; and Halai Auna was glad that Tuina had been foiled in his attempt to Slay her suitor .
’ Pun Mi aupa s uncle now came forth from his
’ a nephew s he rt , and through his powerful magic
a a a and c used gre t deluge to descend , and Tuina ,
Wa r i kara , and thei fam lies were all drowned save
a a Hal i Aun ; but , so great was her grief over the o Of a i a o on l ss her f mily , that the mag ci n t ok pity
r an or t he d rest ed them o life . He then entered his
’ ’ ar and r tur Wakara s nephew s he t , all e ned to
W a a was on house . ak r still bent killing Pun
Mi au a and o - p , pr posed a tree bending contest similar t o that in which Sas and Tul chuherri s
a t oo ar a eng ged , but he , , sh ed the f te Of the wicked
Sas and was hurled into the sky where he remained . S olar Creation Myths 23
Pun Miaupa laughed and said : Now my father in - law ou r o r t o a a ou , y will neve c me he e live g in , y
a r o n o r You will st y whe e y u are ow f reve . will
o al ou o t o and bec me sm l , and then y will c me life
ro ar e. a wa a a o g w l g You will be th t y lw ys , gr wing
’ 9 an a o Old d becoming young gain . Thus the m on changes in its phases from small t o great as it
a pursues its he venly way . The following beautiful solar creation myth is “ I a from Japan . It is entitled The W y Of the Gods and contains a reference t o a floating cloud
of a or a r had in the midst infinite sp ce , bef e m tte
a an o r t ken y the form . This well describes the original nebul a from which scientists aver the solar
a ra t o system w s evolved . It is st nge find in the pages Of mythology that record the creation Of the
a o a a of celesti l b dies llusions , th t , in the light
f a o a ou o of a o . m dern science , s v r m re fact th n f ncy The myth is as follows When there w as
r a nor a nor nor o nor neithe he ven , e rth , sun , mo n ,
t a r a any hing th t is , the e existed in infinite sp ce
or M a hi m the Invisible L d Of the iddle He ven , with
r t wo o r r a there we e the gods . They c e ted between them a F loating Cloud in the midst Of which was a liquid formless and lifeless mass from which the
a w as o r r or a e rth ev lved . Afte this we e b n in He ven
ra o o and a and o seven gene ti ns Of g ds , the l st m st
’
The Child s Gui o M thol o Helen A. Clar e. de t y gy, k 24 S un Lore of All Ages
f e per ect Of these were Izanagi and Izanami . Th se
a r an were the p rents Of the wo ld d all that is in it . After the creation Of the world Of living things Izanagi created the greatest Of his children in this
a wise . Descending into a clear stream he b thed
r his left eye , and forth Sp ang Amaterasu , the great
- Go a Sun ddess . Sp rkling with light she rose from
a r a and the w te s as the sun rises in the E st , her
r was r o o b ightness wonde ful , and sh ne thr ugh
a and a a a he ven e rth . Never was seen such r di nt ‘
. a a r o r and a : glory Iz n gi ej iced g eatly , s id There
a ul is none like this mir c ous child . Taking a
a of o neckl ce jewels he put it r und her neck , and ‘ a f s id : Rule thou over the Plain o High Heaven . Thus Amatera su became the source of all life and
Of has ar and light , the glory her shining w med
o all c mforted mankind , and she is worshipped by
o da them unt this y . “ a a Then he b thed his right eye , and there p
r o M oo - God a ea ed . p her br ther , the n Izanagi s id Thy beauty and radiance are next t o the Sun in
Q ” o o i Of splendour ;rule th u ver the Dom nion Night . In Norse mythology it is said that Odin ar
e a and ar and rang d the periods Of d ylight d kness ,
and the seasons . He placed the sun moon in the
a heavens , and regul ted their respective courses .
o Day and Night were considered m rtal enemies .
o a o and a be Light came fr m b ve , d rkness from S olar Creation Myths 2 5
a o a oo ne th , and in the pr cess Of cre tion the m n
r p eceded the sun .
o t o There is , h wever , a Norse legend Opposed the
V l eW o r a a o that the g ds c e ted the he venly b dies . This avers that the sun and moon were formed
ro ar ro fire a of M f m the sp ks f m the l nd uspelheim .
r t wo a was Mundilfare The fathe Of the lumin ries , and a a b o and Ma he n med his be utiful y girl , ane
M an 0 1 ( oon) d S (Sun) .
’ Mundilfare s o The gods , incensed at presumpti n , " took his children from him and placed them in the
a r r Sol t o he vens , whe e they pe mitted drive the
o and a ul a of h rses Of the sun , g ve over the reg tion
’ a t o M a the moon s ph ses a ne . Among the Eskimos of Behring Strait the crea tion Of the earth and all it contains is attributed t o a F a a a a the R ven ther . It is rel ted th t he c me
ro a a a a f m the sky fter gre t deluge , and m de the
r a o ani dry g ound . He ls created human and mal
f r a of m an a li e , but the ap city thre tened the ex
a o Of a a and a termin ti n nim l life , this SO nnoyed the Raven that he punished man by taking the sun
out Sk a b a at o . Of the y , and hiding it in g his h me
a r The people , it is s id , we e very much frightened , and at o of and f disturbed the l ss the sun , O fered rich gif ts t o the Raven t o p ropitiate him ; SO the
a o a and o o R ven relented s mewh t , w uld h ld the sun
a for da or t w o at a a up in one h nd a y time , so th t 26 S un Lore of All Ages
o ul f for the pe ple co d have su ficient light hunting ,
oul a b a a a and then he w d put it b ck in the g g in .
o o This arrangement , th ugh better than n thing ,
not on a o o was , the whole , satisf ct ry to pe ple , SO
’ a r o on and the R ven s brothe to k pity them , thought of a o scheme to better c nditions . He feigned
ur and death , and after he had been b ied the mourn
had a a ro ers gone way , he c me forth f m the grave ,
Of a and took the form a le f , which floated on the
’ a r f surface Of st eam . Presently , the Raven s wi e
a for a r c me to the stream d ink , and dipping up
a a the water She sw llowed with it the le f . The
’ Raven s wife soon after gave birth t o a b oy who
for and t o cried continually the sun , his father ,
a t o a . silence him , Often g ve him the sun pl y with
was b o on One day , when no one about , the y put
a o and ak his raven m sk and c at , t ing up the sun
and a o a flew away with it , pl ced it in its pr per pl ce
k ul a a o s . in the y He also reg ted its d ily c urse ,
a da and so a r r a m king y night , th t eve the e fter the people had the constant light Of the sun to guide
a them by d y . The ancient Peruvians believed that the god
Viracocha a and rose out Of L ke Titicaca , made the
and ar a r . sun , moon , st s , and regul ted thei courses
T lor I a a M y tells us th t origin lly the uyscas , who
of inhabited the high plains Bogota , lived in a
1 P rimi ti ve Culture dward B . T lor. , E y S olar Creation Myths 27
of a a m state sav gery . There c me to the from the
a an ar m an a e st Old be ded , Bochic (the Sun) , who taught them agriculture and the worship Of the
o Hu thaca was g ds . His wife y , however , dis
a at a a and ple sed his ttentions to m nkind , caused a great deluge which drowned most Of the inhabit a Of a nts the e rth .
a o a o hi This cti n ngered B c ca , and he drove his wicked wife from the earth and made her the M oon
r (forheretofo e there had been no moon) . He then
a and r a dried up the e rth , once mo e m de it habit
for an a o o a m t o . ble , and c mf rt ble live in The Mani cacas Of Brazil regarded the sun as a
r o r a hero , vi gin b rn . Thei wise men , who cl imed
o a a o a had the p wer Of tr nsmigr ti n , said th t they
and a r was a a visited the Sun , th t his figu e th t Of man clothed in light ;so dazzling was his appearance
a oul not or o a th t he c d be seen by dinary m rt ls .
o t o M a exhe uiriac Acc rding exic n tradition , N q w as a o the cre tor Of the world . He sent d wn the
Sun - God and the Moon - God t o illuminate the
a so a oul t o a e rth , th t men c d see perform their d ily
- God ul a tasks . The Sun pursued his way reg rly and M o - God unhindered , but the on , being hungry , a nd r a a h r a r e . pe ceiving r bbit in p th , pu sued it
o and arr t o This to k time , then she t ied eat it , but
had her a o when she finished me l , she f und her
ro r had o a w as b the , the Sun , utdist nced her , and 28 S un Lore O f All Ages
a so a r far ahe d , that ever there fte she was unable
r a . a o o a t h to ove t ke him This is ls the reas n , s ys e
he a a a legend , why t sun alw ys ppe rs to be ahead of and a oo the moon , why the sun lways l ks fresh and and oo o red , the m n sick and pale . Th se who gaze intently at the moon can still see the rabbit
a r d ngling f om her mouth . The Bushmen Of South Africa have a curious
for Ac legend to account the creation Of the sun . o o was o c rding to this traditi n , the Sun riginally a m an on a out living in a dwelling earth , and he g ve o a e was nly limit d amount Of light , which confined t o a a a o cert in sp ce about his h use , and the rest
o as - r Of the c untry w in semi da kness . Strangely
out ro enough , the light which he gave emanated f m one - Of his arm pits when his arm was upraised .
W - r hen he lowered his arm , semi da kness fell upon
’ the earth . In the day the Sun s light was white , but at night the little that coul d be seen was red
was a like fire . This Obscure light uns tisfactory t o o as a the pe ple , and , just we have seen the Indi ns Of North America met in council t o decide the
o Of r questi n a better light for the wo ld , the Bush
a men considered the matter , and an Old wom n proposed that the children seize the Sun while he w as and o o sk sleeping , thr w him up int the y , SO
’ that the Bushman s rice might become dry for
or them , and the Sun make bright the whole w ld .
30 S un Lore O f All Ages became vexed and suspicious when he found that every morning his mother rose at dawn and dis
r ro o a o not t o appea ed f m the h use in m ment ,
r . one r out retu n till nightfall SO night he c ept , and
o r r o st pped up eve y c evice in the wooden wind w, and a a t e da not the doorw y , th t h y might shine
o o a int the h use . Then broke the f int light Of early
a and o o d wn , then the sun r se and m unted into
a a on for the he vens , but T ranga slept , she knew not a was roa a o a th t it b d d ylight utside . At l st
r out o she Sp ang up , pulled the st pping Of the chinks , an a M au sa d fled in dism y . Then i w her plunge
o a o o and int h le in the gr und , disappear , and thus he found the deep cavern by which his mother ” o o a a went d wn bel w the e rth s each night departed . Another M aori legend relates that Maui once
fire a and ur him took in his h nds , when it b ned he
o a sprang with it int the se . When he sank in the
for and a waters the sun set the first time , d rkness
ar W M o a was covered the e th . hen aui f und th t all night he immediately pursued the sun and brought
o him back in the m rning .
o r of o a The T nga t ibe , the S uth P cific Islands , have a curious myth respecting the creation Of the
an a a a sun d moon . It ppe rs th t in primitive times ,
or r an a Vat ea bef e the e was y light upon the e rth , and Tonga - iti quarrelled as to the parentage Of a
a was l child . E ch confident the chi d was his , and S olar Creation Myths 3 1
t o o r end the dispute they decided t Sha e it . The infant was forthwith cut in t w o ; Vat ea took the
a as r and o a upper h lf his sha e , squeezing it int ball tossed it up into the sky where it became the
- . o a a o ar o r ar sun T ng iti ll wed his sh e , the l we p t
a t o r a on ro for a da or Of the inf nt , em in the g und y
’ t wo r Vat ea s a , but seeing the b ightness Of h lf , he
ar t oo and o squeezed his Sh e , threw it up int the dark sky when the sun w as absent in the under
r and a oo sun wo ld , it bec me the m n . Thus the and oo r r a and a the m n we e c e ted , the p leness Of the moon is due t o the fa ct that all the blood was
ra out la on r d ined Of it when it y the g oun d . An Australian legend relates that the world w as
ar l one r a r who in d kness ti l Of thei ncesto s , dwelt ar o on and r o in the st s , t ok pity them , th ew int the
’ sk a y an emu s egg , which straightway bec me the sun . The Dyaks have a myt h that the sun and the moon were created by the Supreme Being out Of a
ar a o a peculi cl y which is f und in the e rth , but is very rar an a o a are e d costly . Vessels m de fr m this cl y
r o an a ro o a a conside ed h ly d p tecti n g inst Spirits .
o and o r o These pe ple , the tribes dwelling in m unt
’ ainou s regions where the sun s red disk disappears
ro a o a a f m sight e ch night behind the m unt ins , spe k
Of the sun as setting in a deep cleft in the rocks .
ar um r o r a There e n e ous the myths , Of m ny 32 S u n Lore O f All Ages a a a a a a o of l nds , th t tell in the l ngu ge Of im gin ti n
f n o r O a d o . M o the bi th the sun m n st Of them ,
o r are a a a o h weve , fund ment lly identic l with th se cited . The close agreement in the traditions Of many
r a a of ar a r Of the p imitive inh bit nts the e th , th t the e w as life in the world before the luminaries occupied
a and a o a the he vens , th t pe ple then lived in a st te
- ar r a Of semi d kness , is pe h ps the most striking
r featu e Of the myths .
' a In f ct , these ancient legends reveal many
a are r a i points th t Of inte est , especi lly where sim l arities exist in the early traditions of widely
a a d ao a sep r te tribes . It seems extr rdinary th t
f a r o l men , in di ferent p rts Of the wo ld , c u d have independently conceived the grotesque notions
ara r o a r a that Often ch cte ise the s l r c e tion myths . There seems to have been no limit to the fancies concerning the creation of the heavenly bodies by the a ncients , but there is little doubt that , were the world t o - day deprived Of the teachings of
ou r a a o a science , im gin tive instinct w uld en ble us t o construct a myth t o account for the presence of a o ul as a a the sun , myth that w uld be f ly f nt stical as any which mythology has bequeathed to us . Chapter II
Ideas O f t he
Chapter II
An cien t Ideas o f t he Su n an d the Mo o n
STUDY Of myt hology reveals many legends and traditions that concern the Sun and the Moon as related in some way by family or marital
C fa a ties . onsequently , in spite Of the ct th t the purpose Of this volum e is to aff ord a comprehensive
o ar or r r review Of s l l e , these legends we e conside ed sufli cient ly interesting as a further revelation of
r the sola myth t o be included . In the early history Of all people we find the Sun
M o r as a or or l and o n rega ded hum n beings , m e ess
o o a cl sely c nnected with the d ily life Of mankind ,
’ and influencing in some mysterious way man s
an o o We d . existence , c ntr lling his destiny find
ar t o as a or ro and the lumin ies alluded ncest s , he es ,
a or who a Of on benef ct s , , fter a life usefulness this ar or t o e th , were transp ted the heavens , where they o in t o oo on a c nt ue l k down , and , in measure , rule o r a a f a ve e rthly f irs . The chief nature of the influence supposedly 35 36 S un Lore of All Ages
exerted by the Sun and Moon over men was paren
. a o tal In f ct , the very basis Of mythol gy lies in
o a ro o a r a a r the id l t us w rship Of the sol r g e t f the ,
a r a o who and the lun r g e t m ther , were the first Objects Of worship that the history Of the race
records . “ F ab er I o The great father , says , was N ah A viewed as a transmigratory reappearance Of dam , and multiplying himself into three sons at the
Of a the beginning e ch world , the great mother was earth considered as an enormous ship floating on
a and r the vast byss , the ark conside ed as a smaller f earth sailing over the surface O the Deluge . Of
was a these , the former astronomic lly typified by
a was m t he the sun , while the l tter sy bolised by
a - r f o bo t like c escent o the mo n .
a un and Moo As hum n beings , the S n were natu
as t o a o rally distinguished sex , lth ugh there is in the earl y traditions concerning them no settled
as t o opinion the sex assigned to each , nor their
a o h o . t e relati n to one n ther Thus , in Australia ,
as r t o m an a o Moon w conside ed be a , the Sun w man , who appears at dawn in a coat Of red kangaroo
a r skins , the present Of an dmirer . Shakespea e “ ” of M t he speaks the oon as she , While in Peru , moon was regarded as a mother who was both
r an of and I In siste d wife the Sun , like Osiris SIS
The Ori i n o P a a n Idolatr . . F a er. g f g y, G S b
38 S un Lore O f All Ages
a as and as brother and sister th n man wife . In
C a and o r a on ar entr l S uth Ame ic , the contrary , p t icularl M o and r M y in exic Pe u , the Sun and oon
man and r were regarded as wife , and they we e
a a a and o r c lled , respectively , gr ndf ther grandm the .
o o a This c nfusi n in the sex , scribed to the Sun a nd Moo ff a m a a a n by di erent n tions , y h ve risen
o a da and l fr m the f ct that the y is mild friend y , hence the Sun which rules the day would properly M be considered feminine , while the oon which rules the chill and stem night might appropriately
r ar as a man o a a be eg ded . On the c ntr ry , in equ t ori al o da or and regi ns , the y is f bidding burning ,
a a A while the night is mild and ple s nt . pplying
a a a these analogies , it ppe rs th t the sex Of the Sun
M o l o r and o n wou d , by s me tribes , be the reve se
Of those ascribed to them by others , climatic
r condi tions being responsible fo the confusion .
a a a Of In the Germ n l ngu ge , the genders the Sun
are a and Moon respectively feminine and m sculine ,
ra t o of a a cont ry the rule the Rom nce langu ges ,
a a and where s , in Latin , the Sun is m sculine the
a a Of Moon feminine . In the Upper P l tinate
B avaria to - day it is still common to hear the Sun “ ” f F and M spoken O as rau Sonne , the oon as “ o o : Herr Mond , and this st ry is t ld Of them
an r man and The moon d sun we e wife , but the
o a o and t oo ad moon proving t oo c ld l ver , much Ancient Ideas of the S un and the Moon 39
t o a a dicted sleep , his wife l id him a w ger by virtue Of which the right Of shining by day shoul d belong in fut ure t o whichever Of them should be the first
a a oo a a t o w ke . The m n l ughed but ccepted the
a r and a o da t o had w ge , w ke next y find the sun for t w o o r r a li htin ’ u r h u s al e dy been g g p the wo ld . As it was also a condition and consequence of this agreement that unless they awoke at the same time they should shine at different times the eff ect Of
a was a r a a a o t o the w ger pe m nent sep r ti n , much
affli o Of um a who the cti n the tri ph nt sun , , still
a a s ouselik e o for a was ret ining p l ve her husb nd , , and a r a o a alw ys is , t ying to rep ir the matrim ni l ” a bre ch . F rom the conception that the Sun and M oon were husband and wife many legends concerning
a them were created , chief mong these being the Old Persian belief that the stars were the chi ldren f o the Sun and Moon . The primitive natives Of the Malay peninsul a
a firm am n a believed th t the e t w s solid . They imagined that the Sky was a great pot held over
r a o and was the ea th by slender c rd , if this ever
ro a o b ken the e rth woul d be destr yed . They
a an M oo o reg rded the Sun d n as w men , and the
’ a as M a st rs the oon s children . A legend rel tes
a had as a r as M oo th t the Sun m ny child en the n ,
and a a k o in ancient times , fe ring th t man ind c uld 40 S un Lore of All Ages
r and a not bear so much b ightness he t , the Sun and M t o o r r oon agreed dev u their child en .
M t o of and The oon pretended thus dispose hers ,
a and a hid them instead ;but the Sun kept f ith , m de w a W all y with all her children . hen they were
o M ro out dev ured , the oon b ught hers from their
- a W saw She was hiding pl ce . hen the Sun them
M her and very angry , and pursued the oon to kill ,
a n the chase is perpetual o e . Sometimes the Sun o t o M o and c mes near enough bite the on , then men
an say there is eclipse . The Sun still devours her
Mo children , the stars , at dawn , and the on hides
a a hers during the d ytime , when the Sun is ne r , only revealing them at night when her pursuer is far a Of a of aw y . One the n tive tribes Northern India believes that the Sun cleft the moon in two for and o her deceit , thus cl ven and growing Old again she remains . The daughters of the Sun and Moon are repre sented in F innish mythology as young and lovely
Of a maidens , seated sometimes on the border red
o shimmering cloud , sometimes upon a rainb w ,
of a sometimes at the edge a le fy forest . They
a an e were surpassingly skilful in we ving , a com plishment probably suggested by the resemblance
o a a borne by rays of light t the w rp Of web . As
a o might be expected in such a clim te , the g ds Of
M o and a are r as the Sun , o n , st rs rep esented serene Ancient Ideas O f the S un and the Moon 4 1
o o o a a and n ble beings , dwelling in gl ri us p l ces ,
o all a a o a of a and p ssessing th t e rth c nt ined be uty , generally willing to share with mankind the know
Of a aff a a ledge mund ne irs , which their penetr ting rays and lofty p osition secured for them “ F a a o Paeiv ae a t o In innish , the ppell ti n , c me ” a and - God Knu Moo and oo me n Sun Sun , , n M n
Paei a a God . v e h d o one two s ns , Of whom was named Panu . There are many legends Of the sun and moon that
a and ar a o for rel te their disputes m it l tr ubles , mythology reveals that as husband and wife the
and M o not a o Sun o n did live h ppily t gether . In the Kanteletar (a collection Of F innish popu
o an o r lar s ngs) , amusing tale is t ld which conce ns
M oo and o ar who as r the Sun , n , P le St , , the sto y
o for a a g es , were suitors the h nd Of beautiful “ a o o m iden hatched from a g ose egg . The p le
a l won a st r was successfu , and the m iden , who o t o o as o bjected the mo n , there was n thing stable
r as a was in his appea ance , inasmuch his f ce some
a o and o oa Mo o times n rr w , s metimes br d . re ver ,
a b ad of o he had habit r ving about all night , and
a at o a was rem ining idle h me all day , which h bit highly detrimental to the true interest Of a house
Herr Schiefner calls at t ention t o the similarity between this name and the anscri t bhame whi ch he sa s is ound in the edas meanin S , y f V , g h t e sun and also an e ithet for fire. , p 42 S u n Lore of All Ages
o sun as hold . She objected t the he caused not
a a i only the he t in summer but lso the cold in w nter ,
r a o of o and the va i ti ns the weather . The p le star she accepted because he always came home ” a punctu lly .
a a a a a In B v ria , tale is told bout a m id who w as ra oo r d wn up by the m n , thereby incu ring the
’ a o sun s je l usy . The sun , to get even with her
’ a o a f ithless consort , spying the girl s l ver sleep in a
oo t o wood t k him up herself . The maid and her lover perceiving themselves thus remote from one
o a another were naturally anxi us to meet ag in , and a great grief it was to the moon when he found
a o for that the m iden no l nger cared him . The tears he sheds in consequence are what we call
‘ ’ a shooting st rs . Thorpe I gives the following account Of the relationship between the Sun and Moon : “ o The moon and the sun are br ther and sister .
are of M undilfOri on They the children , who , ‘ ” a o of a a son Ma cc unt their be uty , c lled his ni ,
‘ ’ and Sol for o his daughter , which presumpti n
o a r oo o r the g ds in their nge t k the br ther and siste ,
and a o SOl t o placed them in the sky , pp inted
r a r r o of u n drive the ho ses th t d aw the cha i t the s , which the gods had formed t o give light t o the
or a of o a her car w ld . The n mes the h rses th t bear
Northern M thol o en ami n Thor e. y gy, B j p Ancient Ideas o f the S un a nd the Moon 43
‘ ’ ‘ ’ a re Wa l and a and the tchfu , the R pid , under their shoul ders the gods placed an ice- cold breeze t o cool them . “ A shield stands before the sun ; if it were not for a a o l and this , the gre t he t w u d set the waves
o a on Two o a a m unt ins fire . fierce w lves ccomp ny
a a and o ar o the sun , widespre d p pul superstiti n ,
‘ ’ one a SkOll o o and n med f ll ws the sun , which
’ ar o her o r a a she fe s will dev ur , the the c lled H ti
or and t o oo runs bef e the sun , tries seize the m n ,
n b ' o r o a d so in the end it will e . The m the f these
o a a who a oo t o w lves is gi ntess , dwells in w d the
o or east Of Midgard . She br ught f th many sons
ho are a and all o of w gi nts in the f rm wolves . One
‘ ’ of this race called Managarm i s said t o be the
a most powerful . He will be s ted with the lives of all dying persons . He will swallow up the
oo r o a and m n , and thereby besp inkle b th he ven air oo o r with bl d , then will the sun l se its b ightness , and ra and b owl all o the winds ge in directi ns .
M o ani directs the c urse of the moon . He once took up t wo children from the earth as they were going from a well bearing a bucket on their shoul
r o o Ma an ma o . d de s They f ll wed ni , y be bserved ” r f om the earth . Among the Indians of North America we find
a a t o and M oo wh m ny legends rel ting the Sun n , o
r r r a s we e ega ded by them living beings . They 44 S un Lore of All Ages taught their children that the sun represents the
of M o o eyes the mighty anit by day , the g d the
o r Indians w rshipped , and that the moon and sta s
ul were his eyes by night , and that they co d not
or a We hide their words cts from him . find practically this same belief among the natives of
ra a who a of the Aust li , reg rd the sun as the eye
r a od and of g e ter g , the moon as the eye the lesser
o g d .
’ The following is F ather B réb euf s version of the ” of one one Huron legend the white and the dark , an interesting bit of Indian mythology : “ The sun and moon were known t o the Hurons
I u k ha Ta ni kar n a s o s e o s o . W and , respectively hen they were grown up they quarrelled and fought
Iouskeha o a duel . was armed with a stag h rn , while Taoniskaron contented himself with some
a wild rose berries , persuading himself th t as soon a s he shoul d thus smite his brother he would fall
a a and de d at his feet , but it h ppened otherwise , Iou skeha struck him so heavy a blow in the side
a that the blood gushed forth In stre ms . Tao niskaron fled and from his blood which fell upon the land came the flint s which the savages still call
’ Iouskeha Taoniscara a . , from the victims n me
a a as w as reg rded by the Indi ns their benefactor ,
r not o not thei kettle would b il were it for him , it was he who learned from the Tortoise the art of
46 S un Lore of All Ages
or o ro r the w ld . If I sh uld rest f m my wo k every
ul ar a oul not do thing wo d be d kened , m nkind c d “ without me Then the Moon replied : I am
a o ul an a gre t and p werf . I c t ke charge Of both
a nd da and all night y , guide things in the world , ” ou It does not trouble me if y rest . Thus the Sun
M oo and da o and the n disputed , the y they Sp ke thus t o each other became almost as long as two
so a t o sa t o a o r days , much did they h ve y e ch the .
o a o M oo Neither gained his p int , lth ugh the n declared there were a great many wonderful and
ha r powerful beings on his side . He d refe ence t o the stars . The old theologists ascribed t o both the Sun and Moon the guardianship of certain gates or doors in
firmam ent a ar or a the . These im gin y p t ls , they
a r t wo o o ro and ro cl imed , we e in the pp site t pics , f m them it was believed that all human souls were
r mysteriously bo n . The Japanese believe that the moon is inhabited
a and sun a o of r by hare , that the is the b de a th ee
i o legged crow , hence the express on , The g lden
’ 7 ro a c w , and the jewelled h re , meaning the sun and moon .
r There was a belief cur ent in ancient times , in
o r o o a o r o r a c unt ies rem te fr m e ch the , that th se g e t
a or or of a r or o r of o in uth ity , supe i rde s ciety , were
a of descend nts the Sun . Ancient Ideas of the S u n and the Moon 47
of Among the Hindus , the members the mili tary caste to which the raj ahs always belong are “ - a C a ra - a or styled Surya b ns , and h nd b ns ,
Chi of C r of Moo ldren the Sun , and hild en the n . The first Egyptian dynasty is said t o have ‘ of Aurit es or C of been that the hildren the Sun ,
’ for the Oriental word Aur denotes the solar light .
The Persian sun - god Mithras bore the name
‘ ’ of A - aki s or or and r zon N , the l d Sun , f om him
a o r ro o and both his descend nts , the y unge he g ds , ‘ hi s r o a Zo ministers the magi , we e den min ted ni ‘ ’ f A or o r o . and zoni , the p ste ity the Sun “ Among the Greeks we find an eminent family
‘ ’ ui of a a or disting shed by the name the Heli d e ,
C r of Sun and a a hild en the , origin lly this f mily
of r r a o consisted eight pe sons . The G eeks were ls a r of M oo f miliar with the Child en the n . This ancient title was the ancient appellation of the
Arcadians . “ Among the early B ritons it was acknowledged
‘ ’ that the solar Hu w as the father Of all mankind . The Incas of Peru traced their genealogy from the
I sun a s Chi of . , and c lled them elves ldren the Sun It is natural that the diurnal motion Of the sun and moon shoul d have stimul ated the imagination of a m an and t o a o for ncient , led him cc unt this x The Ori i n o P a n I d a F a r a ol tr . . e . g f g y, G S b 48 S un Lore of All Ages
a ul movement in variety of fancif ways . At an early date the idea w as current that there was a
u o o s bterranean w rld , int which the sun descended at nightfall , and traversed during the dark hours ,
o a to emerge fr m the cave in the e st at dawn .
one Among the red races , tribe thought that
M r the Sun , oon , and stars we e men and women ,
o r and who went int the western sea eve y night , “ a swam out by the e st . They say the sun cometh forth every morning at the Place of Breaking ” F Light . rom this idea there rose the fancy that the Sun at eveni ng was swallowed up by some monster , and the personified sun is a hero or a Vi rgi n who IS swallowed and afterwards released or of rejected , as in the Greek myths Perseus and
o ul Andr meda , and Herc es and Hesione , the Old
Of Eeri ck r the Norse story and the D agon , and more similar Teutonic myth Of Little Red Riding
Hood . The Mexicans believed that when the old sun
a nd had o a was burnt out , left the w rld in d rk
o a ness , a hero sprang int huge fire , descended into
and o i and o the shades below , ar se de fied glori us
’ T na iuh o t . in the east as , the sun After him
a o now had there le pt in an ther hero , but the fire
ro o e e grown thin , and he se nly in mild r radianc
‘ ’ ” I M et ztli moon . as , the
rimi tive Culture dward . T lor. P , E B y The Nimbus - Crown ed F igu re (M ith ras)
t P Cou r es Of r e r . o s s o A . V W a c ks o n a nd Th a cm ll o y f J e M i a n C .
Ancient Id eas o f the S u n a nd the Moon 49
F rom persons possessing an all - p owerful influence o r a and oo a t o r ve m nkind , the sun m n c me be e
ar as a r o o g ded pl ces whe e men c uld be c nsigned , a nd the extremes of heat and cold a ssociated with them respectively gave rise t o the idea that the sun and moon were places where men were sent
for ar r t o in punishment e thly misdeeds , the e
f a for su fer etern lly their sins . The belief in the power Of the sun and moon as persons to take up t o them hum an beings from earth m ay next be shown t o have had an influence o r o an oo r o ve mythol gy . The sun d m n we e b th believed t o possess this power of abducting mortals
o a t o ra or t o k wh m it ple sed them t nsp t the s y . The Greeks of modern Epirus have a tale of a
o a who a ra t o childless w m n , , h ving p yed the Sun for a her o t o a girl , g ined request , subject nly the condition that the girl be restored t o the Sun when
a ar of a W she bec me twelve ye s ge . hen the child had a a a e and was one da re ched th t g , y picking
a ar o oul She veget bles in the g den , wh m Sh d meet but
a m a a her o and r the Sun . Th t lu in ry b de g emind h r o o r rro e o f . o m ther her pr mise The m the , in te r and o r a o oo and o t o c nste n ti n , shut the d rs wind ws
her a ro or a keep child s fe f m the sun , but unf tun tely
She or o o ra f g t the keyh le , by which ent nce the Sun
ra and ar off r penet ted succeeded in c rying his p ey .
a o o of o The Bushmen , lm st the l west tribe S uth 50 S un Lore of All Ages
a a a and Afric , have the s me st r lore much the same
t o as G a a a my hol gy the reeks , Austr li ns , Egypti ns ,
o a and Eskim s . They believe th t the Sun and Moon originally inhabited the earth and talked with men , but now they live in the sky and are silent .
t o - God The Homeric hymn the Sun Helios , in
o o Max Mu o the same way (as Pr fess r ller bserves),
a - od a o o regards the Sun as half g , lm st a her , who
on T o o had once lived earth . his myth l gical sojourn of the Sun and Moon on the earth seems t o
ul of m an and have stim ated the mind primitive , has given rise t o a wealth of legends and traditions which is t o be foun d in the ancient history of all nations .
Chapter III
So l ar My t ho l o gy
OME one has said : If no other knowledge deserves t o be called useful but that which helps t o enlarge our p ossessions or t o raise our a o o o o has no st ti n in s ciety , then myth l gy
a t o a t o cl im usefulness . But if th t which tends
a us a and can all l m ke h ppier better be c ed usefu , a o of o o f or kn wledge myth l gy is useful , it is the
a a of ra ur and ra one of h ndm id lite t e , lite ture is the best allies of virtue and promoters of happiness .
o a a o all o r omm a The s l r myth , b ve the s , c nds the a o and r of ttenti n inte est Of the student mythology , for it is the very basis of the science ; it permeates
a o of all o has the e rly hist ry pe ple , its influence
a a e and a of m de itself felt in every g , m ny the customs that govern our lives t o - day are Of solar o rigin .
a o all a m a The sun , b ve th t hu n eyes behold , is
C r of our the hief element in life , the ve y essence
and t o b eneficent ow e existence , its influences we all a - a f How o t o d a o . th t we p ssess y , th t is worth 53 54 S un Lore of All Ages
‘ ’ few ff - realise this fact . Di erentiated sun shine , is the striking and suggestive phrase used by John
F iske in his Cosmi c P hi l osophy t o stand for all things whatsoever t o be found in this great world of o - ours ; fr m the tiny sun dew , hid in the secret
of a abiding places spreading swamp l nds , and the inconsequent midget it opens its sticky little fist t o and all - o grasp , to the great forest tree , c nsequent
ar o a a man med with his c nquering bro d xe . It is merely a terse symbolic way of describing the processes Of cosmic evolution from the sun as the original source and continuous guiding power of ” our own Special universe . “ Back of the present sun figures in primitive and cul ture lore are the ani mi stic conceptions of
of M or a the sun such as that anabozho , the gre t
A o or a white hare , of lg nquin legend , Indr the bull
f of zoo o sun o India . In course time the m rphic
a a o o and sun gives pl ce to the nthr p morphic sun , finally we arrive at such personificat i ons of the sun r o o and as Osi is in Egypt , Ap ll in Greece ,
o Balder in Norse mythol gy . Indeed it might almost be said that all the great steps in the onward march of the human race could be found recorded in the various and multiple personificat ions Of the ” 1 sun . Our ideas concerning natural phenomena are
Anci ent M ths i n Modern P oets Helen A. Clar e. y , k S olar Mythology 55
but the result of pa st ages of research in the fields of science ; but when we come t o a consideration
of o a a da and the phen men th t y night present , in
- a their ever ch nging phases, we find it extremely difficult to clearly unders tand the mental view p oint of primitive man regarding this continual
a for rr ch nge , the uninte upted sequence and con stant repetition of this phenomena has dulled our
a and i t a our a f culties esc pes ttention .
o r a In ancient times , h weve , this continu l daily process was closely observed and seriously con sidered all at an , and the sun in its aspects became
a a i count ri es a o a e rly d te in certa n personified g dhe d . ” The expression swallowed up by night is now a r a a of me e met phor , but the ide it conveys , that
was a r of r a o the setting sun , a m tte g e t imp rtance f t o a i . o a o the nc ents H wever , the d ily aspects the
not of o sun were alone matters concern , the seas n a o and ble changes were cl sely Observed , the spring
a tide sun , returning with youthful vigour fter the
o i of r f l ng Sleep in the n ght winte , had a di ferent
r name f om the summer and autumnal sun . There are o of a for c nsequently , a multiplicity n mes the sun t o be found in a study of primitive history and
o o and an or o a of myth l gy , en m us m ss sun myths depicting the a dventures of a primitive sun hero in terms of the varying aspects which the sun a ssumes during the day and year . 56 S un Lore of All Ages
There was simply n o limit t o the images sug
gested by these aspects , as Sir George Cox puts it 1 “ In the thought of these early ages the sun was
of a a the child night or darkness , the d wn c me
o as o before he was b rn , and died he r se in the
. a r Of heavens He str ngled the se pents the night ,
r oo ou t a he went forth like a b idegr m of his ch mber ,
and a o like giant to run his c urse . He had to do
a o o b ttle with cl uds and storms , s metimes his light
r r r and g ew dim unde thei gloomy veil , the children
of men shuddered at the wrath Of the hidden sun .
o b eneficent or His c urse might be brilliant and ,
o a gl omy , sullen , and c pricious . He might be a f or o . a o warrior , a friend , a destr yer The r ys the
a o o and sun were ch nged int g lden hair , into spears
a ro of . l nces , and bes light F rom this play of the imagination the great
a o a a fundament l s l r myths spr ng , and these fur
i for o a o a n shed the theme wh le epics , and el b r te
of r a allegories . Out this endu ing thread there c me
of o and t o be woven the cloth g lden legend , the wondrous tapestry of myt h that illuminates the
’ o pages of man s hist ry . It is our pleasant task to review this variegated
a a a and tapestry th t f ncy displ ys , inspect the great treasure - house Of tradition where the people of all
i The M thol o o the Ar an Nati ons Sir eor e Cox. y gy f y , G g S olar Mythology 57 ages have stored the richest gift of their imagina
o a . tion , the s l r myth Perhaps the earliest sun myths are those founded
r and on the phenomena Of its ising setting . The ancient dwellers by the seashore believed that at
a a nightf ll , when the sun dis ppeared in the sea , it
as a o o o w sw ll wed up by a m nster . In the m rning
o or r a the m nster disg ged its p ey in the e stern sky .
or of o t o of o ar The st y J nah is thought be s l origin , his adventure with the whale bearing a striking
a of analogy t o the daily mythic l fate the sun .
Goldhizer I an o o C a a , eminent myth l gist , l ims th t
a or of aa a and the Biblic l st y Is c is sun myth , the
o son of C r o ar si ni first En ch , the ain , is Of pu e s l g
ficance. a a He is a f mous builder Of cities , distinct
o a a a a 6 s l r fe ture , but the fact th t he lived ex ctly 3 5
of o a ar ro a days , the length the s l r ye , p cl ims his
a ha a r C a ro o sol r c r cte . ain is sun he and am ng his descendants none but solar figures are t o be found .
oa a a r N h is cle rly mythical figu e Of the sun resting , “ ” ho the word NOach denoting him w rests .
The word which pre - eminently denotes the sun “ ” a in the Semitic l nguages , the Hebrew Shemesh ,
o a o o or c nveys the idea of r pid m ti n , busy running
about . Thus we see in the Psalms the sun likened t o a giant or hero running a course . Swift steeds were associated with the sun in
M thol o Amon the Hebrews na Goldhizer. y gy g , Ig z 58 S un Lore O f All Ages
C a a a r l ssic l , Indi n , Pe sian , and Hebrew mythologies ,
an r Ca o d in the Heb ew worship in naan , h rses were
a as dedic ted to the sun , indeed they were in Greece
a at a later d te . In the Veda the sun is frequently called the
’ “ ” “ ” a or runner , the quick r cer , simply the horse . This idea of the swift fli ght of the sun is further
r out a or ca ried by ttributing wings to the sun ,
a and on a and A d wn , the Egypti n ssyrian monu
o ments we find the winged s lar disk inscribed . F rom this it was but a step of the imagination to
a a sun th reg rd the sun as bird , and when the set e “ : of ancients said The bird day is weary , and has ” s a a fallen into the e . It is even thought th t the
ar for o h e is symbolic of Eastertide , the very reas n
a fleet ness of as th t foot w its chief attribute . It is also a significant fact that the solar personifica tion of the North American Indians was called “ ” a a the Gre t White H re . The more the B abylonian mythology is exam ” “ a a o ined , s ys S yce , the more s lar is its origin
o t o rr f und be , thus confirming the results a ived at
of a in the Aryan and Semitic fields rese rch . With two exceptions only the great deities seem all t o go back to the sun .
of mi o Of the mythology Egypt , the e nent auth r “ ity Renouf makes the statement : Whatever m ay
o o be the case in other myth l gies , I look upon the
S olar Mythology 59
on ai r ur of da and sunrise and sunset , the d ly et n y
on a and ar night , the b ttle between light d kness , on the whole solar drama in all its details that
a da r o r a is cted every y , eve y m nth , eve y ye r , in heaven and in earth as the principal subject of ” a o o Egypti n myth l gy . The predominant mythological figures Of Egypt were so much involved in the sun worship Of tha t
o and t o a n - o a a c untry , such extent Sun G ds , th t discussion of their personality and deeds pertains
o o r t o a on Wor m re pr pe ly the ch pter Sun ship , an o r o a d is mitted the ef re in this pl ce . There is one feature of solar mythology that is
a of a striking bec use its univers lity , and that is the connection which the figures personifying the sun
a a a a o in various l nds h ve with n vig ti n . The Jewish Midrash compares the course of the sun to that of a and ur o t o a o Ship , c i usly enough ship c ming
a is 6 o from Brit in , which rigged with 3 5 r pes (the
of a o ar ar and t o a number d ys in the s l ye ) , ship coming from Alexandria which has 354 ropes (the
o a f a r number f d ys o the lun r yea ) . In Egypt we see on the monum ents the figure of
Ra - God a a o o a , the Sun , in his bo t s iling ver the ce n
o o of heaven . The sun king Ap ll is with the ” Gr a Goldhi zer I o r of a a eeks , s ys , the f unde n vig
o and ar C aro ti n , even the legend y h n , the ferry
M tholo Amon the Hebrews na Goldhi zer. y gy g , Ig z 60 S un Lore of All Ages
of of man the underworld , is a development the o o - God a s lar myth . The R man Sun , J nus , is
o o a a and also brought int connecti n with n vig tion , the Peruvian sun deity came to them from the sea of i n a , and took his leave them Ship which
oa o a r sea r a fl ted d wn iver to the whe e it v nished .
a al Cat The ancient Egypti ns c led the sun the , “ ” “ for Hora oll o of , like the sun , says p , the pupil
’ the cat s eye grows larger with the advance of ” a a a a a r cat d y . The Egypti ns im gined th t g eat stood behind the sun which was the pupil of the
’ cat s eye . The following sun myth found in India is quoted
r Anthr olo a . re f om op gy by Edw rd B Tylor . It
: mana m lates that Va , the tiny Brahman , to hu ble
r of as the p ide King Bali , begs of him much land as
r o he can measu e in three steps , but when the b on
a o is granted , the little dwarf exp nds int the gigan
forrn Of r tic Vishnu , and st iding with one step
o a acr ss the earth , another across the air , and
Sk r a o a third across the y , d ives B li int the infern l
r r regions , whe e he still eigns . This most remark able of all T om Thumb stories seems really a myth of n the sun , rising tiny above the horizo , then
o o swelling into majestic p wer , and cr ssing the
F or Vam ana of universe . the dwarf is one the
a o and o inc rnati ns Of Vishnu , Vishnu was riginally
of the sun . In the hymns the Veda the idea of S olar Mythology 6 1
his three steps is t o be found before it had become
a or w as as o a o a o st y , when it yet nly p etic met ph r of the sun crossing the airy regions in his three ” r st ides .
The ancient Hindus enthroned the Sun - God in
r ar o and saw a a a bu ning ch i t , in his fl shing r ys spirited and fiery steeds arrayed in resplendent
and a ra o . W ul gle ming t ppings here we w d say , “ ” ” r or a the sun is ising , , he is high in the he vens , “ a they rem rked , the sun has yoked his steeds for ” ou his j rney . One of the comm on appellations for the sun in
“ ’ o o cow and a myth l gy is the , the sun s r ys are
’ r a a desc ibed s the cow s milk . In the Ved this is
n a r o e of the most f miliar conceptions . These a e good examples Of the part imagination has played
o a o in the devel pment Of sol r mythol gy . Given
o o a a C the n ti n th t the sun is hariot , the rays are
a r a nd seen immedi tely to esemble steeds , , likewise ,
a ra if the sun be likened to cow , the ys must
r r m peradventu e epresent ilk .
’ The sun s rays are compared more consistently with locks Of hair or hair on the face or head Of the
- God o a sun . The Sun Heli s is c lled by the Greeks “ ” o - a o o of a the yell w h ired , and l ng l cks h ir and a flowing beard are myt hological attributes of the
a a r a a sun in m ny l nds . In an Ame ic n Indi n myt h the Sun - God is described as an old man with a 62 S un Lore of All Ages
o full beard , and the l ng beards of the Peruvian and Toltec Sun - Gods are Often referred t o in the
o a o r mythol gic l references c nce ning them . If mythology is regarded as a wondrous piece of a r o a o and a t pest y , wr ught by im ginati n f ncy , displaying in many hues the noble deeds of gods a nd of a o ar heroes the ncient w rld , then , the p t woven by the Greeks may well be considered the most conspicuous f or brilliancy of conception and beauty of design of all that enters into this marvel
a lous and priceless f bric .
has a a G t o o It been s id th t reek my h l gy , in its
a of r o o an dyn stic series uling g ds , sh ws evolution from a Worship of the forces of nature t o a worship
o o of the powers Of the mind . It is bey nd questi n
o o a l o r the m st c mplete in its det i s , the m st pe fect
o an a o a viewed fr m rtistic standp int , the most be u
’ tiful and enduring of all the world s st ore of legend
a o t o and ary lore th t has come d wn us , in this
of o o ar a out wealth myth logy , the s l myth st nds
a r o supreme , as the centr l figu e , cl thed in the matchless imagery of a naturally poetical and
o highly artistic pe ple . In the following discussion of the Greek sun
so myths , there is much that seems grotesque and a t o o on r f nciful as b rder absu dity , but the serious
of o and ness the subject cannot be d ubted , , in or u Of der to understand it fully , with a tr e sense S olar Mythology 63 a a o r r ar ppreci ti n , we must eve eg d the legends as interpreting the natural phenomena of day and
ari night . Be ng this fact in mind will enable us t o grasp the Significance of much that would o r a the wise be me ningless . The daily motions and varying aspects of the living a nd energetic sun hero may be said t o com prise the motif of almost every legend and myth
a t o beque thed us by the ancients .
of or - God AS in the study sun w ship , the Sun Helios first occupies the scene as the central figure
r o ul a in a widely sp ead and p p r cultus , we will first consider the legends that cluster about this mythical personage whom the Greek nation once revered and worshipped with all the fire of religious
r a dour . The most interesting myth concerning Helios is
r a that told of him in the Odyssey . It el tes that when the hero Odysseus was returning t o his home
o o of r a in Ithaca , the g ddess t ld him the ve d nt
a r a r a r - God o isl nd Of T in c i , whe e the Sun Heli s
a a r of r p stured his s cred he ds , consisting seven he ds of o and r of a a c ws seven he ds l mbs , fifty in e ch
r he d , a number which ever remained constant .
ro of a r ou t Odysseus , desi us visiting this f i isle , set
o a a C r t o a f rthwith , h ving been w rned by i ce le ve the herds of the Sun unmolested lest he suffer evil
o a on a c nsequences . Having l nded the isl nd , his 64 S u n Lore of All Ages companions enj oyed t o the ful l the delightful
a as oo w as or o clim te , but f d sh t , they ign red the
’ a o a r w rning of the g ddess , sl ughte ed the Sun s best
a and a on for c ttle , fe sted them six days , when
r a r they took thei dep rtu e .
o Heli s , deeply incensed by their conduct , and
r for o r g ieving his l st he ds , in which he had taken
’ r a o g eat pride and ple sure , bes ught Jove s aid to punish them :
0 F a h r o and all e b ss d ods t e J ve , y le e g Who r die n wron b ar neve , Ave ge the g I e ’ Upon the comrades of Laertes son U ss s who ha ou a n m b s ly e , ve f lly Sl i y eeve , ’ In which I took delight whene er I rose n o t he s arr a n and h n a a n I t t y he ve , w e g i If f r h wr I sank from heaven t o earth . o t e ong The ma not ar am nds I s a o dow y ke l ge e , h ll g n h r n am ad TO ad s t o s o d . H e , t e e hi e ng the e
The cloud - compelling Jupiter replied S s 0 sun : amon the d a h ss ods till hine , g e t le g And mor a men u on the no ri sh n ear h t l , p u i g t ,
oon c ea e w th a h e hunderb o S will I l v , i w it t lt
Th r a i n the m ds of the b ac sea ei g lley i t l k .
And so it came about that through the might of o r ul o a o - J ve a f ightf st rm r se , which well nigh wrecked the vessel of the wanton adventurers ;
or r r but Odysseus , res ting to he oic measu es , pre
of and a o vented the loss the ship , his comp ni ns thus escaped with their lives .
66 S u n Lore of All Ages in the Chapter on Sun Worship as pertaining more
ificat i on particul arly to his de . In the mythological biography of such a dis t inguished chara cter as Phoebus Apollo we should
t o t o o expect , of course , find allusions his l ve f a r one of t a f i s , and these is described in the my h Of Daphne which follows
o f Daphne , the pers nified Dawn , springs rom
a o the w ters at the first flush of m rning light , and as the beautiful tints of early day fade gradually
of orb a in the light the rising , D phne flees from
t o wi n . she Apollo as he seeks , her In her flight
t o prays the gods assist her , and it is related that ,
a was in answer to her pr yer , she transformed into
r a laurel t ee , which was ever thereafter sacred to
o Ap llo . Another myth refers to a hunting trip in which
A a pollo was accomp nied by his friend Hyacinthus .
a of o o They engaged in a g me qu its , and Ap llo cast a quoit which rebounded and struck Hyacinthus
F o a fatal blow . illed with rem rse at the untimely
a of n o de th his friend by his ha d , he transf rmed Hyacinthus into a beautiful flower which ever
a after bore his n me . According to Murray ‘ “ the Object of this myth was to point to the alternating decay and return of life in nature , which in this instance is conceived
M rr Manual o M thol o Ale ander . u a . f y gy, x S y Ph o t o b y An d ers on Apollo and Daphne
S olar Mythology 67
r a was under the fo m Of youth , the disc which thrown by Ap ollo being clearly a symbol Of the
or o sun which sc ches vegetati n . It is further related of Apollo that incensed at Zeus for c ausing the death Of his son ZEsculapius
a o o of C o by thunderb lt , he shot s me the ycl pes ,
or o r the f gers Of thunderb lts . This b ought down
o and up n him the wrath Of the Supreme Being ,
o o i Ap ll was banished from Olympus . Dur ng his
o a s a a peri d of exile he served Admetus herdsm n . Keary I claims that Admetus is really one of
a for and r the n mes Hades , this refe ence to his service under him indicates his descent into the
for a a underworld the s ke Of purific tion . Here again we find the belief current that the sun at nightfall descends into the realms beneath the
a earth and w ters . During his term of banishment Ap ollo served
ao o of . a L med n , the prince Troy As this m ster did not pay him the agreed amount Apollo brought down upon the city a dreadful pestilence which depopul ated the entire neighbourhood . Vexed at o o o an his exile , Ap llo joined with P seid n in
f o a and hr . e fort to det one Zeus The pl t f iled , both gods were sentenced to assist in building the
o o walls f Tr y .
o o far a as Ap ll was f med a musician , and once
Outli nes o P ri mi ti ve B eli e Charl es F . ear . f f , K y 68 S un Lore of All Ages had a quarrel with Pan who claimed that the flute was a sweeter instrument than the lyre , which was
’ o o a ur r Ap ll s f vo ite inst ument . They agreed to
a r t o M a refer the m tte id s , King of Lydia , who f Pan and o o a r h avoured , Ap ll , in his disple su e at t e
M a verdict , punished id s by causing his ears to
of o lengthen till they resembled those an ass . Ap llo apparently brooked no rivalry in his musical
for M o accomplishments , when arsyas b asted that
a he excelled Apollo in flute pl ying , the latter had him flayed alive . AS a mighty warrior Apollo distinguished him self i n the Trojan war when he took part against
r the Greeks . His fu y was irresistible , and it is said whole ranks Of fighting men fell as he Charged into their midst .
o Being p ssessed Of eternal youth , and the most a o of o o re cc mplished athletes , Ap ll came to be
ar a o Of o l e g ded as the p tr n y uthfu athletic cont sts , and the Pyt hian games he instituted t o comm emo rate his victory over the Python were celebra ted in all lands .
“ Space does not permit of a complete recital Of
a the many deeds Of this f mous sun hero . His favourite a nimals were the hawk and the swan ;
wa s r b a . his tree , the y He rep esented in the
a perfection of united manly strength and be uty .
a o His long hair h ngs lo se , his brows are wreathed Ph o t o by An d ers on Apollo B el v ed ere
us eu m of V a t rca n R om e M ,
70 S u n Lore of All Ages
for Both are conspicuous their brilliant appearance , both possess powers of producing and destroying
f o a are li e , and weap ns th t invulnerable . They
are endowed alike with inexhaustible powers of
a or cre ting happiness sorrow , pleasure or torment ,
a r of he lth o sickness . The exercise these versatile
fa cul ties furnishes the theme for the maj or portion of that great mass of legends which constitute the e a Of a M ssenti l elements Ary n ythology .
In the figure Of Herakles we have a Sun - God
has and hero whose fame gone afar into all lands , and every age since his time has likened its greatest deeds to the power and might he displayed in the accomplishment of his superhuman deeds .
- Of Even to day , the construction the Panama Canal is often alluded to as a deed worthy of Her
l ul a a cu es , and the adjective herc e n has a firm pl ce
a o o of in the literature and phr se l gy modern times . The key to the sun myths that relate to the life and deeds Of Hercul es is found in the idea of the
’ ’ mm a a sun s subservience to nature s i ut ble l ws .
The sun has a daily task which it must perform . It has a path to travel from which it must not
of f deviate . It has ever before it a life toil rom “ ” Cox which it cannot swerve . Nowhere , says , “ is the unutterable toil and scanty reward of the sun brought out so prominently as in the whole
Nati s i r x The M thol o o the Ar an on S r eo e W. Co . y gy f y , G g S olar Mythology 7 1
or a a o legend , r ther in the m ss Of unc nnected legends which is gathered round the person Of ” Herakles .
of and Herakles was a son Zeus Alcmene .
Through the malignant hate Of Hera he was
o ro t o d omed f m his birth serve Eurystheus , and , not content by thus consigni ng him t o a life Of
o t o servitude , the g ddess sent serpents strangle
was an a . ro how him while he but inf nt The he ,
o o ever , p ssessed g dlike strength even in his tender
and a ro years , e sily dest yed the serpents , much to
of o the amazement th se in charge Of him . This struggle and triumph of the god over the
o a o o serpents , is very like the successful c mb t Ap ll
o waged against Pyt h n . It represents t he great
a of a battle th t the mythology all l nds presents , the subduing of the powers of darkness by the
o r of . of. might the omnip tent sun , the egent light
o r a This irresistible p we , which is the chief ttribute
o a Of the sun , is the pred min nt element in the
ra r of o ra and a cha cte the sun her He kles , en bles him t o perform at the bidding of his master the twelve stupendous tasks that brought him endless and irnperi shable fame . It is unnecessary t o recite in detail these various
a o o o o t o l b urs . Every myth l gy d es justice the
and a o t o a ar a subject , llusi ns them ppe in the rts
an Of a e . r d letters every subsequent g It emains , 72 S un Lore of All Ages
o t o o out o a fi h wever , p int the s l r Signi cance ‘ Of and how a these mighty deeds , , even in many det ils ,
’ they represent the sun s trium ph over the Obstacles that nature ever imposes . The first labour was that Of the conquest of the
em ean . r a a a N lion The myth el tes that , fter sl y
ro o a a o Off ing the fe ci us be st , Her kles t re its skin
. r and r r with his finge s , the eafter it figu ed as his
’ a r o o shield in many fie ce c ntest . The li n s skin has been likened to the raiment of tawny cloud which the sun seems t o trail behind him as he fights his way through the vapours whom he is said to ” overcome . Herakles is next called upon t o subdue the
ra r a ur as o hideous Lernean hyd . This c e t e w p s
n a one of as o a Of w . sessed ma y he ds , which imm rt l The hero succeeded in this task by burning Off the
r a t o a a heads whenever they w e e r ised tt ck him .
a r a o The immortal he d he bu ied bene th a st ne .
a w as o a a As the be st p ssessed Of m ny he ds , so the storm - wind must continually supply new clouds to
a our and vanquish the sun ;but the lighter v p mist ,
for or a o o . the imm tal he d , is nly c nquered a time
a a t he The sun e sily burns up the he vy clouds ,
a a o o mort l he ds , but nly hides temp rarily the immortal head which rises again and again to
ak was a daunt him . In this fight Her les ttended — o a a a a of by his friend I l us , this n me rec lls th t
74 S un Lore of All Ages
Of sk own o t o the y , tearing his b dy pieces till at last his bright form is consumed in a general
nfl ra n co ag ti o .
a of In this de th scene the solar hero , and in the
a o glories Of his funeral pyre , we h ve the m st famous sunset scene that has ever been presented for our
o o o o a contemplati n . All the wondr us c l uring th t a dorns the western sky at set Of sun illuminates
and of a the canvas , the reflection the scene stre ms a a a t he ZE ean f r , lighting the w ves Of g with its
and a a clustering isles , p inting in enduring hues scene that all nations proclaim the sublimest that
’ a o o o n ture ffers t man s visi n . Anthon thus writes Of the sun hero : If Herakles
r a a a be eg rded as having ctu lly existed , nothing
o or can be more monstr us , nothing m e at variance
of ro o o o with every principle ch n l gy , n thing more replete with contradictions than the a dventures of such an individual as poetry makes him t o have
a a been . But considered as the lumin ry th t gives
as od who a light to the world , the g impregn tes
a a all nature with his fertilising r ys , every p rt Of
a a o and a and the legend teems with nim ti n be uty , ” is marked by a pleasing and perfect harmony . The Latin Hercules is indubitably identified
r r with the G eek He akles , and the legend Of his life is identic al with that Of the Hellenic hero . It sets forth the same great struggle between the S olar Mythology 75 powers Of light and darkness that we find in the
r t of and p imitive Hindu my h Indra Ahi , the
o r o a s u ce fr m which it spr ng . One of the solar legends which has come down
m o a who to us in the si plest f rm is th t Of Sisyphus , , so a o t o the myth rel tes , was c ndemned spend his days in laboriously rolling a great stone t o the
a NO oo was a ae summit Of hill . s ner the t sk com plished than the stone rolled Of its own volition t o of and a a the base the hill his t sk beg n anew .
r ar as how If we eg d this a sun myth , we see closely the detail s of the legend apply t o the daily
o a a a a r o c urse of the sun . It ppe rs as gre t sphe e r ball which gradually mounts to the zenith each
or o a on day as if lab iously pr pelled upw rd , reaching the meridian it immediately begins its descent to the horizon .
a Ag in , the sun by reason Of its penetrating rays
o o a o and its c mmanding positi n , suggests p wer and a light from which nothing can be hid . The per sonificat ion Of this all - seeing eye would therefore ”
- an ll . a be a wise being The Greek n me Sisyphus , “ a Cox a a or of o o s ys , is Simply reduplic ted f m S ph s ,
and so a of a the wise , we h ve the image wise being
t o a a or o na and compelled scend the he ven m u t in , o of o r and bliged in Spite his wisd m , his st ength ,
ha his power t o come down as he d gone up . The
o ma o a , a of o idea of c mpulsion y so n p ss into th t t il , 76 S un Lore O f All Ages
a o of and the l tter into the th ught punishment , and thus the sun becomes a criminal under ” sentence . In the myth Of Ixion we have another solar
io was o of legend . Ix n c ndemned to a life torture , being bound to a four - spoked and ever- revolving “ io ro a wheel . The name Ix n p b bly means visitor ,
a r r a The an pp op iate n me for the sun deity .
o a wheel rev lves ce selessly as the sun , and the condemned one is alternately raised into the high heavens , and lowered into the depths Of the under
I o Cox out o - w rld . points a curi us but well known “ a o identifica ch racteristic f solar myths. It is the
o of o or a ti n the sun b th with the agent p tient , and with the thing or Object by which the act is
’ r io so io exe cised . Ix n is the sun , and is Ix n s
ul wheel . Herc es is the sun who expires in the
a on Mo CEt a fl mes the summit Of unt , but the fiery
o robe which sc rches him t o death is the sun cloud . The legend Of Tantalus again reveals the fact
a at one a o a o th t st ge in the hist ry Of man , nthrop
r morphic ideas conce ning the sun were prevalent . Tantalus was a nother victim of his misdeeds and
rrial o r a a consigned t o et e t rture . It is el ted th t he
oo r a r t o and st d imme sed in w te his chin , yet dying
r for as o r a t o r Of thi st , he l we ed his he d d ink , the
a r ro and r a a w te withdrew f m him , the ea th ppe red
A a n Nati ons i The M thol o o the r S r eor e W. Cox. y gy f y , G g
78 S un Lore O f All Ages the sun ascended from the mundane sphere to the upper regions . Primitive man believed as the Bible teaches that all that exists will come to an end in a mighty confla rat ion and o da a a g , that s me y T nt lus himself woul d be hurled from his throne in the heavens an a : d consume the earth . P ley says If Sisyphus
a not Sun - and Tant lus do represent the Gods , the deeds and sufferings attributed to them have no
a or Of intellectu l point meaning , the origin such
a a Of a a wild fables is quite inc p ble expl n tion . On
do the other hand , if they , every detail in the nar ra i e a sr m can if t v becomes simple nd g fi t . And it can be shown even by a single example that the
a the Of o sun must be me nt , then doctrine the s lar
a myth is est blished . Another beautiful myt h Of solar Significance is that of Kephal os and Prokris of which the following is a brief version
Ke hal os f A p , a Phocian chie , coming to thens w on Prokri s the love Of , and plighted his faith to her Ke hal os o Eos . But p was l ved also by , who sought to weaken his love for Prokris with a pur pose so persistent that at last she induced him to
r make trial Of her affection . He therefore dese ts Prokris to whom after a time he returns in dis
W in a has won o guise . hen this sh pe he her l ve , he
Prokri s of reveals himself , and in an agony grief
80 S u n Lore of All Ages
as o o a of a unwittingly Ph ib s c uses the death D phne . The spot where she dies is a thicket in which the last dewdrops woul d linger before the approach of ” I - da a the mid yhe ts .
In the legend of Phaeton we have a more familiar
. a o s on o o a sun myth Ph et n , the of Ap ll , Obt ins
’ his father s reluctant consent t o drive for one day
ar o r o the ch i t of the Sun . Ha dly d es he start
o up n his course , however , when the fiery steeds ,
r a are a e lising that the reins in inexperienced h nds ,
a a o of run w y , and the destructi n the world was
r a a r a th e tened . Zeus hurled thunde bolt t the
o a o and r a unf rtun te y uth , p ecipit ted him into the r r a ive Erid nus . “ a Cox a of This myth reve ls , says , the pl gue
o a : a o r dr ught , which m de men say Surely n the , who a o o r c nn t guide the h rses , is d iving the chariot f o the sun . The legend Of Orpheus is akin to that of Daphne
o a as in its s l r significance , in this case Eurydice , a o a a lthough l ved by the Sun , f lls victim to his
a a as t o ra . r di ncy , he seeks emb ce her The myth Of M el eagros reveals the capricious
a of ar a o and n ture the sun , its v i ti ns Of light shade being expressed by the alternate succession of swift deeds and moody fits of the hero when he retires f sullenly from the sight o men .
W x. The M thol o o the Ar an Na ti ons Sir eor e . Co y gy f y , G g S olar Mythology 8 1
In the legend Of Niobe the consuming power of the sun is manifested a s aimed at those who have
o a a r the temerity t f ce his d zzling b ightness .
a of Alt haia r ar as a o ar The t le , eg ded s l myth ,
a t o of rel tes the destiny the sun . In spite Of its
o r and or p we gl y , it must die when the twilight
o r r of h u s ushe in the night , but in the legend Perseus we see once more in the slaying Of the Medusa the victory Of the sun over the powers of
ar . r ro a o d kness Pe seus , the sun he , is n ther Sun
God o o and ra ha a . s o o like Ap ll , He kles He l b ri us
a t o r or for a ra a r t sks pe f m ty nt m ste , invincible
a o and a o o ar . we p ns , vict ri us c eer
r of (Edi us a o a ro Of In the figu e p , the n ti n l he the
a a o r - God o and Thebans , we h ve n the Sun wh se life deeds were identical in many respects with those
r r o Of the g eat sun heroes already refer ed t .
r mi r o a O ion , the ghty hunte , imm rt lised with
and rak s o a o a o Perseus He le in the c nstell ti ns , is ls
o a o and of a pers nific ti n Of the sun , in the Splendour his deeds exhibits the characteristics that made
r o a his p edecess rs f mous . The ancients attributed sudden deaths by sun
ro S a a r - o and st ke to the h fts Of the nge ed Sun G ds , the sun was thought t o seek the sea each night for
o a so a the purp se Of b thing , th t thus purified it
r t o da r r woul d ise shine the next y with enewed lust e .
a a r a - o P ley tells us th t the e is well kn wn legend , 82 S un Lore Of All Ages
Of t o the subject the Homeric Hymn Hermes , which “ o r o a a a is c nside ed t have a sol r signific nce . Th t
od a o of o and cunning g , the p tr n r gues thieves Of
o M of o every descripti n , the ercurius the R mans , is said t o have stolen and driven off a herd of cows
an a while yet inf nt . To prevent the theft being
o a of m a disc vered by the tr ces the ani ls , he fixed bundles Of brushwood to their feet so that none
ul r o had co d tell the di ecti n they taken . Now
o o these cows are the cl uds , the xen Of the sun .
Od sse which figure so conspicuously in the y y . It is a question of interest whether the Roman legend
of hre- a o C the bre thing monster and r bber acus ,
o of - God on who st le the oxen Hercules (the Sun ) ,
not his return from the west , is in its origin iden
a o o tic l . The story is t ld by Virgil , Pr pertius ,
a one of o and Ovid . It is s id that the cows c nfined
a o and t o in the c ve suddenly l wed , led Hercules the spot where he killed the robber and relea sed
a the herd . The return Of the lost sun fter a thun
- o o der storm explains the wh le st ry very simply .
fire- a Ca The bre thing cus is the lightning , and the ” voice Of the cow is the muttering of the thunder. Space does not permit us to examine and discuss in detail the argument for the solar origin Of the
I li ad and d sse t w o o O . great H meric epics , the the y y The prayer Of Thetis to Zeus t o do honour t o her
son on of a o I li ad , which much the cti n Of the
84 S un Lore of All Ages
a t o o are They are f ithless their first l ves , they
a reunited to them in the end . The simple f ct ,
a a t o a a as it ppe rs the sense , th t the sun le ves the
a o r a a on r e st , and yet is f und the e g in the ve y next
was o r r day , sp ken Of unde the figure Of a b ide
oo ro oo t o r gr m torn f m his bride , s n be eunited . In the childhood Of mankind the daily death Of the
was ar a a a w as or sun reg ded s re lity . If he b n again it was not from any astronomical necessity
so ro a a or to say , but f m the suffer nce Of n ture Of
r od or r ow n o Va una , the sky g , f om his benev lence
t o of a and a a men , either which might f il , the c su l
and ra o o r a eclipses obscu ti ns might bec me pe petu l . “ o o The birth and death Of the sun , his c nnecti n
a o and o o with the d wn , and his tremend us vict ri us efforts to regain it were the one theme and topic
- He was a a o o a Of regard . t lked b ut (th ugh in different sort of language) just as we are always
an ar of talking d e never tired Of talking the weather . ” a o a all all Hence it is th t s l r myths seem in . Grecian mythology in its solar aspects is reflected
ra a in the legends and t ditions Of the L tins . Per
a and cer haps the most typical inst nce Of this , t ainly the most familiar Roman myth that has
a r a come down to us Of this n tu e , is portr yed in
’ o of u r ra Guido Reni s beautiful fresc A o . Properly
a a o l o for it shoul d h ve been design ted Ap l , the
a of o - God and central figure is th t the n ble Sun , S olar Mythology 85
r o all he dominates the scene . Su r unded by the
o r a a l ov eli light tripping H u s , e ch very queen Of
r o of ness , Auro a the g ddess the dawn leads the ” o thr ng . The Romans actually believed that the sun was
’ of a the wheel Apollo s chariot . E ch morning the
od ro a sea and ro g rose f m the e stern , d ve his four
a o and Spirited steeds cr ss the sky , in the evening
o r sea . he descended int the weste n At night , he reposed in a golden boat which was borne along the northern edge of the earth to the rising point in the east .
ui A B anier I has Antiq ty , says the bbé , transmitted to us the names of the four horses
a o of th t drew the chari t the sun . They were
Er t hous Act eon Lam os y or the red , , the luminous , p
il us a o r and Ph o oe . the esplendent , g , the e rth l ving
r o a are The fi st den tes the sun rising , whose r ys
A t eon then reddish . c represents the time when the same rays shot through the atmosphere are
o r a or o of m re clea , that is bout the ninth tenth h ur
o Lam os o a the m rning . p figures no nd y when this
a all or o lumin ry is in his strength and gl y , and Phil goeus represents the setting sun that seems t o kiss ” the earth . In the sun myths of all nations we find allusions
o t o the capricious nature Of the sun . N w it i The M thol o and F abl es o the Anci ents A é B an er. y gy f , bb 86 S un Lore of All Ages m s iles and gladdens the earth with its golden light ,
a at and , presently , disple sed man , shuns his pre
for sence , and hides sullenly a time in gloomy solitude . In a famous Japanese legend we have a descrip tion Of the efforts Of man t o appease the Sun Goddes s when for a time She had absented herself
o fr m the sky .
- had The Sun Goddess taken refuge in a cave ,
a her and the e rth knew not light , and was dark and of gloomy . The eight hundred lesser deities took counsel as to the best means to propitiate
and a o and the Goddess , win once more her f v ur
A ro her light . great round copper mirror was p
’ ur t o s c ed represent the sun disk , and this was surrounded by a circle Of saplings that indicated
a the rays Of the radi nt sun . In the upper branches Of the trees were hung
and balls representing the sacred jewel , in the
a a A o . l wer br nches , blue and white pend nts prayer w as then r ecited by the chief priest who
for o i acted the Emper r , and the serv ce ended with
r a a dance and the lighting Of many fires . Afte
- of time, the Sun Goddess yielded to the entreaties man and left her gloomy cave for her heavenly
r throne , where her p esence ever brings joy to the hearts Of all mankind .
In another version of this myth the Sun - Goddess
Chapt er IV
92 S un Lore O f All Ages trusted by him t o the care of two immortal ser
o a . vants , a y uth and a m iden To the maiden
‘ ’ who a is c lled Evening Twilight , the ancient ‘ F a r a : M the s ith y daughter , unto thee I entrust
hi m and a fire the Sun , extinguish hide aw y the
a a ma t o : th t no d mage y ensue . Then the Dawn ‘ M son t o i y , it is thy duty rek ndle the light for a
o t new c urse . On no day is the light to be absen
’ ro a of f m the rch heaven . “ in In winter he resteth a great while , but mm l su er his repose is short , and Evening Twi ight gives up the dying light into the very hands of
r Dawn who st aightway kindles it into new life . At such times they each take one look deep into
’ ’ the other s dark brown eyes ;they press each other s
and r o . a hands , thei lips t uch Once a ye r only for the space of four weeks they come together at
a midnight . Then Evening Twilight l yeth the
o Of a e dying light int . the hands D wn , and a pressur of and a hands kiss make them happy , and the
Of cheeks Evening Twilight redden , and the rosy redness is mirrored in the sky till Dawn rekindles ” the light .
’ The following myt h of the Witch and the Sun s Sister reveals another type Of sun myt h involving
’ of a the actions of members the Sun s f mily . In
’ o Of s me these myths the Sun s son figures , and
o a r ma h wever c p icious the Sun y act , the legends S olar Mythology 93 that relate to his family indicate that they were
o o a a and a kindly disp sed t w rd hum nkind , in m ny
a Of the myths they act the part Of benef ctors . In a country far remote there were once a king
a who had a son who and queen , named Prince Ivan , w as ro r roo o r dumb f m bi th . A g m t ld the P ince that he was destined t o have a sister who would
a rr and a i t o prove to be te ible witch , dv sed him
a oo a flee lest harm bef ll him , He t k the dvice , and his father provided him with a swift horse on which he took his flight .
After wandering far he sought a dwelling - place
a a a in v in , first with two women , then with gi nt who was oo r and a a a upr ting t ees , l stly with gi nt
a F a a was o . who levelling m unt ins in lly , he c me
’ t o r and She the dwelling Of the Sun s siste , received
a ha own son a him just s if he d been her . After
r a o o time , P ince Iv n l nged to return to his Old h me ,
’ and persuaded the Sun s sister t o allow him t o
a . o a o r was a dep rt On his h mew rd j u ney he en bled ,
’ a o on r t o by m gic best wed him by the Sun s Siste , assist the t w o women and the giants who had refused to take him in because of trials which beset them .
o - o n i On his h me c mi g his sister , the w cked witch , laid plans t o destroy him ; but he was warned in
a and o o time by mouse , th ugh cl sely pursued by the witch he escaped her clutches through the 94 S un Lore of All Ages
’ aid of those he had befriended and the Sun s sister . The mythology Of the North American Indians
a a a o a n cont ins m ny ex mples Of the s l r myth . O e of - Go w as M a o their Sun ds ich bo , wh se name
a a W or signifies the Gre t Hare , the Gre t hite One ,
God a and a the Of the D wn , the East . It is s id
a o r o th t he slept thr ugh the winte m nths , and in
a a o r o the f ll when he was b ut to seek ep se , he
r o Of filled his g eat pipe , and the blue cl uds smoke that he exhaled drifted over the land scape filling the air with the veil - like haze of
a m Indi n Sum er .
Michabo was regarded by the Indians as their
a and of ro common ncestor , the ruler the nume us
of r o tribes , the founder thei religi us ritual and the
art f - inventor Of their o picture writing . He con
o r and was a o and tr lled the weathe , the cre t r pre
an or a server of heaven d earth . The totem cl n which was dedicated to him was revered with the greatest respect .
ths and M th Makers o F In My y , by J hn iske , we
o o o of M a o read the f ll wing poetical descripti n ich b , the Indian s olar deity “ F rom a grain Of sand brought from the bottom of the primeval ocean he fashioned the habitable a a on r l nd , and set it flo ting the wate s till it grew to such a size that a strong young wolf running
96 S un Lore of All Ages a ar t o a o legend simil th t Of the Ph enix , the mythical bird which rose from lifeless ashes once in five centuries . The following Cherokee legend is one of the most interesting solar myths related by the Indians : The Sun lived on the other side of the Sky vaul t but her daughter lived in the middle Of the sky
r a o and as di ectly b ve the earth , every day the Sun w as a o a climbing l ng the sky rch to the west , she
’ t o at a r o for used stop her d ughte s h use dinner . NOW the Sun hated the people of the earth b e cause they coul d never look straight at her without
a a t o r screwing up their f ces . She s id her brothe , ‘ M o : M ra r the on y g ndchild en are ugly , they grin
’ oo all over their faces when they l k at me . But ‘ r r the Moon said : I like my younger b othe s . They always smiled pleasantly at him when they saw him in the sky for his ra ys were milder . The
all Sun w as jealous and planned to kill the people .
’ SO every day when she got near her daughter s house she sent down such sul try rays that there
was a r o . g eat fever , and the pe ple died by hundreds They went for help t o the Little Men who said the only way t o save themselves was to kill the Sun .
Men a t wo The Little made medicine , and ch nging men to snakes sent them t o bite the Old Sun when
da of she came next y , but the light the Sun blinded
and a . them , they were un ble to harm the Sun S olar Mythology 97
a Men Ag in the Little were appealed to , and chang ing a man into a rattlesnake they sent him t o bite
a of a the Sun , but inste d the Sun the sn ke bit the
’ a Now and f o . Sun s d ughter, she died r m the bite was sad and not an or the Sun people did die y m e , but now the world was dark all the time because
no a a a the Sun woul d t come out . Ag in they ppe led t o the Little M en who told them they must appease the Sun by bringing back her daughter from the
o o t o gh st country . Seven men were ch sen seek
a a a the d ughter , and bring her b ck in box . They were charged not to open the b ox after she was
o . r put int it They succeeded in thei quest , and
a o a r a a b ox st rted h me with the d ughte s fe in . She pleaded so hard t o be let ou t that when they were almost home they Opened the b ox only a
wa o and o little y , but this was en ugh , s mething
a o ar a flew p st them int a thicket , and they he d ‘K i ‘K i ’ w sh w sh . red bird cry , , , in the bushes They shut down the lid but when they got home
was the box empty . The Sun had been glad when
o un r they started for the gh st co t y , but when they came ba ck without her daughter She grieved and cried and wept until her tears made a flood upon
ar o o ul the e th , and pe ple were afraid the w rld wo d
o be dr wned . “ They held another council and sent their handsomest young men and women to amuse her 98 S un Lore O f All Ages so ul o that she wo d st p crying . They danced
or a s but bef e the Sun and s ng their be t songs , for a long time she kept her face covered and paid no attention until at last the drummer sud denl ha d y c nge the song , when she lifted up her face and was so pleased at the sight that she forgot ” her grief and smiled . It is a significant fact that we find here a legend in respect to the propitiation Of the sun identical
a o be with the Japanese myth related b ve , where , cause Of the retirement of the Sun - Goddess into her a ff t o a cave , men m de every e ort concili te her , and a a o Of , fin lly , by cerem ny Singing and dancing , they won her back to her place in the sky . Another Cherokee Indian myth relates that several young warriors once set out on a j ourney t o a the sunrise l nd . On the way they had many
r ur a st ange advent es , and fin lly they came to the
’
a . sun s rising pl ce , where the sky touches the ground They discovered that the sky was an arch Of solid
a o and rock h nging ab ve the earth , it seemed to
so a o swing slowly up and down , th t as it r cked it left a little Opening at its base through which the sun rose each morning . The adventurers waited for the sun to come out and presently it appeared . It had a human figure , but it w as too bright to permit Of their seeing its
F r h h or of the B ureau of thnolo om t e l gt Rep t E gy .
1 00 S un Lore Of All Ages
i l a The hunter Oj bwa had just ki led a be r , and begun to skin him when suddenly something red
all ai r aro a or tinged the und . Re ching the sh e Of a lake the Indian saw it was a beautiful red swan
o a wh se plumage glittered in the sun . In v in the
o a for un hunter Sh t his sh fts , the bird floated
ar and a h med unheeding , but at l st he remembered three magic arrows at home which had been his
’ and ar o father s . The first second r ws flew near
a and fla and ne rer , the third struck the swan , p ping its wings it flew slowly towards the sinking ” of the sun . Longfellow has adapted this beautiful episode as a sunset picture in one of his Indian poems
Can it b e the sun descending ’ O er the level plain Of water? Or the Red Swan oa n n fl ti g, flyi g, Wound d b the ma c arrow e y gi , Staining all the waves with crimson
With the crimson Of i t s life - blood F illing all the air with splendour With the splendour of it s plumage?
The story goes on t o tell how the hunter speeds “ of a westward in pursuit the Red Sw n . At
She lodges where he rests , they tell him has Often
o who o o her a passed there , but th se f ll wed h ve never
a r of an a a returned . She is the d ughte Old m gici n who has lost his scalp which Ojibwa succeeds in S olar Mythology I O I
r and a on a recovering fo him puts b ck his he d , and the Old m an rises from the earth no longer aged and
r a decrepit but Splendid in youthful glo y . Ojibw departs and the magician calls forth the beautiful
a now not a r hi s and m iden , his d ughte , but sister ,
t o v i r w as a r gives her his ctorious f iend . It in fte days when Ojibwa had gone home with his bride that he travelled forth and comi ng t o an opening in the earth descended and came t o the abode of
ar r r o o dep ted spi its , the e he c uld beh ld the bright
es r r o o and ar o of w te n egi n Of the g od , the d k cl ud wickedness . But the spirits told him that his brethren at home were quarrelling for the posses
o of a nd at a a o a si n his wife , l st fter l ng w ndering
a r r t o o this Red Indi n Odysseus etu ned his m urning ,
a o a a arr t o const nt Penel pe , l id the m gic ows his b ow r a , and stretched the wicked suito s de d at his feet . “ Thus savage legends from Polynesia and America m ay well support the theory that Odysseus visiting the Elysian fields and Orpheus descending t o the land Of Hades t o bring ba ck the wide - shining Eurydike are but the Sun himself
o descending t o and ascending from the world bel w . The Algonqui n deity Manabozho was a personi
ficat i on of for an a a the sun , , in Ott w myth , he is referred t o as the elder brother Of the Spirit of the
W God o r of a o est , Of the c unt y the de d in the regi n 1 0 2 S un Lore of All Ages of and the setting sun , his solar character is further revealed in the legend of his vain pur
of W st o suit the e , his br ther , to the brink of the world .
A ira o ha ccording to a Peruvian myth , V c c , the
God of r e o Supreme the Pe uvians , ros from the b
of and o som Lake Titicaca , j urneying westward
a all o overc me the foes that pposed him , and
a dis ppeared at length into the western sea , thus
o a ra p rtr ying his true solar cha cter . F ab er I tells us that the a ncient Mexicans be liev ed that the world was made by the gods , but professed ignorance as to the precise mode in which
a it was formed . They im gined that since the creation four suns had successively appeared and disappeared , and they maintained that that which
n sun we ow behold is the fifth . The first perished
all by a deluge of water , and with it living creatures . The second fell from heaven at a period when there were many giants in the country and by the
as fall everything that had life w again destroyed . The third was consumed by fire and the fourth
b of At was dissipated y a tempest wind . that time mankind did not perish as before but were changed into apes , yet when the fourth sun was blotted out there was a darkness which continued
- of f twenty fiv e years . At the end the fi teenth
The Ori i n o a an I dolatr eor e t anle F a er. g f P g y, G g S y b
1 0 4 S un Lore O f All Ages
o ing , and as it were pening and shutting there
o Sk a where the h rizon meets the y . Wh t you see
so are yonder Shining brightly red her eyes , and her teeth are as sharp and hard as pieces Of v ol i can c . a and glass Her body is like th t of a man ,
a s for of are a the pupils her eyes they j sper . Her
a a of o h ir is like the t ngles l ng seaweed , and her
a of a o a mouth is like th t a b rrac ut . “ M oa Of o o and aui b sted his f rmer expl its , said ‘ Let us fearlessly seek Whether men are to die or
’ r a live foreve . But his f ther called t o mi nd an evil omen that when he was baptising Maui he had left out part of t he fitting prayers and there
a son a fore he knew th t his must perish , yet he s id ‘ a e O my last born , and the strength Of my Old g ,
o o o r a r be b ld , g and visit y ur g e t ancest ess who flashes SO fiercely there where the edge Of the
’ ho o a t o riz n meets the sky . Then the birds c me
M t o o a aui be his c mp nions in the enterprise , and it was evening when they went with him , and they
a came to the dwelling Of his mighty ncestress ,
M a and found her fast asleep . aui ch rged the birds not to laugh when they saw him creep into
a had a the Old chieft iness , but when he got lto
r n and o out gethe i side her, was c ming Of her
nd o o a o a . m uth , then they might l ugh l ng l ud SO
’ an Maui stripped Off his clothes d crept in . The
was t o birds kept silence , but when he in up his S olar Mythology 1 0 5 waist the little t iwakawaka could hold its laughter no o and r out o rr o l nger , bu st l ud with its me y n te ,
’ Maui a a o on and then s ncestress woke , cl sed him ,
a l c ught him tight and he was ki led . Thus died
Maui and a o or . , thus death c me int the w ld The New Zealanders hold that the sun descends
a a a of at night into his c vern , b thes in the w ter
i and r at a ro r L fe , eturns d wn f m the unde world ; hence we m ay interpret their thought that if Man
ul i o a and r co d l kewise descend int H des eturn , his
or a race woul d be imm t l . “ It is seldom that solar characteristics are more distinctly marked in the several details of a myth
a a - Wo a - who th n they are here . Gre t m n Night
n or a a a dwells o the h izon is the New Ze l nd H des . The birds are t o keep Silence as the sun enters
ma or r night , but y Sing when he comes f th f om her
o of a t iwakawak o . a m uth , the m uth H des The describes the cry Of the bird which is onl y heard at sunset .
One of the most wide - spread and best - known sun myt hs relates t o the devouring of the day by
o r at and r the night m nste set Of sun , the disgo ging
f i r r r o the vict m by the devou e in the mo ning . A
Zul u legend describes the maw Of this sun - devour
o r as a a ing m nste l nd teeming with human life ,
i mi ti ve Culture ward B T l P r d . or. , E y 1 06 S un Lore of All Ages
o r and its environment , and when the m nste is cut
a o open , all the cre tures issue forth fr m the state
i i : Of darkness , the cock leading , excla m ng I see ” the world .
The well - known fairy tale of Little Red Riding
o sun of a H od is a myth this type , and in Germ ny
t o a there is added the tale the fact th t , after the
o wolf had dev ured his victim , a hunter slew the
o out wolf , ripped him pen , when stepped the little
oa a o maiden in her red cl k , s fe and s und .
There is a legend current in Germany that re
a a lates to a frog th t wooed the daughters Of queen . The youngest daughter consented t o become his
and on r bride , this gracious act her part f eed the
f f l he or rog rom a magic Spe l , and was transf med
into a handsome youth . “ ” o Max M I This tale , says Pr fessor uller , is
r solar in its character , and but another ve sion Of the Sanscrit story of B heki the frog who became the wife of a king only to vanish at the sight of a
a out Of gl ss Of water , a legend that grew a phrase ‘ sun of which was possibly , the dies at the sight
7 " a w ter . Another ancient myt h that has come down to us relates to the mystic meeting of the sunlight and
’ o of mo nlight . The light the sun was a king s
on a a da a t o o daughter who , cert in y sked be all wed
M x M r Chi s rom a German Worksho ro essor a ulle . p f p, P f
1 0 8 S u n Lore of All Ages
of o primitive eight gods who dwelt in the city But , received him in trust from Isis and concealed him
of C mm a in the island he is , which then first beg n t o
oa a a fl t . Afterw rds he bec me sufficiently powerful to leave his pla ce Of refuge and to expel Typhon
had o ni who usurped his d mi ons , and his own reign
then commenced . The myth Of Phoebus Apollo is substantially
a and of identic l with this , the island Delos , the
a - God birthpl ce of the Sun , corresponds to the
floating island Chemmis . There is a nother parallel legend among the
a Peruvians . When all mankind were swept aw y
Of r o a by the waters the Deluge , a pe s n ge named Viracocha emerged from Lake Titicaca and became
iracocha the founder Of the sacred city of Cuzco . V
- was the Sun God of the Peruvians , and the com mon ancestor of the race of Incas .
a a o In Lake Titic c , which is c nsidered sacred
a a a r by the Peruvi ns , there is small isl nd whe e they claim the Sun - God hid himself and saved his life when the world was destroyed by the waters of the Deluge . On this island there was a temple
o was on a of dedicated t the sun , as there the isl nd
and a Chemmi s , the Egyptian island , the Greek isl nd
o . Del s . These islands were considered holy places “ F aber ‘ tells us : The sun is further rept e
The Ori i n o a an I dol atr . . F a er. g f P g y, G S b S olar Mythology 1 0 9 sented as pecul iarly delighting to haunt the sacred mountain whi ch first raised its head above the r r and r etiring wate s , which eceived the ark . This
o t o r r had a a a m untain p , the efo e, the ppear nce of floating island which doubtless gave rise to the many myths that represent the sun as navigating the deep . “ The favourite residence Of the Greek solar
a a deity was Parn ssus . In the Zend Avest the sun is described as rul ing over the world from the t op of Mount Alb ordi which is said t o have been the first land that appeared above the waves of the retreating flood .
Old and The Orphic poet , the priests Of Egypt , the Brahmas of Hindostan agree in maintaining that the sun was born out Of an egg which had
floated on the ocean , and which had been tossed f about at the mercy O the elements . The following extremely interesting solar myth Of Irish extraction is related in Myths and Myth Makers by John F iske “ r a Long before the Danes eve came to Irel nd ,
r M Scullo e or o the e died at uskerry a g , c untry
r who of a o and fa mer , by dint h rd w rk close
o ha ec nomy d amassed enormous wealth . His only son not W o did resemble him . hen the y ung
Scullo e oo a o o da a g l ked b ut the h use , the y fter his
’ a and saw ul o f ther s death , the big chests f l Of g ld 1 1 0 S un Lore of All Ages
and o and silver, the cupb ards shining with piles
Old o ff Of sovereigns , and the st ckings stu ed with ‘ a a o a l rge and sm ll c in , he s id to himself , Bedad ,
’ ’ how shall I ever be able to spend the likes 0 that ?
r and a and a And SO he d ank , g mbled , w sted his
and or - ra a time in hunting h se cing , until after while he found the chests empty and the cup
o o - n and o i a b ards p verty stricke , the st ck ngs le n
il o a a and penn ess . Then he m rtg ged his f rm house and gambled away all the money he got for
and a it , then he bethought him that few hundred
o a on B ut p unds might be r ised his mill . when he
o at o o went to lo k it , he f und the dam br ken and
a ul a - sc rcely a thimblef Of w ter in the mill race , and o Of o the wheel r tten , and the thatch the h use
on all gone , and the upper millstone lying flat the
o one oa of o o l wer , and a c t dust and m uld ver
a t o o o everything . SO he m de up his mind b rr w a horse and take one more hunt to - morrow and then reform his habits . “ As he was returning late in the evening from
a r his f rewell hunt , passing th ough a lonely glen
an Old a i amm o he came upon man pl y ng backg n ,
on a a a betting his left h nd g inst his right , and crying
r o Co and cursing because the ight w uld win . me ‘ a o cullo F a wi t S e. and bet th me , s id he g ith , I
a have but Sixpence in the world , was the reply ; ‘ ’ ’
ou a on . but if y like , I ll w ger that the right
1 1 2 S un Lore of All Ages
a a ch rmed with the h ndsome farmer , and so well did they get along that the priest was sent for
o r a r with ut fu ther del y , and they were ma ried
’ a was anit before sundown . S bina the v hee s name ; and she warned her husband to have no more
a a a B uai cht Old of de lings with L ss , the man the
for a glen . SO a while all went h ppily , and the
r o was a D uidic bride was as g od as she be utiful . But by and by Scul loge began to think he was not
o not a o earning money fast en ugh . He could be r t
’ a o o and see his wife s h nds s iled with w rk , thought it woul d be a fine thing if he could only afford to
a o keep a few more servants , and drive b ut with
a a S bina in an elegant carri ge , and see her clothed
a o in Silk and d rned with jewels . ‘ I will play one more game and set the stakes
Scul lo e t o one as high , said g himself evening , he
o so o sat pondering ver these things ; and , with ut
a o a consulting S bina , he st le aw y to the glen , and
a played a game for ten thousand guine s . But the
was now r a t o o on evil Devil e dy p unce his prey ,
a l Scullo e and he did not play s of o d . g broke into a cold sweat with agony and terror as he saw the
a of a B uaicht left hand win . Then the f ce L ssa
and m and a on Scul lo e grew dark ste , he l id g the curse which is laid upon the solar hero in misfor
a ou tune , th t he sh ld never sleep twice under the a or o a - s me roof , ascend the c uch Of the d wn nymph , S olar Mythology 1 1 3
o a o o his wife , until he Sh uld h ve pr cured and br ught t o or W Scullo e r a him the sw d Of light . hen g e ched
o or a a a saw a h me , m e de d th n live , he th t his wife
ll r o r She a . knew Bitte ly they wept t gethe , but
r told him that with courage all might be set ight .
a a or r She g ve him Druidic h se , which bo e him
o r a and sea swiftly ve l nd , like the enchanted steed
ra a i r a a Of the A bi n N ghts , until he e ched the c stle
’ a r who a s Scul lo e Of his wife s f the , , g now learned , was a oo ru ro r a a g d D id , the b the Of the evil L ss
B uai ht oo r o a c . This g d D uid t ld him th t the
or was a r sw d Of light kept by thi d brother , the
’ o r ul a a F i ach O Duda who p we f m gici n , dwelt in an a a a ra o ench nted c stle , which m ny b ve her es had r t o r ar o r r a t ied ente , but the d k s rce e had sl in
l r a l . a r o them a Th ee high w lls su r unded the c stle , a nd a had seal ed r of o m ny the fi st these , but n ne had r a Scul l o e not ever eturned live . But g was t o a and a r a r- in - be d unted , t king f om his f the law a a out for o F iach bl ck steed , he set the f rtress Of
’ O Duda r r n bl a . Ove the fi st high wall irn y le ped
a or and Scull o e a a o t o the m gic h se , g c lled l ud the
r t o o out and rr o D uid c me su ender his sw rd . Then
a out a a man a - a c me t ll , dark , with co l bl ck eyes a nd a r and a o and a o h i mel nch ly visage , m de a furi us
at Scull o e a a sweep g with the fl ming bl de . But the D ruidic beast sprang back over the wall in the
of an and r r twinkling eye escued his ider , leaving , 1 1 4 S un Lore of All Ages
o a o - h wever , his t il behind in the c urt yard . Then
’ Scul loge returned in triumph to his father - in - law s
was palace , and the night spent in feasting and revelry . “ Scullo e r Next day g rode out on a white ho se ,
’ ot t o F i ach s a saw and when he g c stle , he the first
a . o and w ll lying in rubbish He leaped the sec nd ,
da o a the same scene occurred as the y bef re , s ve
‘ a a The third da that the horse esc ped unh rmed . y
Scul l o e on oo a g went out f t , with a harp like th t Of
Orpheus in his hand , and as he swept its strings the grass bent to listen and the trees bowed their
ll la . a and heads The castle walls y in ruins , Sculloge made his way unhindered to the upper o r Fiach r r om , whe e lay in Druidic slumbe , lulled
or of by the harp . He seized the sw d light , which was hung by the chimney sheathed in a dark
a i of a scabbard , and m k ng the best his way b ck
’ ’ o hi s to the g od king s palace , mounted wife s steed , and scoured over land and sea until he found him self in the gloomy glen where Lassa B uaicht was still crying and cursing and betting on his left hand against his right . ‘ r wo Here , t eacherous friend , take your s rd Of light shouted Sculloge in tones Of thunder ; and as he drew it from its sheath the whole valley was as or and lighted up with the m ning sun , next moment the head of the wretched Dru id was
1 20 S un Lore of All Ages
TO men who looked t o the west across a vast
a of sea at a t o exp nse , the sun nightf ll seemed sink
o a and directly int the w ves , , as they were confident
was an ar and that the sun extremely l ge hot body , they were convinced it would give out a hissing
o a r o n ise when the w te s cl sed over it . F rom the expression of the thought to the actual
a a and so o o f ct was but step , we find P sid nius
a Ca . recording that the inh bitants of pe St Vincent ,
r o o of the weste nm st p int Europe , claimed that the sun disappears each ni ght into the sea with a great hissing noise . We find the same idea current in the islands of
o a r and a P lynesi , in Ibe ia , Germ ny , where the people claim to have heard the mighty hissing Of
- the sea quenched sun . The Egyptians regarded the sun as a child when
as an Old man was it was rising , and when it setting
a in the evening . These ideas were lso transferred
a of sun M to the nnual motion the . acrobius states that the Egyptians compared the yearly course of the sun with the phases of human life ;
o thus , a little child signified the winter s lstice , a
o r o a y ung man the sp ing equin x , a be rded man the
and an old a a summer solstice , man the utumn l
a o o a had equinox. They ls th ught th t Hercules
a his seat in the sun , and th t he travelled with it round the moon . S olar F olk- Lore 1 21
The Hindus often referred to the sun as the
of M ra a a and and at eye ith , V run , Agni , sunrise
or a a t o a sunset , when the sun ppe red be squ tting
r T on a r o . the w te , they likened it to a f g his
a t o a o simile g ve rise a S nscrit st ry , which is found also in German and Gaelic . “ B ki a a a ne he (the frog) w s be utiful maiden . O d a was y when she sitting near a well , a king
and fascmat ed a rode by , by her beauty , sked her
a a a on h nd in m rri ge . She consented the condition
o r o of that he w uld neve Show her a dr p water .
a and . da He ccepted , they were married One y being tired and thirsty She asked the king for a
a of a r and o o gl ss w te , f rgetting his pr mise , he
ra her r mm a g nted equest , and his bride i edi tely
’ a i o a a . a t s v nished Th t s y , the sun dis ppeared ” when it touched the water .
was a a The sun lso reg rded as a well , and in the
a C a or Semitic , Persi n , and hinese l nguages the w ds ” “ ” o Co well and eye are synonym us . nsidered
a a as well , the r ys of the sun were likened to the
o a r m isture th t flows f om the well . In different parts of Africa we find the sun vari ou sl ar C a y reg ded . In entral Afric , where it is ex t rem el hot Of a a y , the rising the sun is lw ys dreaded , and orb of da a the y is common enemy . It was the
o a r a t o at cust m , mong ce t in tribes , curse the sun
r for ffl o a his ising a icting the pe ple with burning he t . 1 22 S un Lore of All Ages
In Southern Africa , on the contrary , the natives
believed that they were descended from the Sun ;
a o and if , by ch nce , the rising of the sun was bscured
the his by clouds , they thought Sun purposely hid face from them because their misdeeds offended
a of ro him , and str ightway they performed acts p
i n W a it iat o . oo of p ork at once ce sed , and the f d
t o old o the previous day was given the w men . The men of the tribe then went in a body to the
a river to purify themselves by washing in the stre m . Each man threw into the river a stone from his
a one o hearth , and replaced it with new fr m the bed
a of the river . On returning to the vill ge the chief
kindled a fire in his hut , and the members Of the tribe all gathei‘ed embers from it to light their
o indi vidual hearth fires . The ceremony c ncluded
r o with a dance in which the whole t ibe j ined . The
t o of idea seems have been , that the lighting the flame on earth woul d serve to rekindle the dead
o . W set s lar fire hen the sun , these people said “ ” The Sun dies . The early inhabitants of Polynesia called the “ ” a a sun Ra , which was lso the Egyptian sun n me .
a was o They believed th t it end wed with life , and
f o for the offspring o the g ds . To account its rise
a a a in the e st each morning , after its dis ppe rance
a in the west each night , they s id that during the
o a night it passed thr ugh a passage under the se s ,
1 24 S un Lore of All Ages
a (his own child if possible) , lso two teeth , or an
o o of o entire jawbone fr m the skelet n an ancest r . He then climbs a high mountain whose top catches f the first rays o the morning sun . Here he de
Of a on a a posits three sorts pl nts flat stone , places
ra of b nch dry coral beside them , and hangs the
of bundle charms over the stone . Next morning
t o a a at he returns this rude lt r , and the moment
o sea e when the sun rises fr m the , he kindl s a fire on h a a o ri o t e lt r . As the sm ke ses he rubsthe st ne
o a o a o with the dry c r l , inv kes his ncest rs and says : ‘ : do ou hot Sun I this that y may be burning , and ea t up all the clouds in the sky . The same
a a ceremony is repe ted t sunset .
The sun a r of i , cco ding to many traditions prim tive man , spent a part of its time in the under
o or a w rld , in a submarine pass ge beneath the seas ,
if own and it did not go of its volition , it was
a carried there by some enemy . Thus in Servi a a a d i r t le is told , th t when the ev ls fell , thei king f carried Off the sun from heaven a fixed to a lance . A This was a great calamity , and the rchangel St .
Michael was selected to try to recover it . He therefore set out for the underworld and succeeded
arc n in making friends with the hfie d . As they
a M a o o a . st od t gether by l ke , St ich el proposed to
a the devil that they eng ge in a diving contest .
e The latter consented , and thrusting the lanc Ph ot o by An d ers on
1 26 S un Lore of All Ages
strewed . This brings us to the Norse story Of “ Wo r M 1 an x The nde ful ill , e ceedingly interesting “ f - r of o a a bit o folk lo e s l r signific nce . The peasants of Norway t o this day tell of the wondrous mill
a ro a r was of th t g und wh teve demanded it . The ra o of t diti n is great antiquity . The earliest ver
o o : si n known is as f llows Of all beliefs , that in which man has at all times of his history been
o o a of a Of m st pr ne to set f ith , is that golden age
a has a a a pe ce and plenty which p ssed w y , but which
t o o of might be expected return . Such a peri d
a a o orsemen pe ce and plenty , such g lden time , the N
’ o F o c uld tell of in his mythic r di s reign , when gold ,
’ or F o w as r di s meal , as it called , was so plentiful
’ that golden armlets lay untouched from year s end
’ ’ t o a l year s end on the King s highw y , and the fie ds
’ o r F o b re c ops unsown . In rodi s h use were two
a of Old a a F a M . m idens that gi nt r ce , renj and enja These daughters of the giant he had bought as
and ma or slaves , he de them grind his quern hand
o out of a mill Gr tti , which he used to grind pe ce
a o one e and gold . Even in th t g lden age sees ther
r a F ro r n we e sl ves , and di , howeve bou tiful to his
a and o a t askrnast er th nes pe ple, was a h rd to his
t o giant handmaidens . He kept them the mill ,
’ nor gave them longer rest than the cuckoo s note
'
or t he ul o . lasted , y co d sing a s ng But that quern
’ F rom D P a T s om he No se asent s opul r ale f r t r . S olar Folk- Lore 1 27
was such that it ground everything that the grinder
o had o o ch se , though until then it gr und n thing
o an a a ro but g ld d pe ce . SO the m idens g und and
ro and one a r o in ra g und , s ng thei pite us tale a st in
o of ZEsch l us as o r . w rthy y , the ther ested They
ra for r F ro a p yed est and pity , but di was de f .
a oo ro no Then they turned in gi nt m d , and g und
o r a and fire war. l nge pe ce plenty , but and Then
r a and o and a r the que n went f st furi us , th t ve y
night came Mysing the sea - rover and slew F rodi
all and a off r and his men , c rried the que n , and SO
’
- F a . a sea rodi s pe ce ended The m idens , the rover
him and ot on took with , when he g the high seas
a so o at he bade them grind s lt , they gr und , and
a had not a o midnight they sked if he s lt en ugh ,
a on o but he b de them grind . So they gr und till
was ul a M sin the ship f l and s nk . y g , maids , mill ,
’ ” and all and a sea a , th t s why the is s lt .
- o o This wonder w rking mill nce stood in heaven ,
for F ro o r r a it is said , di its wne was no othe th n
- God F r fla a o of the Sun eyr . The t circul r st ne
’ F ro r 18 Of and di s que n the disk the sun , its handle is the pramant ha with which Indra or the Aswins used to kindle the extinguished luminary .
T o a ul a o o expl in the circ r m ti n Of the sun , the Incas of Peru believed that it washung in space by
a a r sea a cord , and th t e ch evening it ente ed the ,
and being a good swimmer it pierced through t he 1 28 S un Lore o f All Ages
a o waves , and re ppeared next m rning in the
east . The Incas claimed that the Sun was their own
r o and o r o o of a elde br ther , ruled ve the c h rts he ven
r r r a a by divine ight . Thei legends el te th t the
oo on of Sun t k pity the children men , who , in
a a a and primitive times , lived in st te Of sav gery , hetherefore sent his son and daughter t o enlighten
a t o o are them , and te ch them live pr perly . They
ro a said to have risen f m the depths Of Lake Titic ca , that marvellous sheet of water twelve thousand
a o ea a feet b ve the s . They t ught the Peruvians
a of a the essenti ls culture and educ tion .
o t o a o r a a Acc rding n the tr dition , the Peruvi ns
o r traced their rigin f om the first Inca , the Sun and
his wife , who came from the island of the sun in
a and o of C o Lake Titicac , f unded the city uzc ,
a the sacred city of the sun . This island in the l ke
r t o v i is therefore sac ed the Peru ans , and many
ui r ns of the Incas are t o be found there . The Peruvians paid particular attention t o the
of daily meridian passage the sun , and Observed
a o . th t when it was in the zenith , it cast no shad w The early natives of Brazil believed that the
Of a hi m st e sun was a ball light fe thers , w ch some y rious being exhibits during the day , and covers at
ot night with a p .
The folk - lore of the North American Indian
S olar Folk- Lore 1 2 9
i s i tribes r ch in legends respecting the sun . The Indians believed that the sun was an animated being
o o endowed with human attributes . The f ll wing tales are related by the Thompson River Indians There was once a most mi schi evous and incor rigibl e youth who one morning strolled away from his o r o a a h me . On his eturn , he f und th t his p rents had a o r who deserted him , but his Old gr ndm the , was a as a w . unable to tr vel , left behind She t ught
t o a a b ow and a o and the boy how m ke rr ws , with
o a these he w as able t o pr vide daily supply of food . She also made blankets for hi m out of the skins
f a o r r of o m ny col ured bi ds . These we e such beauty that they attracted the attention of the
had a a o of Sun . It lw ys been the cust m the Sun t o ra a o a ur d a and o t vel b ut n ked d ing the y , cl the
I himself only in the dark hours . But when the
saw a ul a a Sun these be utif bl nkets , he purch sed
ro b o and a a them f m the y , wr pped them bout his
o and oo a a so at of b dy , s n dis ppe red , that set sun you m ay see ' the gorgeous colouri ng of these robes
r a of in the weste n sky , especi lly the blue tint the
- a a blue j y bl nket . Another tale relates that originally the Sun
2 ar r a now and lived much ne e the earth th n , preyed
Thi s may hav e been the Indi an way of accounting for the inv i sibility of the sun at night . 2 It i s st ran e t hat the ne ul ar h othesi s con orms with this idea g b yp f , that the sun and earth w ere cl ose t ogether a t one time. 1 30 S un Lore of All Ages
nk o o upon ma ind . It was his cust m t kill people
on a and every day his tr vels , carry them Off t o
o at - a t o at son his h me night f ll e . His lived quietly
o a a a o at h me cl d in fine g rments Of m ny c lours . There was once an Indian who in gambling was
o da r m st unlucky . One y , while much dep essed ,
out on a o he set j urney in search of adventure ,
’ and finally came t o the Sun s abode in the absence
of o son the wner . The received him kindly , but fearing that his gu est would be discovered by his
a a a r a of c nnib l f the , he hid him under a he p robes . The Sun arrived in the evening carrying a man on
: his back , and as he came near the house , he said
M m m I a u Mum Mu . , , There must be man ” son was here , but his persuaded him that he
da a mistaken . The next y the Indian was gl d to
o a r t o leave thi s dangerous l c lity , and eturned his
a o home laden wi th gifts from his benef ct r . Out
’ of gratitude he returned later to the Sun s house and made his friend the present of a wife and one
a so a for his father . This ple sed the Sun much th t
a he gave up the killing and eating Of hum n beings .
r In the foregoing legend we find exp essed the idea ,
r current in the traditions of many p imitive people ,
that celestial beings feed on human bodies .
1 We are almost t em t ed t o add smell the lood of an ngli sh p , I b E ” h man for here we hav e a t ale identi cal in many articul ars with t e , p “ ” l i tale of a c the iant il l er which some authorities popu ar fa ry J k G K ,
claim i s of sola r origin .
S olar Folk- Lore 1 31
The following tale is told of the Sun and his daughter : ’
a os Origin lly the Sun was an eminent chief , p
of o an a sessed great p wer d wealth . He was lso
a a ul and blessed with be utif daughter , the fame
of her o a beauty spread afar . A p werful magici n ,
ra her and ent nced with the maiden , sought hand ,
’ o won s th ugh at first repulsed , finally the Sun
and a e im favour married his d ught r . The Sun
lored t o p his daughter visit him frequently . This ,
o She h wever , neglected to do , and , finally , when
She o t o t wo did g her father with her children , he
ra o her o r t nsf rmed int the p esent Sun . This is why the Sun travels each day from eas t to west
of h are o o in search her father . Her c ildren ccasi n a - o o o lly seen as sun d gs closely foll wing their m ther . The Indians of Northern California relate the following story Once the sun fell by accident down from the
o sky just about sunrise , but the quick little m le
a and was w tching , caught it before it touched the e n r arth , and succeeded in holding it up u til othe s
arrived , when , by exerting all their strength , they
Thi s myth i s typi cal of many that may well be styled Ev aporation d The wat er i s enamoured and Rai nfall myths that are thu s int erpret e . The un does no of the cloud the eauti ul dau ht er the Sun . S t , b f g Of av ou r the suit or and st ri v es t o ill hi m b su ectin him t o a num er f , k y bj g b h v of t est s . The Water achi ev es su ccess in all of these, and t en recei es ’ th un sion o m rr hi h e S s permi s t a y s daug t er. 1 32 S u n Lore o f All Ages
succeeded in replacing it where it belonged in t he
’ r a o a sky , but ever the e fter the m le s h nds were bent far back to Show how he had worked t o hold
up the sun . As evidence Of the Indian belief in the Sun ’s
o f a and hi s o an s licitude in their a f irs , pr tecting d “ a C of a s ving influences , the heyenne tale The E gle Hunter is told
There was an Indian who once set out to catch an a o eagle . Digging h le in the groun d he crept
r r r in , covered it ove with b ush , and cleve ly baited
a ff a o a f an it with skinned bu l c l . Presently eagle
a eat of espied the prey , flew down , and beg n to it ,
a o of f and when the Indian l id h ld its eet , held it captive ; but he had underestimated the power of
had o ar the bird , which strength en ugh to c ry the
o a a im os man up to a m unt in cr g , where it was p
r r a sible fo him t o descend . The Indian e lising
r r his desperate plight , p ayed to the Sun for delive
on a ance , and the Sun , taking pity him , sent great whirlwind which swept the hunter from his
o o . l fty perch , and safely dep sited him on the ground
In a Maidu legend it is related that the Sun dwells in an impregnable house of ice into which
r o on she retreats afte killing pe ple the earth . Once
’ F o was she abducted the r g s children , and closely
r r a o o pu sued by thei ngry m ther , who finally ver
and a o took the Sun sw ll wed her , but the Sun
S olar Folk- Lore 1 33
burst her open and transformed her into a F rog
a a g in .
There are many Indian tales wherein the sun
as a ar figures t get . The Shoshone Indians b e liev ed a not th t , in the beginning , the sun did shine till the Rabbit shot at hi m with his magical arrow
fire (the drill) .
o o M a a 1 In the f ll wing ew n Indi n legend , the sunl ight is extingui shed by the arrow shot : There was once a poor worthless Indian b oy who got his
a living by begging . At length , finding people lo th t o a r oo out ssist him , he th eatened to Sh t the sun ,
as had no ff a o and this e ect , he m de g od his threat , and out Shot the sun , thus letting its light , and
a a the whole world became d rk . It w s dark for
and one was a of years , every st rving for want
Co - Man r light , when the yote discove ed a dim light
o Off Hurnmin - a l ng distance , and sent the g bird to
t o a . investig te The bird , finding its way the sun ,
eeked Off ur un p a piece , and ret ned with it der its
and a a a chin , m king repe ted trips fin lly succeeded
o ul of t he in rest ring the f l light sun , and to this day you can see the marks of it s burden beneath ” of - r o a the chin the Humming bi d . This ass ci tion of the Humming- bird with the sun is found in the
a of was tr ditions the Aztecs . In their temples “ enthroned a deity known as the Humming- bird
1 w o M The Da n the orld . Ha rt erriam . f W , C 1 34 S un Lore of All Ages
the f o to le t , and this bird was c nsidered by them mi f b e o . to a divine being , the e ssary the sun In A f l ” the ztec language it is O ten cal ed Sunbeam , “ ’ ” or Sun s hair . Among the Indians there seems to have been
a an almost universal tr dition that originally .men
of r or - n lived in a world da kness , semi dark ess , A before the sun was placed in the heavens .
M a s ewan legend rel te that , in the early days , the
fo land was shrouded in g , and was cold and dark . It was such a poor place to live in that Coyote
Man was not satisfied with the conditions , and set out on a journey to seek some way to better
a it . He finally came to a ple sant land of sunshine ,
r and , charmed with it , retu ned to tell his people
a of the delightful l nd he had visited . They
ff re suggested that he O er to buy the sun , so he turned to the land Of light and made this proposi
C o - Man tion , but it was rejected , so oy te resolved
as o to steal the sun his pe ple were in sore need of it . This was a diffi cult matter as the sun was care
ur fully watched by the T tle , who Slept with one
a
l o n C - Man t o a wa s e . eye y p oyote , resorting magic ,
of oak lo took the form a big g, and the Turtle , when out seeking for wood , took him and threw him on not the fire . But the fire did even singe him ,
r um and seeing the Turtle asleep , he es ed his form , seized the sun and ran off with it to his own land .
1 36 S un Lore of A ll Ages
a - in - law blind man who is cured by his f ther ,
o - an r o r C yote M . He e we have an ther eference to the Coyote ’s service to manki nd in bringing
sunshine to his people . Among the New Zealanders the sun is regarded as a great beast whom the hunters thrashed with
o t o clubs . His blood is supp sed be used in some
of their incantations , and according to an Egyptian
’ n tradition , the sun s blood was k eaded into clay
of at the making man . We have seen how the sun was metaphorically regarded in India and other lands not merely as a
of a human creature , but as the eye supreme and
- all seeing deity . In like manner the inhabitants of M a Java , Sumatra , and adag scar called the sun “ ” a the eye of day . This met phor has been used e o xtensively even in modern p etry .
W a a hen the stronomers G lileo , Scheiner , and
F o abricius disc vered the spots on the sun , the Aristotelians indignantly insisted that they were
o mistaken , and that the phen menon was due to
' defects in the optical properties of their telescopes or a a incom eyes . They rgued th t it was quite patible with the dignity of the Eye of the Universe that it should be afflicted with such a common
a a ailment as Ophth lmi .
‘ a . Tylor tells us th t the Rev Tobias Snowden ,
1 T l r ri mi tive Cul ture dwa rd . o . P , E B y S olar Folk- Lore 1 37
oo a ro in a b k published in the l st century , p ved the
t o and a o of sun be Hell , the d rk sp ts , gatherings
a o d mned s uls . In Greece there was a general protest when the
not o astronomers denied nly the divinity , but the
r o of a t o ve y pers nality the sun , and decl red it be
o a a n thing but huge fiery globe . These st tements
r ar as a o and a a we e reg ded bl sphem us , , in f ct , An x agoras was punished with death for having taught
w as r a a a that the sun iot nim ted , and th t it was
o a a of a of n thing but m ss iron , bout the size the
o o Pel p nnesus . Such a state Of affairs strikes us in this enlight
a e raor ar and ened g as decidedly ext din y , yet in the history Of the early settlers of this country we have in the trials for witchcraft an equally absurd and o a of af a fo lish st te f irs .
a e a r on Every g , therefore , to be judged f i ly
r a its me its , must be viewed in the light Of its st te of ro r a of o p g ess , and , grotesque as m ny the f re
o r a of sun m a g ing legends el ted the y seem , it
oo t o o our r a r beh ves us withh ld mi th , and ende vou t o realise how much these traditions were a serious part of the lives Of the people of unenlightened a ges .
Chapter VI
Su n W o rship
HE - of Sun as f a pre eminence the , the ount in
T ’ a of i - a he d l fe and man s well being , must h ve rendered it at a date almost contemporaneous
’ of of with the birth the race , the chief Object man s worship .
“ I a Kames of f It was , s ys , all the dif erent
of o a o for Objects id l try the m st excusable , upon
and the sun depend health , vigour , cheerfulness , and during its retirement all is dark and disconso
a l late . Hence , as we shall see , the chief m scu ine deity of every nation which was the chief Object of r b e thei idolatrous worship , is in every case to i identified w th the sun . The Abbé B anier wrote in like vein Nothing was more capable of seducing men than the Heav
l a a en and . y Bodies , the sun especi lly His be uty ,
f a of the bright splendour O his be ms , the rapidity
ex i us ad currendam vi am his course , ultavi t ut G g ,
1 Hi stor o Man H H r Home of ames . y f , on . en y K
2 The M thol o nd F the Anci ents A é B anier. y gy a ables of , bb 1 41 1 4 2 S un Lore of All Ages
his regularity in enlightening the Whole earth by
ff F all turns , and in di using Light and ertility
ro a of who a und , essential char cters the Divinity is Himself the light and source of everything that
all t oo a a of exists , these were but c p ble impressing
the gross minds of men with a belief that there was
no o God and ther but the sun , that this splendid
umi of l nary was the throne the Divinity . God
a an had fixed his h bitation in the heavens , d they saw nothing that bore more marks Of Divinity Di than the sun . In the words of odorus Sicul us : “ Men in earlier times struck with the beauty of the
o ul Universe , with the splend ur and reg arity which
no everywhere were in evidence , made doubt that
o who there was s me Divinity therein presided , and they adored the sun as expressing the likeness
of the Deity .
o of was v i a The w rship the sun ine t ble , and its
deification was the source of all idolatry in every
a part of the world . It was sunrise th t inspired the
a first prayers uttered by man , c lling him to acts
of devotion , bidding him raise an altar and kindle
sacrificial flames .
’ Before the Sun s all - glorious shrine the first men
knelt and raised their voices in praise and supplica
tion , fully confirmed in the belief that their prayers
were heard and answered . Nothing proves so much the antiquity of solar
1 44 S un Lore of All Ages
of and a or t oo for a emblem time , sh t stick small
r o a aeo o r r scept e , which s me rch l gists think ep esents the fire- stick which was so closely a ssociated with
- - God . a a the Sun On a sm ll t ble altar , which stands
r o a r before him , is a la ge disk rn mented with fou
a - Of a - a st r like limbs , and four sets w ve like r ys , “ while above the group is the inscription : The ” - Go a d of . Disk of the Sun , and the r ys ( his) eyes The scene clearly indicates the fact that the priests of Sippara were worshippers of the solar
a a t o a disk , and sol r r ys , and their creed seems be r a close resemblance to that in vogue in the 1 8th
a r on Egypti n dynasty . The insc iptions this memorial tablet are a valuable record of the religious life and ceremonial of the B abylonian temples .
a o a The B bylonians , wh se deity Sham sh , the
- was o at Si ara a a Sun God , w rshipped pp and L rs , believed that in the firmament there were t w o — oo one a and o . d rs in the e st , the ther in the west
These were used by the Sun - God in his daily o r a o j u ney cross the sky . He entered thr ugh the a o e stern door , and made his exit thr ugh the western
o a a o p rt l . One tr dition rec rds that he rode in a chariot on his daily course drawn by two spirited
r ho ses .
In the representations of the Sun - God on the
a o ancient cylinder se ls , h wever , he is generally S un W ors hip 1 45
a depicted j ourneying on foot . E ch evening when
- a ar a the Sun God dis ppe ed in the west , he fe sted and rested from his exertions in the abode of the
o r or . g ds , the unde w ld The authorities do not agree as to the place
r or of was o whe e the w ship the Sun intr duced , but perhaps those who claim Chaldea as the birth
a Of or a of a um pl ce Sun w ship h ve the best the rg ent , as it is well known that the Chaldeans were the first who r o o of a nl Obse ved the m ti n the he ve y bodies , and astrology flourished in this reign in the earliest
r a r times . The p incip l deities wo shipped by the Chaldeans were arra nged in triads of greater and less
ar all of er dignity , ne ly the members these being p sonificati ons of or a the heavens the he venly bodies .
a o r Ana a or The first tri d c mp ised , the he vens ,
F of o o of a the hidden Sun , ather G ds , L rd D rkness , f o . a a o Lord Spirits Next in order c me Bil , ls a
- God r o o of Sun , the Rule , the L rd , the s urce kingly
o a p wer . His n me has the same Significance as
ersonifies a a of Baal , and he p the s me spect nature , l the Sun ru ing in the heavens .
o of Ca a M o The g ds the n anite nations , ol ch ,
aa C o a and m r B l , hem sh , B alzebub , Tham uz , we e
’ all ersonificat ions of or a p the sun the sun s r ys ,
o one or a o c nsidered under aspect n ther . These
o t o o a r f r cruel g ds , wh m human s c ifices were Of e ed ,
r o r mm s rep esented the str ng fie ce su er un . 1 46 S un Lore of All Ages
Solar worship was the predominant feature of
o o a and o the religi n of the Ph enici ns , the s urce of
o a and A their mythol gy . B al shtoreth , their chief
a M o divinities , were unquestion bly the Sun and on ,
a a of - God and a gre t festiv l in honour the Sun , ” a a of a was c lled the aw kening Her kles , held
F and M re re annually at Tyre , in ebruary arch , p
of n senting the returning power the Su in spring .
a - God M elkarth The Phoenici n Sun , , belonged to
of a d the line Bel or B al , and was the tutelary ivinity of ful O Melkarth fi the power city f Tyre . personi ed
of a o o the Sun spring , gr dually gr wing m re and more powerful as it mounts t o the skies ;hence the
a od of Phoenici ns regarded him as a g the harvests ,
of a od who o and the t ble , the g brings j y in his
a ff tr in . Quails were O ered as sacrifices at his
as altars , and it was supposed that he presided over dreams , the sick and infirm were sent to sleep in his temples that they might receive in their dreams some premonition of their approaching recovery . The white poplar was particul arly dedicated t o
ar or his service . His vot ies celebrated his w ship
a a o with fan tic l rites , inv king him with loud cries , and cutting themselves with knives . Strangely
o A o en ugh , in the North merican Indian w rship of i o Of - a the sun , a s milar cust m self mutil tion is
- a undergone in the sun dance ceremoni l . The hardy Tyrian navigators soon Spread this
1 48 S un Lore of All Ages they were wont t o sacrifice a horse t o the object of r their wo ship .
of r vi a One the most inte esting e dences Of ncient,
o o t o r Sun w rship has been br ught light in Sy ia , dur
a a ing the last few ye rs , by Germ n excava tors who have been engaged in exposing the wonderful and imposing ruins at Baalbeck . Chief among these
o of in imp rtance is the Great Temple the Sun ,
t o and i a and dedicated Jupiter , ident fied with Ba l
W o the Sun . ith him were associated b th Venus
M r and ercury , under whose triple p otection the
of o as a Unf or ancient city Heliop lis w pl ced . t unat el has a o y , the Great Temple been lm st
o a r are entirely destr yed . All th t emains six
of Cor columns the peristyle , capped with inthian a a o c pit ls , and joined by an elaborately dec rated
’ a a o on and massive ent bl ture . An inscripti n the great portico states that the temple was erected to the Great Gods of Heliopolis by Antonius . In Egypt we find Sun worship exalted t o the
m a highest degree , and the Sun y well be regarded
r of o as the cent al object the Egyptian religi n . “ Diodorus says : The first generation of men in
a or Egypt , contempl ting the beauty Of the superi
r and r ra wo ld , admi ing with astonishment the f me and o f a a rder o the universe , im gined th t there were t wo r a a and chief gods , ete n l and prim ry , the Sun
‘ ’ M oo r of o a n , the fi st wh m they c lled Osiris , the Co r t n erwoo 8c n erwoo N Y g d . py i h by U d d U d , ,
The T em le of u it er a al e ria p J p , B b k , Sy
1 50 S u fi Lore o f All Ages
a a of ppear nce the sun signified the end of a contest ,
the Sun - God vanquished by the demons of the
r t o of da kness , descended the realm death In ” B ook o the Dead a 1 the f s ys Tylor, it is written
that the departed souls descend with the Sun- God through the western gate and travel with him
a and. of r mong the fields rivers the unde world . The war that the Sun waged with his enemies
not a did , however , end with his dis ppearance in
of da All o of the west at eve y . thr ugh the hours
a on d rkness the battle went in the underworld , r until , finally , the sun gained the uppe hand , and u a emerged victorio s in the e st , all glorious
um a a of an and tri phant to gl dden the he rts men , d
c m Of oul the pro laim the im ortality his s ; for , to
o Egyptians , the soul was wh lly identified with
- God the Sun , and partook Of all the vicissitudes
a th t befell him . It died with him at nightfall , fought with him against the powers of darkn ess in
o f the underw rld , and renewed its li e with him in the glories of the dawn .
a deificat ion The Egypti ns , in the of the sun , ff considered the luminary in its di erent aspects ,
a a and sep r ting the light from the heat of the sun ,
a the orb from the r ys . Egyptian Sun worship w a or o a nd s theref e p lytheistic , several distinct
- r o . deities were wo shipped as Sun G ds Thus,
1 P rimi ti ve Culture dward . T lor. , E B y S un W ors hip 1 5 1
there were Sun - Gods representing the physical
orb a o as , the intellectu l Sun , the sun c nsidered the
o r a and our of o s u ce Of he t , the s ce light , the p wer
firmam ent Of the sun , the sun in the , and the Sun
r - a in his esting pl ce . It is quite impossible in a work of this nature t o adequately treat the subject of Egyptian Sun
o a n w rship . Volumes h ve been written o the the subject and space forbids more than a brief a ccount of the worship of the more important of
a o a the Egypti n s l r deities .
The worship of the Sun - Gods Ra and Osiris was the most ancient religion mentioned on the f “ ” o m o . Oldest m nu ents Egypt They are those, “ a 1 i n a a o s ys Tiele , which fter times prev iled m st generally and may be said t o have formed the foundation of the national religion . Undoubtedly the most important of the Egyp
- was Ra and r ar t o tian Sun Gods , the e appe have been few gods in Egypt who were not at one time
r a r As far a as o nothe identified with him . b ck
a o a - God a ar Egypti n hist ry re ches this Sun ppe s ,
r ur on mm a Ra as whe e in the pict es the mu y c ses , ,
ra oa ro the Sun , is seen t velling in his b t th ugh the
r and o r o of r and uppe l wer egi ns the Unive se , his worship appears to have been universal throughout
Egypt .
1 Hi sto o P Ti l r C. . e e the E ti a Reli i on Dr. . y f gyp n g , 1 52 S un Lore of All Ages
a Ra personified the physic l sun , the glorious
mid - firmament an day sun ruling the , d symbolised to the ancient Egyptians the majesty and power
of was as an o kings . He worshipped mnipotent
and al l - powerful god under the names Ra and
I - Amen Ra .
2 Wilkinson tells us that the name of this deity
Ra and a was pronounced , with the definite rticle
a as or Pi prefixed it was the s me Phrah , , as we
e l a ao of rroneously ca l it , Ph r h the Scriptures . The Hebrew word Phrah is no other than the
Memphitic name of the sun . The hawk and globe e mblems of the sun are placed over the banners or the figures of the Egyptian kings in the scul ptures to denote this
hi of of a title . T s adoption the name the sun as
was a regal title probably owing to the idea th t ,
f of o as the Sun was the chie the heavenly b dies , he was a fit emblem of the king who was the rul er
of over all the earth . In many the kingly titles the phonetic nomen commenced with the name
f as and o o Ra , the Rameses , thers , and the expres
o o si n living f rever like the sun , the splendid
Phré o on all o and , are c mmon the belisks dedica
o tory inscripti ns .
1 It is a si ngular fact that the grea t Polynesian name for the Sun l God is a so Ra .
1 Ma nners and Customs o the Ancient E tians Si r . ardner f gyp , J G il i nson W k .
1 54 S un Lore of All Ages
r a n sun . The myste ious d daily disappearance of the orb of day exercised over the Egyptians a
a phenomenal power . The sun then ppeared to
as ful Dawn them , Keary beauti ly describes it in his “ of Hi story to veil his glory and sheathe his dazzling beams in a lovely many - coloured radiance which soothed and gladdened the weary eyes and
a of a t o a a he rts men , and en bled them g ze fe rlessly and lovingly on the dreaded orb from which during the day they had been obliged to turn their eyes .
s w as od of a O iris distinctly a g the life etern l . The Egyptians believed that when he sank from sight behind the western hills the soul s of the
rt depa ed were in his retinue , and that , in his nightly o our o o and s j n in the underw rld , he held high c urt
a o on judged the de d . Thus , in the inscripti ns the
see . a a Egyptian temples , we Osiris in his ch r cter
o one as Judge figured in the sacred blue , h lding in
of hand a sceptre , and in the other the emblem life , his head surmounted with the double crown Of
Upper and Lower Egypt .
“ I “ a Kear In the judgment scenes , s ys y , he appears seated on a throne at the end Of a solemn
a of a o a h ll tri l , to which the s ul has been arr igned , and in the centre of which stands the fateful b al
' of ance , where in the presence the evil accusing Spirit and of the friendly funeral gods and genii
1 w s C. F . ear . Da n of Hi tory, K y S un W ors hip I 55
a a a of man who st nd round , the he rt is weighed against a symbol of Divine Truth .
The Sun - God Osiris was therefore to the Egyp
a a of and a od of a ti ns deity the living , g the de d , a link connecting the earthly life with the life
a r and o and con etern l , the uppe the under w rlds ,
a a a r sequently was personified s t w o distinct ch r cte s .
a of One , as we h ve seen , depicts him as Judge the
hi a a as r r a . In s De d c p city an earth dwelle , Osi is
as or r o of ul A w w shipped unde the f rm a b l , the pis , who by successive incarnations never abandoned
o a o who wor his h me l nd , and the sight Of th se
ro a shipped him th ugh successive ges . The Egyptians regarded the bull as the living
r a o of and a rep esent ti n the deity , believed th t the
oul of od a a a s the g ten nted the body Of the nim l , thence deeming the bul l the very same as Osiris himself . The seat of Osiris worship in Egypt was at Thinis
on a of (Teni) in Upper Egypt , the west b nk the
an M i ri Nile between Thebes d emph s . Osi s is
as of frequently alluded to Lord Abydos , a
mm a of Thini s at city in the i edi te vicinity , and this place there have been discovered many tem
a t o ples dedic ted his worship .
That Osiris was a Sun - God is clearly indicated by a number Of expressions used regarding him
ro r taken f m the insc iptions . In the hymns his 1 56 S un Lore O f All Ages
a ccession t o the throne of his father is compared
of him to the rising the sun , and it is even said Of
a : on o in so m ny words He glitters the h rizon ,
a Of f he sends out r ys light rom his double feather , inundates the world with it as the sun from out the
highest heaven . Like the sun he is called in the
a r o of of s c ed s ngs , Lord the length time . One “ of M o o his usual appellations is , ysteri us soul f ” “ of the Lord the Disk , or simply Soul of the Sun
a Unefer The Egypti ns Often called Osiris ,
a b enefic nt th t is , the good being , representing the e power of the sun that triumphs always over the
of a of powers d rkness . In conclusion , the story the death of Osiris agrees closely with the solar
sunset phenomenon , and renders the personification
a n of Osiris s the setting sun a true o e. The most venerable Of all the Egyptian Sun
not ul or A Gods , if the most pop ar , was Atum mum ,
r had pe sonifying the sun after it set , and was hid
ro f m View .
a o of A There are two deriv ti ns the name mum , “ one r t he meaning , that which b ings to other simply expressing the invitation or greeting “ of Co . welcome , me In deifying Amum the Egyptians worshipped the unrevealed and unseen
a or of all of n Cre t things , the source all thi gs , the
of r Ruler Eternity , whence eve ything came , and
l o to which a l things w ul d return .
1 58 S un Lore Of All Ages and represented as a child with his finger held up
to his lips . In addition t o the previously mentioned per sonificat i ons of a o the Sun , Egypti n Sun w rship
a or a of included w ship of the actu l disk the Sun . This form of worship was in vogue in the reign of Amenophis III its first appearance on the monu
’ ments being in the 1 1 th year Of that monarch s reign .
Of o A e The worship the s lar disk , or ten , becam the sole object of adoration in the reign of Amen hOt o o . o t he p IV This m narch , in fact , f rbade
or of od a a w ship any g s ve this , the gre t living
of a disk the sun , and c used the names of all other
o t o a o g ds be er sed fr m the monuments , and their
t o images be destroyed .
In the hymns , this deity is referred to as he who “ a far a and a and r cre ted the he vens men , be sts bi ds ;
s ren thenet h a and he t g the eyes with his be ms , when
show eth o he himself all flowers live and gr w , the
a o o at u — me d ws fl urish his p going , and are drunken at e his feet , all cattle skip on their f et , and the birds
are ar r o who that in the m sh flutte for j y . It is he
a Cr a bringeth the ye rs , e teth the months , maketh
a cal culat eth of the d ys , the hours time by whom
o men reck n . In his zeal to make the god of the disk pre
AmenhOt o a e eminent , King p IV ch nged his nam S un W orship 1 59
’ one ifi a s to which sign ed gle m of the sun disk . The death of this monarch resul ted in a great
s o reaction , the old gods being re t red to their
a a origin l f vour . Although the solar personifications alluded to would appear to include all the Sun deities wor
a ra shipped by the Egypti ns , there were seve l
or - o a had a o min Sun G ds th t place in their religi n ,
o od a o chief am ng these being the g Pt h , pers nifying
- r od the life giving powe Of the sun . This g was
r a a a wo shipped with gre t m gnificence t Memphis .
The Sun - God Mandoo personified the power
’ of at - da mm was the sun s rays mid y in su er . He
a regarded as god Of vengeance and destruction ,
f ar and a leader in time o w . The rays of the sun were personified in the gods
M and o a a Gom , oni , K ns , who are lw ys referred
’
- of . a to as the sons the Sun God The sun s r ys ,
r or a pe sonified in the deity Sekhet P sht , had a
a was feminine signific nce . This goddess figured
a of a o and a with the he d li ness , it is s id she was at
o ar an a nce fe ed d loved . Her name Pasht me ns
a the lioness , and was perh ps suggested by the
’ ’ fierceness of un a t o o the s s rays , nswering the li ness s
ro o or a . fe ci us strength , the ngry light in her eyes Another name for this goddess was the Lady of ” Ca her or o o m o the ve , and w ship , th ugh c m n
at B ub st i o had a s . through ut Egypt , its seat 160 S un Lore of All Ages
r a and ro Tiele conside s th t Set , the enemy b ther of w as a o a - as o Osiris , ls Sun God , he is s metimes “ “ a r a or of a c lled the G e t L d He ven , and the
r o r and Spy . He pe s nified the fie ce terrible deso
’ o r lation wr ught by the sun s powe .
Chapter VII
Su n W o rship (Continued )
S un Worship i n I ndi a
a a o o N India , l nd teeming with myth l gy , we
as o a re find we might expect , Sun w rship p
a of o domin nt feature the Hindu religi n . All the myths prove that the fancied combat between light and a a a of d rkness , w ged d ily in the spacious field
m n f a firma e t o . As the , is sol r origin we have seen
- God of um Osiris , the Sun the Egyptians , tri phing
ar so over the demons Of d kness , in India we find
a a o a of Indr , the gre t s l r deity the Hindus , success ful o rit ra f in his c mbat with V the serpent o night . The worship of Indra constitutes the very essence of o a was no a the Vedic religi n , lthough he by me ns
o - God o a for the nly Sun w rshipped in Indi , the Hindus worshipped the sun in its various aspects a a f fter the m nner o the Egyptians . The rising “ on a was sun was called Brahma , the meridi n it “ known as Siva , and in the west at nightfall ,
Vishnu .
In regard to Vishnu , says Keary , the great 1 63 1 64 S un Lore o f All Ages
epic of the Hindus relates that when he was armed for the fight Agni gave him a wheel with a
r a o a a thunde bolt n ve . This can nly me n wheel that shoots out thunderbolts from its nave when ” 1 a it turned . The wheel has throughout the ges
o symb lised the sun .
C a a r a o In entr l Indi , Sun worship still p evails m ng
of and o as many the hill tribes , the Sun is inv ked
he r W t C o and . Holy One , the reat r , P eserver hite a a o a nim ls are sacrificed t o him by his v t ries .
One of the early and most important Sun - Gods
ur r r o a was S ya . He is ep esented as m ving d ily across the sky in a golden chariot drawn by seven
o r a o o white h rses . Pe h ps the m st h ly verse in the
Veda is the following short prayer to the Sun - God
u a a o a an o a S ry t ken fr m the Rig Ved , inv c tion
r o and o powe ful in expressi n , beautiful in th ught
S ra s s o Sur a t o t he son a s ing p i e unt y , Of Dy u , M ay this my truthful speech gu ard m e on every side wherever heaven and earth and days are Spread
abroad .
fin of r The All else that is in motion ds a place est . mo t he a rs r flow and r un s sun . w te eve , eve t No godless man from time remotest draws thee down when thou art driv ing forth with wi nged dappled
steeds . him o an a r on of the as and Sfir a He turns t lien egi e t , y ff ren h thou ariseth with a di e t lig t .
1 - C F ear . i ositi es o F olk Lore . . Cur f , K y
1 66 S un Lore O f All Ages their hands t o the sun as they repeat this prayer which has come down unchanged from remote ages .
as The Zoro trians , and the modern exponents Of
a saw that f ith , the Parsees , in the sun fire and light ,
a a o of a o a m nifest ti n divine and omnip tent power , and regarded them in a measure as symbols of the deity ; but there can be little doubt that this
o was a a o out and th distincti n not lw ys b rne , that e
a sun , and fire itself , were liter lly worshipped by them .
ur In the Parsee temples b ns a fire which , it is
has said , never been extinguished since it was
a kindled by Zoroaster four thous nd years ago .
o t o a In praying , the Parsees are adm nished st nd
ur before the fire , and t n their faces toward the
’ u sun , and when a young Brahman s head is tons red , he is to this day so placed that he has the sacred fire to the east whence comes the sun of which it is a type.
S un Worship i n Greece
- God of The ancient Sun the Pelasgians , dis
a o of A e pl ced by the later w rship pollo , was Ar s . “ o 1 There can be no questi n , says Keary , that in prehistoric times the worship of Ares was
1 D r awn o H s o . F . ea . f i t ry, C K y S un W orship 1 67
of r t o widely extended . Traces his wo ship are be
o Arei os who was o o r at f und in the Zeus h n u ed Elis , and in the name of Arei opagus of Athens . Little actual knowledge of this early worship however ha o t o s come d wn us . The two great solar divinities of Greece were
o or o o . Heli s Hyperion , and Ph ebus Apoll Just as the Egyptians regarded their Sun - Gods Ra
as a of and Osiris distinct spects the sun , so the Greeks distinguished the orb from the rays of the sun . Helios represented to the Greeks the physical
of orb of phenomenon light , the the sun which
o throughout the seas ns rises and sets daily .
o o o rar was b enefi Ph ebus Ap ll , on the cont y , the cent divinity who not only created the wa rmth of - a ro spring tide , but protected m nkind f m the
a f o a d ngers and diseases o the more des late se sons . He was essentially human in his sympathies and
l o yet whol y g dlike in dignity .
a o o Some writers , not bly Hesi d , regard Hyperi n
of sun o and as the father the , m on , and dawn ,
r a - the efore the origin l Sun God , and the father of o o Ph ebus Ap llo , but Homer identifies Helios “ a n with Hyperion s he who walks o high .
of - o The worship the Sun God Helios , the c unter
a of Sol was o r p rt the Latin , imported int G eece
ro no a a f m Asia , but by me ns g ined a high degree 1 68 S un Lore of All Ages of ul um was pop arity . The n ber seven sacred to
o a of a o Heli s , and in the isl nd Trin cria (supp sed to
was a had of be Sicily) , it s id he seven herds cows ,
of r and seven herds lambs , fifty in each he d ,
or which never increased diminished in numbers . The god delighted to watch them peaceful ly
a gr zing when he rose in the morning , and as he
k at - a As a left the s y night f ll . we shall see l ter in
a on m o of G the ch pter the solar ythol gy reece , and
Od sse of as related in the y y , the sacred herds Helios were ruthlessly slaughtered by the misguided o f c mpanions o Ulysses . Incensed by this insult the Sun - God threatened to descend into Hades and
a shine among the de d . He contented himself ,
o t o h wever, by complaining Jove , who , acknow
for a ledging the justice of his claim venge nce , roused up a mighty storm which well - nigh d e stroyed the miscreants , and completely disabled
1 a r - God their ship . Tylor tells us th t the G eek Sun
o t o o o r on Heli s , wh m h rses we e sacrificed the
a of Ta et os was a a a mount in top yg , th t s me person l
o had Sun to whom S crates , when he stayed rapt in
r a ff r o thought till dayb e k , O ered a praye bef re he
An a o departed . annu l festival in honour Of Heli s was celebrated at Rhodes with musical and athletic contests . The Greeks believed that the Sun rose out of
1 P ri miti ve Culture dward B . T lor. , E y
1 70 S un Lore of All Ages
M u a o t o headed inota r , cc rding the authorities , coul d hardly have been anything else than a Sun
of a a God the Asi tic st mp .
W of A ith the coming the Dorians to Crete , pollo
or a and w ship was est blished , through the migra tions of these people (about the tenth century
era ul of o a before our ) , the c t Ph ebus Apollo spre d on r o was a every side , until this eligi n in f vour
a wherever the Greek l nguage was spoken .
o o all In Homer , Ap ll is easily the greatest Of
- o and i or i n ara t o l o the Sun G ds , super ch cter a m st
o I li ad a every ther deity . In the he is the centr l and most majestic figure .
P oe o or F ar- a h bus Ap llo , D rter as he is some
a w as son Of r and times c lled , the Jupite Latona , and a M oo o was brother of Dian , the n G ddess . He
on a and o a of born Delos , the sm llest m st desol te
ZE ean o r a all the g Islands , after all the pl ces had
o o was a a ro rejected him . Del s , h wever , most pp
rl for a - God as a p ate birthplace Sun , the ncients
a was or o believed th t the Sun b n fr m the sea .
o o His name , Ph ebus , signifies the glori us nature of of su n o the light the , while the name Apoll probably had reference t o the devastating effects
’ of r - the sun s ays at mid day .
At the birth of the Sun - God on the seventh day of o are o a a the m nth , we t ld that s cred swans m de
i of a all the c rcuit the isl nd seven times , and the S u n W orship 1 7 1
a a o o was attendant goddesses g ve sh ut , and Del s
a a o l . We a r a r di nt in g lden ight h ve he e , it is s id ,
an a at o of the echo Of Old belief , th t the h ur sun
r a o rise the horizon sends fo th s und .
o on a o ca Zeus best wed the inf nt Ap llo a p , a
a r hi r and a car a a . oo s ly e , dr wn by sw ns S n fte birth the swans carried Apollo Off t o the land Of the
o a r for o of a Hyperb re ns , whe e six m nths the ye r the climate is marked by sunshine a nd gentle
r - God r breezes . He e the Sun th ived and waxed
r not o of vigo ous . It is within the sc pe this chapter t o dwell on the myths that tell of the
of F ar- a r as mighty deeds the D rte , they come
o r r a r on o a o o pr pe ly unde the ch pte s l r myth l gy .
a o of the a The est blishment , h wever , Delphini n o a r a o o a r cle , pe h ps the m st imp rt nt event in the
of - God r r as was life the Sun , is elated he e , Delphi ,
ro r a a of o o or p pe ly spe king , the se t Ap ll w ship . At an early date Apollo developed the attributes
f a r an r o a o d out of . w rri , set in the quest adventu e Searching for a sui table pla ce in which t o establish an ora a a a a cle , he c me to Delphi , pe ceful v le in
C a a o and riss , in the he rt Of Greece . Its s litude sublimity completely charmed him and he chose
as of r a not it the site his o acle . His dvent was
a a o r as ra had a pe ce ble , h weve , He set in his p th the
a o and a o a gre t serpent Pyth , terrific c mb t ensued
r o o o o f om which Apoll emerged vict ri us . S me 1 72 S u n Lore of All Ages
authorities clai m that this contest with Pytho
war o t o a m ho signifies the which , acc rding m ny yt
o - God a r d Go . l gies , the Sun w ges with the Rive The great river is the earth which flows all around
or and the w ld , which the Greeks knew by the ” name Oceanus .
r Pe haps , in the widest Significance , this battle between Phoebus Apollo and the serpent repre
sents the contest between the Sun - God and the
a r for e rth rive , the Sun , although seemingly con
r a a and o que ed by Oce nus e ch night , sm thered in
o r a o his c ils , eme ges triumph nt in the m rning .
F o r A o r m his victory ove Pytho , p llo Obtained
Of t and o of the title Py hius , in commemorati n
a the event the Pythian g mes were instituted , in which contests the v i ctors were crowned with
of wreaths beech leaves .
a of an His foes v nquished , the first requisite
w as o a a oracle , a priest s ught , and it is rel ted th t Apollo cast his eyes seaward and beheld a Cretan
a f or o o of ship s iling Pyl s . Assuming the f rm a
o o sea and a d lphin he plunged int the , bo rded the f ship to the great amazement o the crew . Under
a t o of C his guidance they c me the bay rissa , and the god in the form of a blazing star left the ship and descended into his temple . Assuming the
or of a f m a h ndsome youth with wavy locks , he
r and t o g eeted the crew as strangers , invited them
S un W orship 1 73
a and as o o as l nd , worship him Ap ll Delphinus , he had o of a e met them in the f rm dolphin , and henc
Delphi derived its name .
The resemblance between the lives of the Sun
God o o o and C r a Ph ebus Ap ll , Jesus h ist , the centr l
and ar of C r a r o figure Exempl the h isti n eligi n, is
m r r striking . The circu stances Of thei birth we e
ar o in many respects simil , in that they were b rn
a o ur o r of o o in compar tive bsc ity . The m the Ap ll sought in vain for a sui table place t o bring forth
f and had r our at a t o a o a her Of spring , ec se l st des l te
arr a ea and b en isl nd in the midst of the s . The Virgin M ary found her only refuge in a comfortless
r f or and hum ble shelte the beasts of the field .
Three gifts were presented the F ar- Darter at his
M i a birth by Zeus , and the ag presented the s me
f to a o . F number gifts the inf nt Jesus urther , the infant Apollo was hurried away t o a peaceful land
a r soon fte his birth , and in like manner the child Jesus was conveyed t o a place of safety to escape
r a a th eatened d nger . F or a while Phoebus Apollo hid his greatness in
’ a r a a a begga s g rb , be ring with p tience the gibes
r of o r r r t o and snee s his c m ades , p efe ring bide his time when all men should acknowledge his great
was i n r wa ness . This mode Of existence eve y y
t o f similar the life o Christ . 1 74 S un Lore O f All Ages
as r o oe o o Again , pe s nifying the sun , Ph bus Ap ll must necessarily be b orn weak and suffer hard
a r far and a a ships , he must w nde le d life of strife and a o a o im cti n , but b ve all it was perative that he
a act a Should die . It is this l st which m kes the character of the Sun - God approach the nearest t o
a human n ture .
’ Although the Sun - God s death at night- fall is
o a o ignomini us , kin in this respect to the crucifixi n ,
r o a r r still its p ed minant fe tu e is one Of glo y , and the reappearance of the trium phant sun after
a wa a of r t io de th is in every y typic l the esurrec n , thus portraying in a startling manner the com pl et eness of the analogy between the lives of Christ an o d Ap llo . In the Homeric hymn to Apollo we read that the
F ar- a r a of a o and D rte took the sh pe d lphin , guided “ r a of men from Crete t o C iss . This plunging the od a and a of a g into the w ter , his t king the shape
” I “ a Kear of fish , s ys y , is the setting the sun , a nd the birth of Ap ollo in the mid - ZEgean is
’ of his rising . Both are alike parts the sun s daily j ourney .
a is Ag in , the sun essentially nomadic in its
ara o a a r firmament ch cter , a c ntinu l w nde er in the and this characteristic is borne out in the life of
o o o who a Ph ebus Ap ll , in his inf ncy started upon his
1 Outli nes o rimi ti ve B elie C. F . ear . f P f , K y
1 76 S u n Lore o f All Ages
Thar i gel us . The most noted of the temples
t o or at dedicated his w ship was situated Amyclae.
o o was r a as a o of r Ap ll eg rded the p tr n he dsmen ,
a a was a omiu and in this c p city c lled N s . He
o o was als styled Delphinius , and w rshipped in a temple at Athens which bore the name
Delphinian . F rom the fact that the number seven was sacred
o o was a Hebdomei to Ap ll he c lled us . As a god of was L ci us o a light he styled y , the rigin l centre of o o of this w rship being Lycia , in the s uthwest
a M o a as a Asi in r . Apollo was reg rded the f ther z of zEscul a ius od of o p , the g medicine , and th se af a had r o t o flicted with dise se ec urse him , for
ffi o through his kind O ces their b dies were purified ,
r and health egained .
or of o o was not In Rome , the w ship Ap ll estab li 2 a ra shed 0 B . C . t o until 3 , temple being ised him in that year in consequence of a pestilence that had
r a o swept the city . Afte wards sec nd temple was
a t o or on dedic ted his w ship the Palatine Hill . To the poets of all ages Phoebus Apollo has been
our of o and of a s ce inspirati n , the symbol poetry .
C an a r allimachus , Alex ndrine G eek , who lived
o a f o 2 0 B . C. o o ab ut 5 , wr te hymn in h nour the
- Go . o r Sun d Apollo In later times , h weve , no dis tinction was made by the Greek poets between
- o Apollo and the Sun God Heli s . S u n W orship 1 77
The poet Keats wrote an ode and a hymn t o
’ A o o and H mn to A oll o con p ll , Shelley s y p is sidered one of the finest and most sublime poems
’ - o r o in our language . It is the Sun G d s desc ipti n of a and of a his divine ttributes , because its be uty is quoted in ful l :
The s e ess ours who wa ch me as l epl H t I lie,
Curt ained with star- inwoven tapestries
F rom t he broad m oon ht of t he Sk lig y , F ann n t he bu s dreams from m dim i g y y eyes . Waken me when heir mo her t he re a n t t , g y D w , T e s hem ha dream s and ha t he moon i one ll t t t t t s g .
’ Then I ar se and c mb n ea en s b u dom i , li i g H v l e e, w a o er the moun ain s and t he w a es I lk v t v , Leaving my robe upon t he ocean foam ; My footstep s p ave the clouds with fire ; t he caves ri r Are filled with my b ght p esence, and the air L a es t he reen ear h t o m embraces b ar e v g t y e .
The sunb eams are my Shafts with which I kil l c hat o s the n h an d ears da De eit , t l ve ig t f the y ; All men who do or even imagine ill F l me and rom the or of m ra y , f gl y y y Good minds and Open actions take new might m n sh d t r of n Until di i i e by he eign ight .
I eed the c ou ds the ra nbow s and the flow rs f l , i , e ’ With their ethereal colours ; the moon s globe And t he pure stars in their eternal b ow ers Are cinctured with my pow er as with a robe ; Whatever lamps on Earth or Heaven m ay shine s o m n Are or on f one o r wh ch i s . p ti p we , i i e 1 78 S un Lore of All Ages
s a d at oon on t he ea of ea en I t n n up p k H v , Then with unwilling st eps I wander down Into the clouds of t he Atlantic even ;
F r ri e ha I d ar he wee and ro o g f t t ep t t y p f wn . What look is more delightful than the smile With which I soothe them from the western isle?
I am the eye with which the Universe B eholds itself an d knows itself divine ; harmon of ns rum n or rs All y i t e t ve e , ro hec all m d c n are m n All p p y , e i i e i e , Al l light Of Art or Nature ; t o my song V c or and ra s h r own r i t y p i e in t ei ight belong.
o The Dorians , as they migrated and f unded
- new kingdoms , found the worship of the Sun God
a a Herakles flourishing in other lands , and gr du lly this form of religion became popul ar and sup planted the worship of Apollo .
was o Herakles , however , c nsidered more in the
of a a - Go light a sol r hero th n a Sun d . In Herakles
o we behold the Sun , loving and bel ved , wherever he t o of goes seeking benefit the sons men ; yet ,
o o as was the case with Ap llo , s metimes bringing destruction and desolation down upon them through the fierce heat of his noonday rays . The twelve labours of Herakles are supposed to
’ refer t o the sun s passage through the Zodiacal
as or a signs , they suggest f cibly in m ny cases the
of o successive conquests the Sun her . Herakles
was represented on coins of Cyzicus about 500
S u n W orship 1 79
a of ra o im 450 B . C . The de th He kles is the m st ” r ar ar r NO one p essive incident Of his v ied c ee ,
t : a ar I who r a a o can s ys Ke y , e ds the cc unt Of it , fail t o be struck by the likeness of the picture t o an
a of image of the setting sun . The fl me his
’ r ou t far o sea and py e shines ver the , the sun s k ” last ra ys shine out in the light of the fiery s y .
a r a of hero Herakl eS The m ny myths el ted the Sun f , are rr t o a r on o ar refe ed in the ch pte s l mythology .
J apa nese S un Worship
In the spirit religion of Japan we find the worship
f - God r r a o the Sun is supreme . He is ega ded s — a - r a r o the he ven enlightening g e t spi it , bel w him stand all the lesser spirits through whom as me
di at ors a a o or or a , gu rdi ns , and pr tect s , w ship is p id
by men .
o o r Am ng the Shinto deities , h weve , the Sun
o ra TO r o G ddess was the cent l figure . ec ncile Buddhism and Shintoism the chief priests
claimed that the Sun - Goddess had been merely an
ar a o of a inc n ti n Buddh .
The shrine of the Sun - Goddess stood i n the
’ M a o r and was r a ik d s esidence , everenced by th t
o ar as one of am m n ch his f ily gods . Her emblem
or t o r con was the mirr , which is the p esent day
1 Dawn o Hi sto F r C. . . f y, Keary 1 80 S u n Lore of All Ages sidered one Of the sacred trea sures Of the Japanese o s vereigns .
A temple of the Sun - Goddess was established at
Wat arahi ro of Ise and of in the p vince , the shrine
F oo w as a the Goddess Of d pl ced in the temple . These two deities henceforth occupy together
a a o the chief place in the Jap nese P nthe n . They were honoured above all other gods by festivals
ff an and ceremonies held annually . O erings d sacrifices were presented t o these goddesses on
da oo and the seventeenth y Of the sixth m n , the ritual of the invocation was in part as follows :
all r of o sanct ifiers Hear , you ministe s the g ds , and of ff a a r r O erings , the gre t ritu l decla ed in the p esence ” f F o - a - - r a o the r m He ven Shining G e t Deity . At the harvest festival thanksgiving was Off ered t o the Sun - Goddess f or bestowing up on her de scendant s dominion over land and sea .
S u n Worshi p i n P eru a nd Mexi co
F rom Japan we cross the Pacific t o find the indigenous tribes Of the western continents rever encin r a g and wo shipping the Sun in ncient times .
of r our a o The Sun worship Pe u first claims ttenti n , as it easily overshadows i n i mportance and m ag nificence the solar worship of any other of the
r r weste n t ibes .
1 82 S un Lore of All Ages
’ saw a a the Sun s te rs , consequently , in the Peruvi n
t o o of edifices dedicated the w rship the Sun , we find gold used lav ishly to beautify and embellish
the structure . The following description of the Great Temple
at C o a a a of the Sun uzc , the gr ndest ecclesi stic l
r o of a edifice in the empi e , gives s me idea the be uty and grandeur of these places of worship The temple consisted of a vast central auditorium surrounded by a number of smaller buildings and
w of a o a was built ith an elegance m s nry r rely , if
ever , equalled . The roof was formed by timberworks of precious
o r o a woods plated with g ld , and the p eci us met l was so prodigally lavi shed on the interior that the “ ” temple bore the name of The Place of Gold or
A of o Golden Palace . thick sheet g ld six inches wide ran round the outside of the edifice
f was a a ora o as a rieze , and there simil r dec ti n in
oo o t o a every apartment . The d rs pened the e st , and at the far end above the altar was a golden disk with human countenance shaped and graven t o
and r represent the sun , studded with p ecious
as so a t o at a stones . It w pl ced as reflect , cert in
a of on se sons , the first rays the rising sun its
ur o brilliant s face , and , as it were , repr duce the likeness of the great luminary . Around the sacred disk was arranged in a semi
1 84 S un Lore of All Ages
o a a all w rship was not ccept ble to the Incas , for there is on record a protest made by an Inca that the Sun could not be a supreme and all - powerful
o ra as was t o one x deity , c nst ined he pursue fi ed
i n firm am nt If course the e . he was supreme he
o a a o . sh uld be a free gent , rgued this wise s vereign Columns in honour of the Sun were erected in Peru as in other lands where Sun worship pre
a o a v iled , level at the top , so as to f rm a se t for the “ i a o o sun who , the Peruv ans s id , l ved to rest up n
a them . At the equinoxes and solstices they pl ced
’ golden thrones upon them for the Sun - God s
of C c further convenience . Surrounding the city uz o there were twelve stone columns dedicated t o the sun , which represented the twelve months in the year . Human sacrifices to the sun were connn on in
and sun i Peru , the rising looked down on sacr ficial altars reddened by the blood of thousands of
o a o of victims . The h liest s crifice was the bl od a a r on a c ptive youth , smea ed a rock that crowned
’ o ul m untain top , so that the sun s first rays wo d
o light up the g ry sacrifice . Sun worship thrived in Peru until the Spanish
Co rr hl o hr nquest , when Piza o rut essly vert ew the
o a temples , and stifled the religi n . It is said th t
a o r a the gre t g lden disk rep esenting the sun , th t w as the chief object of worship in the Great Temple
1 86 S un Lore O f All Ages
C era a t o . hristian , were dedic ted the Sun The
Mo o as and on they w rshipped his wife , the Stars
r 0 a was o as his siste s . N im ge all wed within these
and ff r temples , their O erings were perfumed flowe s ,
- r a nd sweet scented gums . They eared in adoration of the Sun and Moon great pyramids which have endured t o this day and examples of which may be
a seen at San Juan , Teotihu can . “ ” Sol 2 1 6 The highest El is feet in height , has a a o 6 1 a m b se ab ut 7 feet squ re, and the sum it is r a of - M e ched by a flight sixty eight steps . any strange idols have been found in this region em b ellished and ornamented with designs of solar i ’ sign ficance , the sun s rays being especially notice
in able the carv i ngs . The supreme god Of the early Mexicans was
uet zalcohu at l who Q , personified to them the Sun of - da a C a to y ; his f ther was am xtli , the great Toltec o o M a a c nquer r , whom the exic ns reg rded as the — Sun of yesterday while the god Tet zcalipoca
of t o - rro signified to them the Sun mo w . Quet zalcohuat l is described as being regal of
ur o stat e , of white complexi n , and Of pleasing o was a an c untenance . His face f ir , d his beard bushy , and he was clothed in flowing robes . It
a a o or a is rel ted th t the cl uds , cloud snakes , be r
o and o the o d wn the Old Sun , ch ke him , but y ung Quet zal cohu at l rushes up in the midst of them from
1 88 S un Lore of All Ages
on gathered together in a circle , squatting the
a um and ground , the chief then lighting the c l et ,
ff o O ering it thrice to the rising Sun , impl ring his
b a o . protecti n , and recommending the tri e to his c re The chi ef next took several puffs and passed the
n r all o pipe o fo the thers to smoke in turn . As
a C r - da a in m ny h istian churches to y , the pr yers of o o of the pe ple mingle with the sm ke incense , so were the invocations of the early Indians addressed t o o t o a their Sun deity , supp sed be w fted to him by the smoke that wreathed upward from the a r al s c ed c umet . Certain tribes Offered to the Sun the first game they despatched when they were out on a hunting f F o . A a a o expediti n The p l chees lorida , in their
f o sacrifices to the Sun , O fered n thing that had life .
a a of They reg rded the Sun as the p rent life , and thought that he looked with displeasure on the
a r a destruction Of any living cre tu e . They s luted the Sun at the doors of their wigwams as he rose
or and set , and in the sacred hut cave where they
’ o a w rshipped , the Sun s r ys were permitted to enter so as t o illumi nate the altar at certain times of
o a ceremonial imp rtance . This ccords closely with the ideas Of orientation which played such an important part in the Sun temple worship of the
our of r r f Egyptians . In the c se thei se vice o Sun
o w rship , the Apalachees released the sacred Sun S u n W ors hip 1 89 birds through a crevice in the roof Of the cave
as r w a ar temple . These , they winged thei y upw d , were thought t o convey their expressions of adora
o t o r . ti n the Sun , the sup eme deity To the Creeks the Sun represented the Great
r r ff of Spirit , toward him they di ected the fi st pu
o a as sat o sm ke from the c lumet , they in s lemn
o and t o o r c uncil , him they b wed everently in their
ar a f r discussions . The e ly Indi n tribes o Vi gi nia prostrated themselves before the rising and setting ‘ Sun and Tylor tells us that the Pott awot omi es woul d climb sometimes at sun rise t o the roofs of
t o and ff r t o a their huts kneel , O e the lumin ry a
f a or mess o Indi n c n . The p owerful Sioux tribe regarded the Sun as the Creator and Preserver of a ll things and to him they sacrificed the best Of the game they killed
a a in the hunt . The Sh wnees believed th t the Sun a a and r o nim ted everything , the ef re must be the
Ma of or r ster Life G eat Spirit . The Sun worship of the Indian tribes dwelling in the southern portions of North America seems t o have been on a more elaborate scale than that in
o o o as v gue in the n rth . D ubtless it w influenced by the widely extended and exalted Sun worship of o a o the S uth Americ n tribes . Am ng the tribes
a a now a of a inh biting wh t is the st te Louisian , it
1 ti v ultu e i mi e C r dward . T lor r . P , E B y 1 90 S u n Lore of All Ages
was customary for the chief t o face the east each
or and ro ra m ning , p st te himself before the rising
a o o ar and o Sun . He ls smoked t w d it , then t ward
r a o of o a the three other ca din l p ints the c mp ss . These Indians even erected t o the Sun a rude tem
r b t o r a a r a u . ple , ci cul s me thi ty feet in di meter In
of a fire the midst it was kept burning perpetual , prayers were offered to the Sun three times each da b ut was o o of a y , and the the rep sit ry im ges and
o F o o religi us relics . llowing the Inca cust m , the bones of their departed chiefs were also placed in the sacred structure Their highest and most powerful
’ was a ro con chief reg rded as the Sun s b ther , and he ducted as high priest the temple service of worship t o the Sun . The Dakota Indians called the Sun the myst e ” o one of da a ri us y , and believed th t this deity
a o w tched over them in time of need . The f llowing translation from portions of an Indian hymn to the Sun indicates the attitude of the worshippers toward their deity
Grea S r mas er of our s t pi it , t live , Grea S r mas er of all h n s s b and v i s b t pi it t t i g vi i le in i le , and who da m a es hem i s b an d i s b e ily k t v i le inv i l , Grea t S ri mas er of er o h r S r ood or b ad pi t t ev y t e pi it g , Command the ood t o b e a ourab u n o s nd g f v le t u , a de er the b ad rom the comm ss on of t f i i evil .
1 92 S u n Lore o f All Ages
t o a a one da her r r be her husb nd , is t ken y by b othe
the Sun to see how he gets his dinner . The two look down together through the hole in the sky
upon the earth below . The Sun points out a
ro f r a a o g up o child en pl ying beside l dge , at the same time throwing a tiny stone t o hit a beautiful
b o a ar y . The child f lls , they see him c ried into
ar o a and the lodge , they he the s und of the r ttle , the song and prayers of the medicine man that the
’ a child s life might be sp red . To the entreaty of the medicine man the Sun makes answer : Send
u o me p the white dog . Then the two spectat rs above could distinguish on the earth the hurry and
of for a a do bustle preparation feast , white g killed and singed , and the people who were called assem
a o W bling t the l dge . hile these things were passing the Sun addressed himself t o his youthf ul compan ion saying There are among you in the lower
o o a a w rld s me whom you c ll gre t medicine men ,
r are o ar but it is because their ea s pen , and they he
one my voice , when I have struck any , that they are a ble to give relief to the sick . They direct
a the people to send me wh tever I call for , and when they have sent it I remove my hand from
’ a W those I have m de sick . hen he had said this the white dog was parcelled out in dishes f or those
a th t were at the feast , then the medicine man , when ‘ t o eat We they were about to begin said , send S un W orship 1 93
Ma o m a i r . thee th s , G eat nit Im edi tely the Sun
a o saw o and a and his comp ni n the dog , co ked re dy t o a o air and be e ten , rising to them thr ugh the ,
r then and the e they dined upon it . Of all the Indian customs and forms of worship of o a a r o a of s l r significance , the gre t ce em ni l the Sun dance best exemplified their worship of the
o a oo a Sun . Alth ugh it p rt k of the nature of a sol r
r r festival , and might p ope ly be included in the
a ar F o ch pter on Sol estivals , still the deep religi us
a of and a a w as signific nce this rite , the f ct th t it
a act of o r r essenti lly an Sun w rship , ende s it in a o r o cc rd with the subject unde discussi n . The following description of the Sun dance of the
of ournal a a o o . J Senec s is t ken fr m v lume xxiii , the of Ameri can F olk- Lore: The Seneca sun dance is called by any individ u al who dreams that the rite is necessary for the
ar o welf e of the community . It begins pr mptly
oo r o r of arro or at high n n , when th ee sh we s ws volleys from muskets are shot heavenward to
o of a n tify the sun the intention to ddress him . After each of the volleys the populace shout their ‘ war for r a cries the sun loves wa . A ceremoni l
fire and r is then built , the sun p iest chants his
n o a tha ksgiving s ng , c sting from a husk basket handfuls of native tobacco upon the flames as he
o of sings . This cerem ny takes place outside the 1 94 S un Lore of All Ages
Long House where the rising smoke may lift the
a words of the speaker t o the sun . Immedi tely after this the entire a ssemblage enters the Long House where the costumed feather dancers start " o a a of the Ost owa gowa . Among the On nd g the Grand River Reserve in Ontario the leader of the
r a ffi of a sun ce emony c rries an e gy the sun . This is
of oo a t o a disk w d ten inches in diameter , f stened
a r oo o a h ndle pe haps a f t l ng . The disk is p inted
n h a r f ro a d as o o . red , b rde yellow A und the edge are stuck yellow - tipped down feathers from some
’ ar r t o r r l ge bi d ep esent the sun s rays . The great tribal ceremony of the Kiowas was the
ra ra a Sun dance , which was gene lly celeb ted e ch
a o of a o r ye r ab ut the middle June . It l sted f u
a a re re d ys , and during this time the s cred image p
r and o t o o senting a human figu e , supp sed p ssess
a a w as m gical qu lities , exposed in the medicine
o was o a a l dge . It the nly time in the ye r th t the
a r a w as r a t o o s c ed im ge eve led the pe ple , and the veneration of the object was similar in many respects t o the worship paid t o the alleged relics of r no the saints that a e w extant . The Kiowas considered even the accidental
of oo at a a an l o and shedding bl d Sun d nce evi men , their ceremonies were free from the horrible acts of self - torture that made the Sun dances of many of a a r the Indi n tribes especi lly evolting .
1 96 S un Lore of All Ages a o of ff o r great plain , guy r pes bu al thongs , dive ging
ro t o t o . r f m its p , being used steady it These opes were fastened at the lower end t o the tops of stakes which were driven in the ground at regular inter
o a a o vals about the sun p le , forming circle b ut it . Early on the morning of the third day the true
o was of w rship of the Sun begun , and a number young warriors who had prepared for the ordeal by a for m of f sting a nu ber days , presented themselves ,
a being placed facing the sun . They were rrayed
ul war a and in f l p int feathers , with fists clenched across their breasts ; jumping up and down in
ir i measured leaps they c cled about , keeping t me
o m - Now to the mon tonous beating of the t o toms . and then a similar group of young maidens would a o of a ppear in an ther part the arena , and t ke up a
for r of song . The dancing continued inte vals r mi t o of an o r f om ten nutes a quarter h ur , b oken
of a ro by rests bout equal length , and lasted f m
r sunrise to sunset . During the day horses we e
o a br ught into the rena , and the medicine men , after
o r a o o o many incantati ns , dipped thei h nds int c l ured a a a of a e rth , and sme red it on the fl nks the nimals . On the fourth day of the Sun dance the self or a a of r o t ture began , the m le d ncers the p evi us da r y participating in this ite . The row of dancers oo r a as t k thei pl ces promptly at sunrise , but it w
’ not before nine or ten o clock that the torture S un W orship 1 97
n i l began . Each of the you g men presented h mse f t o a medicine man who took between his thumb a n r a o of oo of r a and d fo efinger f ld l se skin the b e st , a r had rev 10 usl a t o skewe , which been p y f stened the lower end of a guy rope which supported the
’ o was a o m sun p le , then p ssed thr ugh the victi s
flesh ; The object of the devotee was to break loose from thi s fetter which bound him t o the sun pole
a ul ao without using his h nds . This co d only be complished by so straining against his bonds that the skewer was torn free from the skin through
t r hi a . o and w ch it p ssed The t r u e was frightful ,
a o a frequently the victims f inted under the rde l .
All the while the beating of the t om - toms and the
of o W weird chanting the singers c ntinued . hen the day was about over the survivors of the ordeal of a one one torture filed from the rena by , and just outside of it they knelt with arms crossed over
o a a their bleeding breasts , and with b wed he ds f ced the setting sun . They rose only when it had
a a ro dis ppe red f m view . It remains to refer briefly to evi dences of Sun
o a o a of or and w rship in v ri us p rts the w ld , the sur v i v als of this cultus in the religi ous Observances
r of - da and ce emonials to y . fif t In Rome , in the th cen ury , it was the custom
b ow to to the sun before entering a church , and
a r m of a l to s lute the rising sun f om the su mit hi l . 1 98 S un Lore of All Ages
The Emperor Constantine was an ardent votary
of was a r for C the sun , and it g eat triumph hris
t ianit or oo r of o y when he f s k this fo m id latry .
a or of - In Armeni f ms Sun worship exist to day , and the Bedouins of the Arabian Desert constantly
ra a ora o of p ctise the d ti n the rising Sun , in spite of
’ o o m a a a the Pr phet s c m nd g inst such Observances . In the Upper Palatinate it is the custom to take
off t o a the hat the rising sun , and in Pomerani the
fever - stricken patient is admonished to face the
and as rising sun , invoke the sun thrice follows : “ Dear Sun , come down soon , and take the seventy
of seven fevers from me , in the name the Holy Trinity The rude Tartar tribes sacrificed their horses
- o ro to the Sun God , wh m they say frees them f m
of and M o o m the miseries winter , ng l hordes ay still be met with whose high priest prays to the
ff ri sun , and throws milk up into the air as an o e ng
- God t o the Sun . In Australia and Polynesia solar mythology
r o deificat ion of ove shad ws the the sun , and the early history of these regions is rich in legends and
of tales of the mighty deeds the sun hero . N0 chapter on Sun worship woul d be complete
o ui without s me reference to Stonehenge , for Dr di
cal o a was not w rship embr ced , even if it entirely
o of . g verned by , the sacred rites solar worship
S u n W orship 1 99
The position and location of the group of stones on the wide plain comm anding an unobstructed View
of o o r a ara r of or the h riz n , eve l the ch cte the w ship of those who placed them there as solar in its
r o who a a at o e natu e . Th se nnu lly meet St neheng
da at a on - first in the present y , d wn the twenty
of o a a o June , n te th t the sun rises ex ctly ver the “ ” r of o o a r cent e the st ne kn wn s the Pointe . It has been thought by some students that the Sun worship of the Druids was introduced into England
and r a a o o as of I el nd by Egypti n c l nists , the rites the Druids conform in a remarkable degree with
those attached t o Sun worship in ancient Egypt .
A list of the Sun - Gods of the va rious nations fol
o a r a a re l ws , with the utho ities th t est blish their
I i a t o o ar deificati on spect v e cl ims s l .
Dei ti es Decl ared to be Authori ti es
the S u n
a C o M o Nonnus S turn or r nus acr bius, Jupiter Pluto or Aidoneus The Orphic Poet
or o o M ro B acchus Di nysus Virgil , Aus nius , ac
bius o , Soph cles
Priapus The Orphic Poet
Apollo All authorities
Janus Macrobius
1 The Ori i n of a an I dolatr . . F a er. g P g y , G S b 20 0 S un Lore of All Ages
Dei ti es Decl a red to be Authori ti es
the S un
Pan Macrobius Hercul es Nonnus Vul can The Orphic Poet ZEscul apius Macrobius N Mercury or Hermes
r a Diodorus Si cul us M Osi is , Horus , Ser pis , acro
biu s , Eusebius . Belus or Baal Nonnus Adonis Macrobius
The following list indicates the principal titles
o - o given t the Sun Gods by the ancient nati ns .
Nati on
C a Baal or Belus halde ns , Assyrians , Moabites Shamash Babylonians Moloch Ammonites
Mo aa C o loch , B l , hem sh ,
a - Zebub Thammuz Ca a Ba l , n anites Hammon Libyans Saturn Carthaginians
Melkart h Adonis , Baal , ,
Bel - Samen Phoenicians Asabinus Ethiopians
20 2 S un Lore of All Ages of the various and widely separated nations of
a ro i a a o ail the e rth , p v de features th t c nn t f t o
of o and o o interest the student hist ry ethn l gy .
Some of these p oints of resemblance are so striking as to suggest that at an early date in the
’ world s history there w as some means of comm uni
a o or k c ti n between , lin that joined , the eastern and western continents .
Because of the far- reaching influences of Sun — — worship influences that exist t o - day and by reason of its importance i n the life and history of a a o the ncient n ti ns , the subject must ever remain one of the most interesting and absorb
a of a ing that the life p ges the r ce record . Chapt er VIII
Su n - Cat cher
20 6 S u n Lore of All Ages
that have come down to us in many devious ways . The tales that relate especially t o the snaring a nd tra pping of the Sun have been termed by mytholo
- gists Sun Catcher Myths .
a on f In a pass of the Andes there st nd , the clif s
r on o r . that ise high either side , two ruined t we s
are o Into their walls clamped iron h oks , which tradition relates held fast a net that was stretched
a o across the pass to c tch the rising Sun . Acc rding
an a was to Indi n legend , the Sun once caught and bound with a chain which only permitted him - to
one or swing a little way to side the other .
a a o of a It is s id th t Jer me Pr gue , when travelling a a a fif mong the heathen Lithu nians , e rly in the t eenth r o or centu y , f und a tribe who w shipped the
a a r Sun , and idolised l rge i on hammer . The priests informed himthat once the Sun had been invisible for many months because a powerful king had
o a ro o r impris ned him in st ng t we , but the signs of the zodiac h ad broken open the tower with this
r r and ve y hamme , released the Sun , therefore
r they wo shipped it . A Japanese myth relates that in early times the
’ a at o Sun , disple sed men s misdeeds , retired int a
o a I cave , and left the w rld in d rkness . This caused
Here again we encou nt er in a land far distant the t radi tion common amon the American ndi ans that at one time the land the dwelt in g I , y was shroud d in r n s e da k es . S u n- Catcher Myth 20 7
a a great distress , but fin lly the wise men devised
a t o ur her ro her r a a was pl n l e f m ret e t , which pl n
ul W o r successf . hen the Sun disc ve ed the ruse , she
r t o or a or o o o desi ed f s ke the w ld nce m re , but , bef re
o do so was o or and she c uld , she b und by c ds ,
a r o a o held f st by eight hund ed th us nd g ds , who have ever since restrained her from leaving
r the wo ld .
a o of was As we h ve seen , the w rship the Sun
a a o fora as one a b nd ned time in Peru , Inc denied that the Sun was a supreme deity because he
o o r r r f ll wed a ci cumsc ibed course . If he we e “ a a o o ar free , s id the Inc , he w uld visit ther p ts of a had r the he vens where he neve been . As he
o o one a “ a a f ll ws p th , he must be tied like be st who ” o r g es ever ound and round in the same track . B oth in the Orient and Occident we find myths
a t o o of r a rel ting the subjecti n the Sun , but whe e s the cul ture of the East invented the beautifully a or of o l o and d ned legends Phoebus Ap l , the mighty
ra who a o all - o l was oo He kles , , lth ugh p werfu , d med t o a i of r at of a o r l fe se vitude the behest n the , in the West the crude imagination of the barbarians conjured up the mental picture of the snaring of
an r r r ra the Sun by a tful ly cont ived net o t p . The association of the Sun with cords or ropes in the myths is clearly derived from the phe
’ nomenon in evidence when the sun s rays fil ter 20 8 S u n Lore of All Ages through a broken mass of clouds ; then the long streams of light that seem t o radiate from the sun and touch the earth are in imagination not
k a of o as r unli e str nds g ld which , the legend elated ,
a o o held the Sun f st b und t earth . Thus did they
t o o a who a of appear the P lynesi ns , call these r ys
o a the sun the r pes by which the Sun is f stened . They say the Sun once drove swiftly through the
od now sky , but a g subdued him , and bound by ropes and cords he goes humbly along his daily a o pp inted path . ‘ The Polynesian myth that tells of this snaring of the Sun is one of the most interesting legends
r o in sola mythol gy , and it is therefore given in much detail :
Ma od f ui , the Polynesian hero g , a ter performing
a o t o many gre t expl its , returned home dwell with
r oo o r his brothe s . He s n became restless , h weve , and o a , l oking about for adventure , he decided th t
’ the Sun s daily course a cross the sky was altogether t oo - al l rapid , and night f l followed dawn too quick y t o suit him . So at last one day he said to his brothers ‘ a Let us now catch the sun in a noose , so th t we m a o o o y compel him to m ve more sl wly , in rder that mankind m ay have long days to labour in to
ro for p cure subsistence themselves . But they
1 Pol nesi an M tholo Sir eor e ra . y y gy, G g G y
2 1 0 S un Lore of All Ages him move you to pity with his shrieks and
’ screams . “ At last the sun came rising out of his place like a fire Spreading far and wide over the mountains
o and forests . He rises up , his head passes thr ugh
and a o o of the noose , it t kes in m re and m re his body
- a are ul until his fore paws p ss through , then p led
r tight the ropes , and the monste began to strug
oll hi f a gle and r msel bout , whilst the snare
r a kwa o r r je ked b c rds and f rwa ds as he st uggled . Then forth rushed that bold hero Maui with his
a A a a a o ench nted weapon . l s , the sun scre ms l ud , he roars ; Maui strikes him fiercely with many
o him for o At blows ; they h ld a l ng time . last
o and a they let him g , then we k from wounds the
o o ur sun crept sl wly al ng its co se . Then was learnt
of for by men the second name the sun , in its agony the sun screamed out : Why am I thus smitten by you ? Oh man : Do you know what you are doing ? Why should you wish to kill Tama
- - ra ? a nui te Thus was le rnt the second name .
o r At last they let him g , and the sun went ve y
and o slowly feebly on his c urse .
M o t he aui , however , to k the precaution to keep o on and r pes him , they may still be seen hanging ro at f m the sun dawn and eve .
a a M It is also rel ted th t in snaring the Sun , aui
and of injured it , thus deprived it half its light , — S un Catcher Myths 2 1 1 and since then the days have been longer and cooler
a a nd men have been able t o work in pe ce .
I The following Sun - catcher myth refers more t o a rar a of a o tempo y st ying the Sun in its d ily c urse , than t o a permanent change in its rate of Speed such as Maui eff ected “ o a man There was nce who , like the white
o o was ar or pe ple , th ugh it ye s bef e pipes , muskets , or r ar of r o priests we e he d , neve could be c ntented
a had was not o with wh t he . Pudding good en ugh for and o a o f him , he w rried his f mily ut o all heart
a an a a with his new w ys d ide s . At l st he set to
of o a build himself a house great st nes to l st forever .
So ar and o a r he rose e ly t iled l te , but the stones we e so and so far off and heavy , , the sun went around so a o on quickly , th t he c uld get but very slowly .
l a and o One evening he y awake , th ught , and
o r th ught , and it st uck him that as the sun had but one roa d to come by , he might stop him , and keep
r a r him till the wo k w s done . So he rose befo e the
a and out a d wn , pulling in his c noe , as the sun o r o a no r se , he th ew a r pe round his neck , but , the
on o sun marched , and went his c urse unchecked .
a r o He then put nets over the pl ce whe e the sun r se ,
all t o o a he used up his mats st p him , but in v in ,
on and a hot the sun went , l ughed in the winds at
ll ff o a . a o o his e rts Me nwhile the h use sto d still ,
Researches i n the Earl Hi stor o Manki nd dward B . T lor. y y f , E y 2 1 2 S un Lore of All Ages
a a and the builder fairly desp ired . At last the gre t
ra on ar not Itu , who gene lly lies his mats , and c es
has ur and at all f or those he made , t ned round
and a o heard his cry , because he was g od warrior
facehere o sent him help . He made the creeper gr w , and again the poor m an sprang up from the ground
a o r had a ne r his h use , whe e he l in down in de
a a o of sp ir . He took his c n e , and made a noose the
r o l c eeper . It was a bad seas n when the sun is du l ,
a i and heavy , so up he came half sleep and t red ,
nor o looked about him , but put his head int the
ul d had noose . He p led and jerke , but Itu made it
t oo strong . The man built his house , the sun cried and cried till the island of Savai was nearly drowned but not till the last stone was laid was he
ff t o su ered resume his career . None can break
’ faceh re t I u . the e creeper . It is the s cord A study of North American mythology reveals in the traditions of the Ojibways a myth similar
in many respects to the Polynesian Sun - catcher
I le end a myth . This g relates th t in primitive times
a a all of the anim ls ruled the e rth , having killed
and ro r humankind except a girl her small b the .
They lived in fear and seclusion :
b o The y never grew bigger than a little child , and his sister used t o take him out with her when
oo for - fire for was she went to get f d the lodge , he
Resea rches i n the Earl Hi stor o Mankznd d rd lo wa . T r y y f , E B y .
2 14 S un Lore of All Ages
l n her a u ot . own h ir , but they wo d do At last she
a brought him one that w s right . He pul led it
and as ul between his lips , he p led it became a
W out red metal cord . ith this he set a little after
and a on midnight , fixed his sn re a spot just where the sun would strike the land as it rose above the
’ a a e rth s disk , and sure enough he c ught the sun ,
and o a . s th t it was held fast in the cord , did not rise The animals who ruled the earth were immediately
o . no put into a great c mmotion They had light .
They called a council to debate upon the matter , and one t o to appoint some go and cut the cord , for as this was a very hazardous enterprise , the a of r ys the sun would burn whoever came so near .
At a o e l st the dormouse underto k it , for at this tim
o a the d rmouse was the largest nimal in the world .
W . hen it stood up , it looked like a mountain
W ot a was a hen it g to the pl ce where the sun sn red ,
a int en its b ck began to smoke , and burn with the sit of a a y the he t , and the top of its carc ss was r of educed to enormous heaps ashes . It succeeded , however , in cutting the cord with its teeth , and
a freeing the sun , but it was reduced to a very sm ll ” size , and has remained so ever since .
In this myth we have the Sun - catcher myth of the South Sea Islands combined with part of our o - an - - - a w n fairy tale of Jack d the Bean St lk . In
of this latter tale it is related that Jack , in spite S un- Catcher Myths 2 1 5
’ a t o his mother s prayers , goes up the l dder that is take him to the dwelling of the Giant who killed hi s father ; so the b oy of the Indian legend will
’ r a t o not heed his sister s pe su sion , but goes seek h the enemies w o had slain his kindred . In these myt hs the loosing of the imprisoned Sun is told in a story of which the European fable “ of the Lion and the Mouse might be a mere
r a moralised emn nt .
We a o of n h ve another versi n the foregoi g myth , which was told by the Wyandot Indians to the missionary Paul Le Jeune : “ There was a child whose father had been killed
a o and eaten by a be r , and his m ther by the Great
r A and o and Ha e . woman came f und the child
her ro adopted him as little b ther , calling him
hakab C ech . He did not grow bigger than a
a r r baby , but he was so strong th t the t ees se ved a s a for b ow W rrows his . hen he had killed the
ro t o o t o dest yers of his parents , he wished g up
a he ven , and climbed up a tree . Then he blew upon it and it grew up and up till he came to heaven
r o o r and the e he f und a beautiful c unt y . So he w o ent d wn to fetch his Sister , building huts as he
o t o o her r her went d wn l dge in , b ought up the tree
r l ow into heaven , and then broke off the t ee down ,
so a no one a a th t can go up to he ven th t way .
Chakabech out and hi o Then went , set s snares f r 2 1 6 S u n Lore of All Ages
e ot at t o l oo gam , but when he g up night k at them ,
on fire and a t o he found everything , went b ck his
ol a sister to tell her . Then she t d him he must h ve
o o caught the sun . G ing al ng by night he must
ot n a ar and w Chakab ech have g in u w es , hen went
so w as da not ar o to see , it , but he red go ne en ugh
a a to let the sun out . By ch nce he found little
and o mouse , blew up n her till she grew so big that
ul r and r a she co d set the sun f ee , the sun ele sed
a on wa from the trap went gain his y , but while
o on he was held in the snare , day failed d wn here earth .
Still another version of the Sun - catcher myt h
o who is found am ng the Dogrib Indians , dwell in the far North - west When Chapewee after the Deluge formed the earth and landed the animals upon it from his
of o a canoe , he stuck up a piece wo d which bec me
fir- a a tree , and grew with amazing r pidity until
rr ran its top reached the Skies . A squi el up this
Cha ewee who en tree , and was pursued by p , d a o o n oul not e v oured to kn ck it d w , but c d over
it . r take He continued the chase howeve , until
o he reached the stars , where he f und a fine plain ,
a r and a beaten road . In this road he set sna e
’
of r . made his sister s hair , and then returned to ea th The sun appeared as usual in the heavens in the
o the a morning , but at no n it was caught by sn re
2 1 8 S un Lore of All Ages
r with no one but his g andmother . He was
o o accustomed t g hunting early in the morning . Inevitably a person with very long feet had pre
a i a . a ceded him , le v ng trail The r bbit desired to
ho a was one o find out w this p rty , and got up m rn
a had ing very e rly , but even then he been preceded , so he laid a snare that night so as to catch this
a a f e rly bird , l ying a noose where the ootprints used t o be seen . Rising early the next morning
fo had he inspected his trap , and und he caught
he f the sun . Now was very much rightened , and ‘ the sun said to him : Why have you done this? C You have done a great wrong . ome hither and
F a untie me . inally the r bbit mustered up courage and bending his head down rushed at the sun and severed the rope with his knife , but the sun was so hot that the rabbit scorched the hair between his
ul o a sho ders , so that it was yellow , and fr m th t time the rabbit has had a singed spot on his back l between his shou ders . In the legends of the Bungee Indians of Lake
W t o of innipeg , we find again a reference the state dissatisfaction existing in early times with the
’ o of Sun s vagari us method lighting the world , and the schemes that were suggested to bring about a
a m I ch nge of conditions . In the following yth the Sun is ensnared as the result of a deliberate plan :
l - e Vo . xix. , J ournal Ameri can Folk Lor . S un- Catcher Myths 2 1 9
f C o r Be ore the reati n , the wo ld was a wide
of and no waste water , there was light upon the
o earth , the sun being nly an occasional visitor
o t o wan t o this w rld . Anxious keep the sun from
a far od W - ke- dering aw y very , the g eese jak con
an o ra t o a and structed enorm us t p c tch the sun , the next time the sun came near the earth he was
a caught in the trap . In v in he struggled to get
or was free , but the c ds by which he held were too
a ro of t o strong for him . The ne r p ximity the sun
a a a a was the e rth c used such he t , th t everything in
- ke- con danger of being burned . Then Weese jak cluded t o make some sort of a compromise with the sun before he woul d consent to give him his
ul a un was liberty . It was stip ted that the s only to come near the outer edges of the earth in the
and da t o mornings and evenings , during the y keep f a a a o t o a arther w y , just ne r en ugh w rm the earth
now o i without scorching it . But an ther d fficul ty
had not o r t o un presented itself , the sun the p we
o a was and in lo se the b nd by which he held , the
tense heat prevented either Weese - ke- j ak or any of his creations from approaching the sun t o cut the
r a r band and set him f ee . The be ve at that time
was a an i a r a r o r ther insign fic nt c e tu e , having nly a
and o r few small teeth in his head , being c ve ed
r ho a o a with b istly hair like a g, his t il being nly
o t wo or o small stump ab ut three inches l ng . He 220 S un Lore of All Ages
and off ered to release the sun , succeeded in gnawing through the cords that held the sun before being th quite roasted alive . The cords being severed e
a a W sun rose from the earth like a v st b lloon . eese ke- j ak in gratitude for his deliverance from t he burning rays of the sun rewarded the beaver b y
b a giving him a eautiful soft coat , and fine sh rp
f o teeth o a brown colour , as if sc rched by fire .
This is how the beaver came by his hatchet - like
and teeth furry coat . A feature of these legends is the stress laid on
’ man s indebtedness to a small and insignificant ani
of own mal , which , in every case , at the risk his life , frees the Sun from the toils into which he has been
’ o a br ught by man s machin tions . A moral seems to
a a o be dr wn from these myths , th t even the l wly may
ff a e ect gre t things , and the despised of earth may rise to heights which even the mighty cannot attain . We come now to a brief discussion of the myt hs relating to the temporary retarding or accelerating
’ of the Sun s speed in order that m an might accom
lish u C o a p a p rpose . hief am ng these tr ditions is
’ the Biblical story of Joshua s comm and t o the Sun t o a of stay its course , related in the tenth ch pter “ the B ook of Joshua : And he [Joshua] said in the
of a o o G sight Isr el , Sun , stand th u still up n ibeon ; f o M o a o o . and th u , on , in the v lley Ajal n And the
o and oo a eo sun st od still , the m n st yed , until the p
S un- Catcher Myths 22 1
a o ple had venged themselves up n their enemies . Is not this written in the book of Jasher ? So the
oo of a and a sun st d still in the midst he ven , h sted not t o o o a o a o da r g d wn b ut wh le y . And the e
no da a or or a was y like th t bef e it after it , th t the
or a o o of for L d he rkened unt the v ice a man , the
r o for ra Lo d f ught Is el .
’ This ide a that m an could stay the Sun s daily
r t o F a cou se is be met with in the iji Isl nds , where , on t o of a a a a of r r the p sm ll hill , p tch eeds g ew . Travellers who feared that they would not reach
of r o or r the end thei j urney bef e the Sun set , we e wont t o tie the tops of a handful of these reeds o t o a ro o o t gether det in the Sun f m g ing d wn . It has been thought that by this act they may have imagined they coul d entangle the Sun in the reeds
n f or a time a d thus stay his course . When the Australian blackfellow desired t o pre vent the Sun from going down till he reached
a a sod or of r home , he pl ced in the f k a t ee exactly
o r a facing the setting Sun . An the Austr lian cus t om is t o place stones in trees at diff erent heights
o o or t o a of fr m the gr und , in der indic te the height the Sun in t he sky at the moment when they passed
a ul ar r o o o are a a p rtic t ee . Th se f ll wing thus m de aware when their friends in advance pa ssed the
I o F razer rr t o u o o r sp t . , refe ing this c st m , c nside s
The Golden B ou h . . F ra er. g , J G z 222 S u n Lore of All Ages
that the natives who practised it may have imag
“ ’ ined that to mark the sun s progress was t o arrest
r . a it at the point ma ked On the other h nd , to
r r make the sun go faste , the Aust alians throw sand
a into the air , and blow with their mouths tow rd
the sun . South African natives in travelling will put a
a a a o a n stone in br nch of a tree , or pl ce s me gr ss o
a w a o the p th ith st ne over it , believing that this will cause their friends to keep the meal waiting
till their arrival , as it would make the Sun go
o sk sl wer down the western y .
of The Indians Yucatan , when journeying west
a ul o t of ward , placed stone in a tree , or p led u some
their eyelashes , and blew them toward the Sun
’ or to stay speed the Sun s course .
’ The idea that the Sun s speed could be regulated
a may have arisen from the f ct , that , under certain
o r a o a conditi ns , it e lly d es appear to v ry in its rate
of t o o motion in relation its positi n in the heavens .
r During the first few hou s succeeding sunrise ,
not o can when the Sun is far from the h rizon , and
r o be compared with terrest ial bjects , it really appears to move with greater speed than when it j ourneys across the meridian ; and when at night fall it seeks the west it seems in like manner to
a F o hasten with acceler ted speed . r m this Optical illusion the fancy may have sprung born of the
228 S un Lore of All Ages with pomp and ceremony throughout the ancient world . At the feast of the winter solstice men testified their gladness at witnessing the return of the all
To a a of a powerful sun . the inh bit nts Greenl nd
a a u a it me nt the e rly return of the h nting se son , a nd all nations regarded it as a Sign that spring
and a r time h rvests we e on the way , and the dormant life of the wi nter season was on the wane . In many countries this festival season was known “ “ o or Yuul ro Hiaul or as Y le , , f m the word , “ Huul , which even to this day signifies the sun
a F in some langu ges . rom this we get our word “ of a wheel , and the wheel is one the ncient sym
’ o of o r b ls the sun , the sp kes rep esenting the sun s
As l a r o was rays . we sha l see l te this symb l a prominent feature in one of the great solar festivals . Procopius describes how the men of Thul e
ou a 0 at o climbed the m nt in t ps the winter s lstice , to catch sight of the nearing sun after their thirty
five days of night . Then they celebrated their holiest feasts .
of Plutarch , referring to the solar festivals “ Egypt , says , that about the winter solstice they lead the sacred cow seven times in procession
ro a und the temple , calling this the searching after S olar Festivals 22 9
r a of Osi is , that se son the year standing most in
’ need of the sun s warmth .
Chi a G a of at In n , the re t Temple the Sun
or t o and Pekin is iented the winter solstice , the most important of all the State Observances of
C a a a r 2 1 st hin t kes pl ce the e December , the sac
i r o r fice of the winte s lstice . In our own time a number of Christian religious Observances and festivals are of distinct solar origin Notable among these feast days is Christ
” I m as o a r o T l or . The R m n winte s lstice , says y , “ as ra on 2 t h Kal an celeb ted December s (VIII . J . ) in connection with the worship of the Sun - God Mithra appears t o have been instituted in this
a or o A D 2 and t o speci l f m by Aurelian ab ut . . 73 , this festival the day owes its apposite name of
‘ ’ a of r W l Birthd y the Unconque ed Sun . ith fu l
o a ro a o not symb lic pp pri teness , th ugh with his t orical a o was justific ti n , the day adopted in the western church where it appears to have been
a ro o and gener lly int duced by the f urth century , whence in time it passed t o the eastern church as
o a r a of r of C the s lemn nnive s ry the Bi th hrist ,
C a Da As r of o a hristm s y . a matte hist ry no v lid or even consistent early Christian tradition vouches
r fo it . Many of the early dignitaries of the Church
i mi ti ve Culture dwar l r r d . T o . P , E B y 230 S un Lore of All Ages reveal in their writings the solar character of this f and r o estival . Augustus G egory disc ursed on “ the glowing light and dwindling darkness that f a Leo o ollow the n tivity , and the Great den unced in a sermon the idea that Christmas Day is to be
o o not for of C f r h n ured , the birth hrist , but o the rising of the new sun . The solar origin of the great feast is attested
nd r of ul e in Europe by bonfires , a the bu ning the Y l o C i g , and in the hristmas serv ce chant , Sol novus oritur . Even the sacrifices off ered t o the Sun in pagan times at the great solar festivals find their survival in the sacrifices of a lamb which we off er at Easter x C o . o tide , and an at hristmas The lighting f the Christmas tree is but the light to guide the
- a a of Sun God b ck to life , and the festiv l cakes
ui o r of a corn and fr t , made in hon u the Sun in ncient
a a a of a times , and l id on the s cred ltars the Persi ns as an offering of gratitude to the Lord of Light and f m Li e , find their prototype in the plu pudding that
~ a in graces the board at oin Christmas fe sts of rej oic g.
C f old hristmas is , there ore , nothing but an heathen
' of o a of re celebration the winter s lstice , the fe st
’ j oicing that a turning point in the sun s course has and a - orb been reached , th t the life giving has attained the end of its j ourney of dwindling hours of has a a a daylight , and st rted b ck on course that
232 S un Lore of All Ages
Every house delive rs a she af of straw on t he
t o o p of the Str mberg , where the men and lads
a l assemble tow rds evening , whi st the women and
a a o a girls g ther b ut the Burb cher fountain . A huge wheel is now bound round with straw in such a manner that not a particle of wood remains visible ; a stout pole is passed through the middle
and of the wheel , the persons who are to guide it
l a on of y hold the ends the pole , which projects
of a three feet on either side . The rest the str w is
of a made up into a great number sm ll torches .
of Sierk who At a signal from the mayor ( , accord
a ing to ancient custom , receives a b sket of cherries
on the occasion) , the wheel is kindled with a torch
and set rapidly in motion . Everybody cheers and
of n swings torches in the air . Some the men remai
ur above , others follow the b ning wheel down hill
M x in in its descent to the oselle . It is often e t
ish d i t gu e before reaches the river , but if it burns at the moment it touches the water , that is held to be prophetic of a good vintage , and the people of Conz have a right to levy a fuder of white wine Wh upon the surrounding vineyards . ilst the wheel
o is passing bef re the female spectators , they break out o on into cries of j y , the men the hilltops reply , and the people from the neighbouring villages who have assembled on the banks of the river mingle
ra their voices in the gene l jubilee . S olar Festivals 2 33
a o There is a striking an l gy between the St . John fire c elebrations and the Vedic legend of
’ r Ind a s fight with the midsummer demons .
’ I “ a Kear d Vrit ra In this legend , s ys y , the emon possessed himself of the sun wheel and the treas
r of a o r u es he ven , seized the w men , kept them p is
a and a a on a r oners in his c vern , l id curse the w te s until Indra released the captives and took off the ” curse . The significance of the ceremony lies in the
a o t o det ils that enter int it , the key which is found i n the following passage from a Vedic hymn : “ W o a ith thee conjoined , O Indu (S m ) , did Indra straightway pul l down with force the wheel of the
t o o un t o sun hat sto d up n the mighty mo tain p , and the source of all life was hidden from the great
h r scat e . The German custom is therefore seen to be nothing but a dramatic portrayal of the gre at elemental battle as depicted in the sacred books of a of on the ncient Hindus . The wheel fire the hilltop represents the sun resting on the crest of
o a o the cloud m unt in . B th the wheel and the sun descend from their positions of prominence and are ui of exting shed , the wheel by the waters the
r at of il sun sea st eam the base the h l , the by the of o cl uds .
Curi osi ti es o F ol - Lore k C . F . r . f , Kea y 234 S un Lore of All Ages
The elements of strife and warfare enter into the scene . The descending wheel is pursued to
’ the water s edge by a crowd of men brandishing torches ; Indra and his hosts wage successful war ar a a a of o rit ra Th f e g inst the rmy the dem n V . e fact that women are excluded from the ceremonies
a of a emph sises the idea a comb t , for it is their province solely to watch the battle as Spectators and cheer the victors . Another notion associated with this rite of the
was blazing wheel that , as the wheel went rolling
f r away rom them in its descending cou se , it sym b olised of o of a wheel f rtune , and the ill luck the
w for r people ent rolling away , a signal great e
icin j o g . This ceremony of the descent of the wheel
’ was anciently observed on St . John the Baptist s
Da e da y at Norwich , England , and ev n to this y it is the custom to light huge bonfires on the
a hilltops in Ireland , according to the ancient p gan usage when the Baal fires were kindled as
a f of r p rt o the ritual Sun worship . A ound these
r fi es the peasants dance , and when the fire burns l ow , it is the custom to lift children across the glowing embers to secure them good luck during
a a e the year , which is simil r to the custom pr c tised by worshippers of Baal and Moloch in an cient times of passing children through the fire
236 S u n Lore of All Ages
’
r o of . o te ranean , the gl w St J hn s fires might have
been seen .
of In Brittany , the custom the Baal fires is still
re a o all p served , and the pe sants dance ar und them
o a r a a night in their h lid y atti e . It is s id th t the
’ who a o r r maid d nces round nine St . J hn s fi es befo e
t o hi r midnight is sure be married wit n the yea .
In many parishes the curé himself goes in proces m
and o t o ac sion with banner cr ss light the s red fire , and all the ancient superstitions connected with the
a ar festiv l e kept alive with unabated zeal . The Scandinavians believed that when mid
summer came the death of their Sun - God B alder took place ,and to light him on his way t o the underworld they kindled bright fires of pine
r branches , and when , six months later at the winte solstice,he regains his life and mounts t o greet
l lo on them , they burn the yu e g and hang lights
fir- t o um the trees ill inate his upward course .
I F a us oak and r zer tells how the fern seed , the , the mistletoe are closely associated as symb ols with the solar festivals celebrated at the winter and summer solstices The t w o great days for gathering the fabulous
o ar o t o o ik fern seed , which is p pul ly supp sed bl om l e
o on M are M mm g ld or fire idsummer Eve , idsu er
and C a We Eve hristmas , th t is , the two solstices .
The Golden B u h . F ra r o . e . g , J G z S olar Festivals 237 are led to regard the fie ry aspect of the fern seed as ar and a as o and prim y , its golden spect sec ndary
F r oul t o r a . de iv tive e n seed , in fact , w d seem be
’ an emanation of the sun s fire at the t wo turning
o of mm w p ints its course , the su er and inter sol
onfi stice . This view is c rmed by a German story , in which a hunter is said to have procured fern seed by Shooting at the sun on Midsummer Day
“ o ro of o at n on . Three d ps bl od fell down , which
a a o and oo he c ught in white cl th , these bl d drops
r oo a were the fe n seed . Here the bl d is cle rly the blood of the sun ' from which the fern seed is thus
m a a as directly derived . Thus it y be t ken certain that t he fern seed is golden because it is believed
’ f o to be an emanation o the sun s g lden fire . “ i Now , l ke the fern seed , the mistletoe is gath
at um or C ered either mids mer hristmas , that is ,
o and at the summer and winter s lstice , , like the
o t o o o of fern seed , it is supp sed p ssess the p wer
a a Now reve ling treasures in the e rth . if the
o o o m a a a mistlet e disc vers g ld , it y be in its ch r cter of a at the Golden Bough , and if it is g thered the
o s lstices , must not the Golden Bough , like the
’ o an a o of g lden fern seed , be eman ti n the sun s fire ? The primitive Aryans probably kindled the
fir as a midsummer bon es sun charms , th t is , with
o of r fire the intenti n supplying the sun with f esh . But as the fire was always elicited by the friction 238 S un Lore of All Ages
of o a a oak wo d , it must h ve appe red t o the primitive
Aryan that the sun was periodically recruited
a from the fire which resided in the s cred oak . In
oak other words , the must have seemed to him t he
original storehouse or reservoir of the fire which
was t o r out t o from time time d awn feed the sun .
a of a Thus , inste d saying th t the mistletoe was an
’ o of emanati n the sun s fire , it must be more correct
’ t o say that the sun s fire was regarded as an emana ” tion of the mistletoe .
The Christian festival of Easter has i t s solar “ ” a o char cteristics . The very w rd Easter, says “ o a or as Pr ctor , is in its re l igin closely related t o
o sun movements as the word East , and the n tion that the Sun dances on Easter morning as it rises
- o is firmly believed to day by superstiti us people . In Saxony and Brandenburg the peasants still climb the hilltops before dawn on Easter day t o
f of the our witness the three joy ul leaps Sun , as
o English forefathers used to d .
I Tyl or tells us that the solar rite of the New
F o C r ire , adopted by the R man hu ch as a Paschal
ur ceremony , may still be witnessed in E ope with
o n its s lemn curfew o Easter Eve , and the cere monial striking of the new holy fire . The two great festivals of the ancient Irish were
or Ma Da of a La Baal Tinne, y y , the day the Ba l
rimi ti ve Culture dward . T l or. P , E B y
240 S un Lo re o f All Ages
The most important date of the Egyptian year
a of a ar umm w s the twentieth June , th t m ked the s er
r a of solstice , but mo e especi lly the rise the all
was a fertilising Nile . This the New Ye r Day in
a o ar of E Egypt . The gre test s l festival the gyp
was a of tians , however , the festiv l Osiris , and the special feature of this occasion was the procession
a ox a a in which the s cred Apis ppe red . The following description of this festival is taken from Mythol ogy a nd F abl es by the Abbé B anier : “ The ox whom the priests nourished with so
ar f or o much c e , and wh m all Egypt had such a a o as a od vener tion , was l oked upon g . To
t o gain some credit this superstition , they said
r o he rep esented the soul of Osiris . Herod tus tells us that this ox was t o be black over all the
o ar a o . b dy , with a squ e white m rk upon the f rehead
a t o a u r of a Upon the b ck he was h ve the fig e an e gle , a o of knot under the t ngue in the figure a beetle ,
of a o and a the hairs the t il d uble , ccording to
a r o Pliny white ma k up n the right side , which was to resemble the crescent moon . Porphyry says that all these marks had refe rence t o the sun and
o 0 x a moon , to wh m the Apis was consecr ted , that the black hair which was t o be the colour of his body in general represented the scorching
of o o and a influence the sun up n b dies , th t the white
o had r a and e sp t which he in his fo ehe d , the cresc nt
242 S un Lore of All Ages the purpose of which w as t o appe ase the dreaded
w as ra C r od . a g This festiv l celeb ted in y ene , in
a of o and and a f the isl nds Rh des Sicily , in m ny o
r a the Greek cities in lowe It ly . In September a festival w as celebrated at which
- God was o as an aid a and the Sun inv ked in b ttle , in October the first - fruits were presented as a a s crifice .
A r was an a a a At thens the e nnu l festiv l , held
Ma ora ar of in y , to commem te the ye ly tribute youths and maidens t o Crete as sacrifices t o the
r w as a a Minotaur . At Thebes the e festiv l in
o of o ISmeniuS ar h nour Ap llo , held every eighth ye , called the D aphnephoria At this celebration
r of r a and re re b anches olives hung with w e ths , p sent at ions of o and ar arr the sun , m on , st s , were c ied
a ur of a in procession , a fe t e the festiv l
A o of a one of festival in hon ur Hy cinthus , the
of A r a a titles pollo , was celeb ated annu lly at Spart ,
and a a . in July , l sted nine d ys It began with
r of o laments , but concluded with exp essions j y
f - od and a . o o o o o G gl dness In h n ur Ap ll , the Sun , “ ” a was at a festiv l called Thargelia held Athens ,
Ma . in y , to celebrate the harvest yield In August the Athenians celebrated a similar festival called
et a i ni a r o and M ge t . These celeb ati ns festivals bear testimony t o the importance of Sun worship among the ancient Greeks . S olar F estivals 243
Among the Peruvians there were four sol ar festivals of importance celebrated throughout the
a C a o year with great pomp and displ y . hief m ng
was a of o these th t the winter s lstice , which fell in
was a of mi and June . It the festiv l the di nished
o a r r gr wing Sun . It l sted nine days , the fi st th ee of t o a o which were given up f sting . On the m rning of the great day the Emperor hi mself officiated as r and all o a r a high p iest , the pe ple g the ed at d wn in the public square t o await the coming of the
r f a . o r sup eme deity , the Sun At sight him g e t
o of o ro r ul who sh uts j y se f om the m titude , threw
t o orb of da a nd ro ra m kisses the y , p st ted the selves . The chief priest then offered a libation t o the Sun
God of and a , drinking the cup himself , then p ssing
on of o a o it to his retinue , an act s l r communi n .
t o of r All then marched the temple the Sun , whe e a a a a w as a r a r bl ck ll m s c ificed , and its entr ils we e carefully inspected for omens affecting the coming
ar fire r f . o a o ye A , p oduced by the f cused r ys the
ro a o was on ar sun f m mirr r , then lighted the alt , and from it fire was conveyed t o all the Sun temples
r r con in the city . These fires we e kept bu ning t inuously un til three days before the next solstice
r a o t o r out when they we e ll wed bu n . The second great solar festival of the Peruvians
was o n as of ur a o and kn w the feast p ific ti n , fell
in September . The object of this ceremonial was 244 S u n Lore of All Ages
’ t o invoke the Sun s aid and b eneficent influence
t o o and of secure the pr sperity , health , security the
r a Ma people . The thi d festiv l was held in y , and i was a thanksgiv ng harvest celebration , while still a fourth festival took place in December
as of r known the festival powe .
o of o a The H pi Indians N rth Americ , in their
a a o r of im erson el borate festiv ls in h nou the Sun , p
- G d r a r or a ated the Sun o . The impe son to w e — a o - disk sh ped mask , surr unded with eagle wing
r was r a feathe s , and this f inged with flowing str nds
’ of a r ra red horseh ir to epresent the sun s ys . The sun masks were a prominent feature in the solar
r o a of a r ce em nials of m ny the Indi n t ibes . The curious and interesting custom of need
fires a not t o a as ar , lthough exactly be cl ssed sol
a o a of festiv ls , may very pr perly be tre ted in this
o o of r o chapter , wing to the s lemnity the ce em ny ,
of o r ff a and the implicit faith the pe ple in thei e ic cy ,
a a especially owing to their sol r signific nce . “ ” - fires or f o - fires as are The need , rced they
o r at of a s metimes called , we e kindled times gre t epidemics among the cattle that threatened their
a o and o of total nnihilati n , the cust m kindling these ‘ o fires is still in v gue in certain countries . Keary thus describes the custom : “ Wherever it can be tra ced among people of
- F r Cu i s es o F olk Lore C. . ea . r o i ti f , K y
246 S un Lore of All Ages it t wo or three times in a certain order beginning
h and o or e wit the swine , ending with the h rses vic
W a av a versa . hen all the c ttle h e p ssed through
a o o extin the fire , e ch h useh lder takes home an gui shed brand which in some places is laid in the
a t o m nger . The ashes were scattered the winds apparently that their wholesome influence may be
a spread far abro d . In Sweden the smoke of the need - fires was believed to have much virtue : it made fruit trees productive , and nets that had i t been hung in were sure to catch much fish . “ The earliest account of the need - fires in Eng land is that quoted by Kemble from the Chronicle
Lanercost for 1 268 a of the year . The writer rel tes
how o with pious horror certain bestial pers ns ,
nk mi a mo s in garb but not in nd , t ught the country
and people to extract fire from wood by friction , ” set up a Simul acrum Pri ape as a means of pre
a o serving their c ttle from an epidemic pneum nia .
’ This Simul acrum Pri ape was unquestionably an
of - F ro F ric image the sun god or co . “ Jacob Grimm was the first to make it evident
for rm a at a an that , the Ge ns le st , the wheel was
of sun and o a emblem the , numer us f cts which have f come to light since he wrote , abundantly veri y his conclusion . “ o e He menti ns among other vidence that , in ‘ ‘ a fa rahv el the Edda , the sun is c lled g , fair , or S olar Festivals 247
r and (9 b ight wheel , that the same Sign which in the calendar represents the sun stands also for the
‘ ’ o o a hw of Gothic double c ns n nt , the initial the
‘ ’ ‘ ’ hv il - hv eol Gothic word , Anglo Saxon , English
’ wheel . “ - fires on of Mul In the need the island l , the
ur or t o C o wheel was t ned , acc ding eltic usage , fr m
m ha t o . s east west , like the sun Grim also noticed the use of the wheel in other German usages as
as - fire of o n well in the need , and he is pi ion that in heathen times it constantly formed the nucleus and centre of the sacred and purifying sacrificial
r a a o a o of flame . The e w s twof ld re s n for this use
of for a o a the emblem the sun , th t b dy was reg rded not o a a of a nly as m ss he venly fire , but also as the
r W immediate sou ce of the lightning . hen black
o o a sun a cl uds c nce led the , the e rly Aryans believed
a was a ui th t its light actu lly exting shed , and needed
I t o ramant ha wa s or be rekindled . Then the p w ked
o od o l o a a by s me g in the c ld wheel unti it gl wed g in , but before this was finally accomplished the pramantha often shot out as a thunderbolt from
was a r off r the wheel , or c r ied by some fire robbe s . The word thunderbolt itself like its German equivalents expresses the cylindrical or conical form
1 The ramantha was th h n h m hi l hand - mill p e a dl e of t e yt ca of F rode, t he re ent of the old n A i - g G e ge . Th s hand mill was a flat ci rcular st one ’ whi ch re resent ed the su n s di s it s handle was used b ndra and the p k , y I
Aswins t o indle the cloud - e tin ui shed orb of da k x g y . 248 S un Lore of All Ages of r ha W o had the p amant . hen the b lts ceased to
ro a and fly f m the n ve , the wheel was once more
a a or . bl ze , the st m was over
r or o a - of F om the f eg ing , which tre ts merely the
o or a o a a a m re imp t nt s lar festiv ls , it is cle r th t these products of paganism are as much in force at
r o o p esent from a symb lic p int of view , as they
r r a C and eve we e , and th t hristianity countenances ,
a has a a and a in m ny cases ctu lly adopted pr ctises , pagan rites whose heathen significance is merely lost sight of beca use attention is not called t o the o s urces whence these rites have sprung . ll In short , Sun worship , symbolica y speaking , lies at the very heart of the great festivals which
C C - and the hristian hurch celebrates to day , these
a r a hr um relics of he then eligion h ve , t ough the medi of r o o their sacred rites , cu i usly en ugh blended with practices and beliefs utterly antagonistic to the spirit that prompted them . The reason for the survival of many of the symbols of Sun worship and the practice of many
o ul t o a of cust ms pec iar this ncient form idolatry , lies in the fa ct that the early Christian teachers found the people so wedded t o their old rites and
a a for o us ges , th t it was vain to hope the c mplete a a f - a b ndonment o these long cherished pr ctices .
a o was f Hence c mpromise wisely e fected , and the old pagan customs were deprived of the idolatry
Chapter X
O m en s T radit i o n s a n d Su er , , p
st i t i o n s
2 54 S u n Lore o f All Ages
as who not ul the sun w a living being , , if he did r e
’ a had a r a ar a or m n s destiny , still g e t sh e in sh ping
r r no t o l a of cont olling it , the e is end the p y the
’ imagination respecting its influence on man s
r or a daily existence . The ef e , wh t follows must
ar ra a o necess ily be f gment ry in its nature , imp ssible of a a o o s extensive cl ssific ti n , and c n equently dis
o r t o a connected . The purp se is me ely pl ce before the reader the better known and most popul ar of the fancies relating t o the sun that primitive and
- o of a a r a Simple minded pe ple p st ges c e ted , and
s of o o a which , becau e the h ld which superstiti n h s ever exerted on the race , are believed in , even in this enlightened age .
[ E ean a a In the g Isl nds , a l nd teeming with myth and are a a legend , there still ext nt m ny strange W superstitions respecting the sun . hen the Sun
a a dis ppears from Sight in the west e ch night , they say he ha s returned t o his vast kingdom in the
or r a a a . underw ld , whe e he dwells in gre t c stle
o t o f His m ther waits receive him , and has orty loaves of bread ready t o appease his appetite ;
an a but if , by y chance , this me l is not prepared ,
a a a the f mished Sun becomes a cannib l , and e ts his
W a entire family . hen he rises red , the isl nders “ sa y : He has eaten his mother . He is crimson hued because he yielded t o his bloodthirsty inclina
o a ti ns , when he found no bre d to eat . S olar O mens 255
Others say the red colours at sunset are caused by the blood flowing from the Sun - God when he
t o o a . C h stens his suicide uri usly enough , the Greeks regard the rising sun as ushered in through the portals of the east each morning by the Virgin
M a a w as r a ry . Ag in , the sun eg rded by the Greeks as t he' s mb ol of r a and r y pe fect be uty , they forme ly
’ n painted the sun s disk o the cheeks of a bride . Churches are still dedicated t o the Virgin beautiful as and are the sun , there many legends which relate t o maidens who boasted that their beauty excelled
a of and of a a for th t the sun , the pen lty they p id
a r o a m king such p esumptu us cl ims . The Greeks regarded the orb of day as an all
and a no a seeing eye , believed th t deed esc ped its
F a detection . The inns believed th t even the abode of the dead could be reached by the blissful
of rays the sun .
on Because the sun looked down all men , mes sages were given t o the Sun that he might convey
t o a o of a them bsent nes a f mily , whom he beheld
r a o whereve they ch nced t be . We have seen how the Greeks explained the
o a r crims n hues th t accompanied the ising sun . Its ruddy hue at sunset also called for an explana t o a a as i n , and the ncients believed th t , the sun r a a o a on of e ched its v nishing p int , it g zed the fires
and a and . hell , these lit up its f ce , the western sky 256 S un Lore of All Ages
It seems t o have been an almost universal — belief among primitive people that the sun and
r moon were the abodes of depa ted soul s . In
’ a or P h si cal Theor o Another L e Isaac T yl s y y f if , “ we read that the sun of each planetary system is the house of the higher and ultimate spiritual
o or of e c rp eity , and the centre assembly to thos who have passed on the planets their preliminary ” era of corruptible organisation .
of o One the most popular s lar superstitions ,
one v i da and that has sur ved even to this y , is the notion that the sun dances when it rises on
a a of E ster D y . In the middle districts Ireland the peasants rise at an early hour Easter morning t o o witness this phen menon , which they say is in x o of a h nour the resurrection . Br nd tells us this is not confined to the humble labourer and hi s
r o r family , but is sc upul usly obse ved by many
a highly respectable and we lthy families . Sir Thomas Browne has left us the following “ o on : We quaint th ughts this subject shall not , “ a a of I hope , s ys he , dispar ge the Resurrection our sa a o not Redeemer , if we y th t the sun d th
a on and o d nce Easter Day , th ugh we would will in l an a g y assent unto y sympathetic l exultation , yet we cannot conceive therein any more than a topical
r W r an exp ession . hethe y such motion there was
o ular Anti uiti es ohn rand . P p q , J B
258 S un Lore o f All Ages joy when it rises Easter morning ; but at Rotten
ar was o e t o burg on the Neck , the Sun supp s d
u a at C a ind lge in this d nce his setting hristm s Eve .
a a In Engl nd , we find this belief in the E ster sun
a a of or r a dance still ext nt in p rts Y kshi e , Durh m ,
ort humb erl and and N , and Devonshire , it is the custom for the maidens t o rise early Easter morning
ma and o that they y witness the sight , they als
’ look for the lamb and flag in the centre of the sun s disk . There is little doubt that the northern European nations welcomed the return of the spring sun
a and M a o with d ncing , the y rej icings familiar in Cornwall are but an expression of congratulation
We a o to the spring . have a simil r cust m in this
t o - da Ma country y , and y Day is a festival cele b rat ed with elaborate Maypole dances by the
oo f o C We sch l children o New Y rk ity . see a striking analogy in these dances t o the sun dances of r a a r a of the Ame ic n Indi ns , which we e p rt the
a of r and ra a ritu l their Sun wo ship , the di ting lines of ribbons from the M aypole represent the rays of
as a - the sun , the thongs ttached to the sun pole in
’ the Indians dance did .
old a and The Belt ne games dances , common in Perthshire and other parts of Scotland until the
of a r had a o ar si nifi beginning the l st centu y , s l g “ ” a or a a r of c nce , the w d Belt ne being de ivative
2 60 S un Lore of All Ages
P o ul ar Roma nces o the West o En la nd In p f f g , by
o o R bert Hunt , there is the f llowing description of a superstitious belief that the sun never Shines on a perjured person When a man has deeply
r r pe ju ed himself , especially if by his perjury he ha a of a not s s crificed the life friend , he merely o o of a a l ses the enj yment the sunshine , but he ctu lly
a l o of or loses l c nsciousness its light its warmth .
o o r a H ws ever b ight the sun may shine , the we ther
t o . a appears him gloomy , dark , and cold I h ve recently been told of a man living in the western
a C a who a o p rt of ornw ll , IS s id to have sw rn away
r f the life of an innocent pe son . The face o this false witness is said t o be the colour of one long
has of in the tomb , and he never , since the death
f i a o h s o . the victim f rswe ring , seen the sun It
r man not must be remembered the pe jured is blind ,
r are as o r all things ound him seen by the men , but the sense of vision is so dulled that the world is ” a o o forever t o him in a dark v p ury cl ud .
a man t o Among the Tunguses , an ccused has
o ra a f and cr walk t ward the sun b ndishing kni e , y
: m a ing If I am guilty , y the sun send sickness to ” rage in my bowels like this knife .
a a a of The ppe r nce three suns , it is said , denotes war la a o . It is c imed th t they are nly visible
at and ff r . r r sunrise , di e in size At He be tingen , they aver that these three suns have frequently
262 S un Lore of All Ages
a out k a r clouds , and spre d li e fan ove a body of
a a o w ter . This expression r se from the fact that
’ primitive people fancied the sun s rays on these occasions resembled ropes that ran over the
of old - a a pulleys the f shioned dr w wells . A very strange belief is that of the Namaqua
o o a a of o H ttent ts , th t the sun is bright piece bac n , which the people who go in ships draw up in the
a and o evening by ench ntment , let d wn again after
ro they have cut a piece off f m it . There is a curious custom found in many
’ a of o the p rts the w rld , which relates to sun s influence on young maidens entering on woman
A t o o a hood . ccording this superstiti n , these m idens must not touch the ground nor permit the sun t o
F who shine upon them . In iji , brides were being
a o t ttooed were hidden fr m the rays of the sun ,
and in a modern Greek folk - tale the F ates predict that in her fif teenth year a princess must be careful not to let the sun shine on her lest she be turned
how into a lizard . A Tyrolese story tells it was the doom of a lovely maiden t o be transported into the belly of a whale if ever a sunbeam fell on her .
of nae im The old Greek legend Da , who was
a or prisoned by her f ther in a dungeon , brazen
r a l of a a towe , is further i lustration this str nge ide
’ relating t o the sun s influence on hum an affairs .
The following solar superstitions show the wide S olar Omens 263
’ play of man s fancy as relating t o the power of the
’ sun s light and indicate that there was a belief
as a o C r a that the sun w dev ut h isti n , and kept the holy days prescribed by the Church F or the sun t o shine upon a bride is a good o men .
While that others do div ine B is r m h hin lest the b ide on who t e sun doth s e. ’ ERR CK H es H I S perides .
If the sun Shines while it rains , the witches are
a a b king c kes .
M a a The exic ns say when it r ins , and the sun is
- o o shining , a she wolf is bringing f rth her ffspring ,
r a ar a o li is p ying his debts . If the sun shines on Candlemas Day (F ebruary
2d o ) , the flax will pr sper . If women dance in the sun at Candlemas their
flax a will thrive that ye r .
As f ar as the sun shines in on Candlemas Day So f ar will the snow bl ow in b efore M ay As f ar as the snow blow s in on Can dlemas Day f ar wi h r So ll t e sun Shine in b efo e May .
If the sun in r ed shoul d set , The n ext day surely will b e wet ;
If the sun shou d set i n re l g y ,
The ne will b e r n d xt a ai y ay . 264 S un Lore of All Ages
W o hen the sun d es not shine , all treasures buried in the earth are open .
If the sun shines on Easter Day , it will shine on
a Whitsunday lso . On Good F riday the sun mourns over the Cruci
’ fixi on not o o , and does shine until three cl ck in the afternoon . The sun is obliged to shine for a Short time at least every Sunday in order that the Blessed Virgin may dry her veil .
a a i Three S turd ys in the year , when the Virg n l Ma o not a l . ry mourns , the sun d es shine at F rom an old Dream Book we derive the following superstitions
a a To dre m you see the sun shine , shows ccumula tion of riches and enjoying posts of honour in the
o state , als success to the lover .
To dream you see the sun rise , promises fidelity in your sweetheart , and good news from friends .
a ou To dre m y see the sun set , shows infidelity
To ur . in yo sweetheart , and disagreeable news
o of . tradesmen , l ss business
r a To d eam you see the sun under cloud , foretells many hardships and troubles are about t o befall
you , and that you will encounter some great danger .
Chapter XI
So la r Si n ifica n c e o f B u rial u st o m s g C .
O ri en t at i o n
OWHERE in the study of ancient rites and
’ c ustoms is the sun s influence on hum an affairs in greater evidence than in the ceremonials
a of a attending the buri l the de d . The funeral rites of all people reveal the uni versal belief that the east is the source of all that
o ar a and a men h ld de , light , life , w rmth , h ppiness ,
l on ra i s a t o whi e the west , the cont ry , s id be the a o of ar a o and o o b de d kness , de th , c ld , s rr w . The worship of the Sun cultivated and strengthened
and o fl this idea , d wn through the ages the in uence of has a - this belief swept , ret ining even to day much
n of its ancient force a d vigour .
‘ “ According t o Tylor : It seems t o be the work ing out of the solar analogy on the one hand in
a at on o at r de th sunset , the ther in new life sun ise , that has produced tw o contrasted rules of burial
T lor P ri mi ti ve Cul ture dward B . . , E y 267 2 68 S u n Lore of All Ages
’ a which agree in placing the de d in the sun s path ,
e o a and the lin f e st west . It is said that the body of Christ was laid with
a ar the he d tow d the west , that the risen Lord might face the eastern realm of eternal life and
o and C a a o gl ry , the hristi n custom that Spr ng fr m this belief led t o the usage of digging graves east
o ae and west , which prevailed thr ugh medi val
and o a times , is common with us t d y .
’ - o of In the twenty f urth chapter St . Matthew s gospel we read : F or as the lightning cometh out
a and o of the e st , shineth even unt the west ; so ” a a mi of Son of man F sh ll lso the co ng the be . rom the literal interpretation of these words there arose
l ur the belief that Jesus wou d , at the res rection ,
r a and a r appea from the e st , hence th t those bu ied with their faces upward and their heads t o the
l r west , wou d be in eadiness to stand up with their a o f ces t ward their Judge . Swift alludes to this custom in the account of
’ “ o : Gulliver s v yage to Lilliput , where he says The inhabitants bury their dead with their heads
o a o o directly d wnward bec use they h ld an Opini n , that in eleven thousand moons they are all to rise
r o r again , in which pe i d the ea th , which they con ceiv e r to be flat , will tu n upside down , and by this means they shall at their resurrection be found ” r ready standing on thei feet .
270 S u n Lore of All Ages
first peril that the shade encountered on its journey
o of a wa to the ab de the de d , which they believed s illuminated by the sun when night enveloped the
a e rth .
a Yum anas of On the contr ry , the South Amer ica were accustomed t o bury their dead in a sitting
o r a a as p stu e f cing the e st , they believed that in
o of the east was the h me their supreme deity , who woul d one day take unto himself all true believers
Gu a an in him . The y os have a similar beli ef and custom . The modern Ainus of Yezo bury their
a r a de d lying obed in white with heads to the e st ,
a because th t is where the sun rises . The mediaeval
a a a a o a T rt rs r ised great mound ver their gr ves , and placed therein a statue with its face turned eastward . The Siamese believe that no one should Sleep i as the osit ion with his head to the west , that is p in
a a W which the dead are pl ced at burial . L dy ilde
o o a calls attenti n to the curious cust ms , pr ctised at
r the wake of the I ish peasants , which are derived from the ancient funeral ceremonies of the Egyp tians . Particularly is this the case where , during
a m an one the w ke , a and a woman appeared , x o of . bearing the head of an , the other that a cow This strange custom is thought t o represent the Egyptian gods Isis and Osiris waiting to receive the soul of the dead . B urial Customs 27 1
In Wales the east wind is called the wind of the
’ and a r or o of dead men s feet , the e ste n p ti n a churchyard was always regarded as the most
o o r ar . o and o r h n u ed p t S uth , west , n rth we e next
a o r or and r ur in f v ur, in thei der , suicides we e b ied
r a t o o as a with thei he ds the n rth , , in t king their own had or of lives , they f feited the rights the
t o a r a a orthodox bu i l with face t o the east . In rur l parts of England it was the custom in a ncient “ times t o remark a t the funeral service : The dead
’ a o wi y g the sun . Even in our own country we see a survival of the universal belief in the proper orientation of a
a a o o a deceased person . Ex min ti n sh ws th t the
a o old r a - ro of P o he dst nes in the bu i l g unds lym uth ,
Co or and Deerfield a so a nc d , , f ce the west , th t ,
r o a r t o a at the resur ecti n , the de d will ise f ce the Son of M an a s He comes from out the east with
a o an or gre t p wer d gl y .
O RIENTATION
The subject of orientation is an extremely in t erestin one and a a ro ar a of g , pl ys p minent p t in m ny
a n ra f r da the customs d p ctices o the p esent y . In a cknowledgment of the divinity of the Sun the
a a a ra and so con P g ns turned to the e st in p yer , structed their temples that even the buildings
o a o a t o r themselves sh uld p y h m ge the ising sun . 272 S un Lore of All Ages
We learn from Josephus that as early as Solo
’ mon s time the temple at Jerusalem w as oriented
a r a a w as to the e st with g e t c re . It open t o the
a t o east , and closed bsolutely the west . “ a a l t was an a In pl n , s ys Keary , like Egypti n
ro o temple , the light f m the sun at the equin x being free to come along an Open passage t o reach
of o r t o at last the Holy H lies . The e is evidence o that the entrance of the sunlight on the morning of the spring equinox formed part of the ceremonial ;
r r r the high p iest being in the naos , the wo shippe s with their backs to the sun could see him by means of the sunlight reflected from the jewels in his ” a g rments .
ar Temples , with pill s that represented the
of a r had o a trees the s cred g oves , their chief p rt l almost universally looking toward the ea st . It is
a thought that this is due to the fact th t the groves ,
r o and the temples which represented them , we e b th
a of . a indic tive of the Garden Paradise Ag in , the portals of Eden where God stationed the Cherubim t o of of on keep the way the tree life , was the east
a r o ern side of the s c ed gr ve . Not infrequently the approach t o these temples was guarded by the
”2 figures of the compound Sphinx . The orientation of the Egyptian temples formed
F . ear . The Dawn o Hi sto C. f ry, K y F The Ori i n o P a an I dolatr . . a er. g f g y, G S b
2 74 S un Lore of All Ages
of ri o o a and a con o entati n m st rigidly pr ctised ,
s icuous a r of p fe tu e temple architecture . The main idea of the builders seems to have been so to arrange them that the chief dates in the year from a solar standpoint should be clearly marked by the
o o of and i . . rientati n the building , e , the solstices
o equin xes . The temples at Heliopolis and Abydos were
o a o a a unquesti n bly s lstiti l temples . The Pyr mids
of r r a Gizeh were o iented t o the equinoxes . Pe h ps the most elaborate and important of all the Egyptian solar temples was the magnificent edifice
r t o o of - God e ected at Karnak the w rship the Sun ,
- a . o o r Amen R . Sir J N rman L ckye has given us of t em l e I the following splendid description this p .
a a a a of o a o and one Bec use it is typic l c se rient ti n ,
of o a o the most interesting ruins in the w rld , the uth r takes the liberty of quoting it in full “ The solar temple of Amen - Ra at Karnak is the finest Egyptian solar temple which remains
a o all o open t o our examin ti n . It is beyond questi n
o r the most majestic ruin in the world . It c ve s
’ at about twice the area covered by St . Peter s
o so was of a R me , that the whole structure a v st ness absolutely unapproached in the modern
one of o ecclesiastical world . It is the most s ul inspiring temples which have ever been conceived
The Dawn o Astronom Sir Norman Loc er. f y, ky n er w oo N Y Co py right by U n d erw oo d U d d .
- rn k t The T em l e of Amen Ra a a , gy p , K E p
276 S un Lore of All Ages
ra a ar nged , that acted as the diaphr gms of the
r telescope tube in concent ating the light rays . The reason for this was that the temple was virtu
a m o a o and ally an strono ical bserv t ry , the idea was t o a of obtain ex ctly the precise time the solstice .
of The longer the beam light used , the greater is
r ar the accu acy that can be obtained . The d ker the sanctuary the more obvious will be the patch of
on a o light the end w ll , and the m re easily can its
o o o a p siti n be l c ted . It was important to do this tw o or three days near the solstice in order to get an idea of the exact time at which the solstice took
a pl ce . We find that a narrow beam of sunlight coming through a narrow entrance some five hundred yards away from the door of the Holy of Holies
oul r w d , p ovided the temple were properly oriented
o to the s lstice , and provided the solstice occurred
o of r or at the absolute m ment sun ise , sunset ,
o c acc rding to whi h the temple was being utilised ,
r a a p actically flash into the s nctuary , and rem in
for of i there about a couple m nutes , and then pass a way . “ We may conclude that there was some purpose of utility to be served , and the solar temples could have been used undoubtedly among other things for determining the exact length of the solar year . The magnificent burst of light at sunset into the B urial Customs 2 77 sanctuary would Show that a new true solar year
a a t o w s beginning . If the Egypti ns wished use the
for o a r a temple cerem ni l pu poses , the m gnificent beam of light thrown into the temple at the sunset hour woul d give them opportunities and even
o o for a suggesti ns for so d ing ; inst nce , they might
a an a of od a pl ce im ge the g in the sanctu ry , and
a e a allow the light t o fl sh upon it . W should h ve
‘ ’ a a a of Ra a uri m nifest tion with a venge nce , d ng
oo of n the brief time the white fl d sunlight fell o it . Be it remembered that in the dry and clear air of
a o o a Egypt , the sun c sts a shad w five sec nds fter the first little point of it has been seen above the
or o so a at h iz n , th t sunrise and sunset in Egypt the ” not light is very strong , and tempered as with us . An extremely interesting feature of Egyptian
a o o a temple orientation , lth ugh it nly pert ins to
a a or o temples dedic ted to st r w ship , is f und in the fact that the precession of the equinoxes necessitated an alteration of the axis of the temple at long intervals t o accommodate the change of direction of the star to which the temple was
r a o igin lly oriented .
ux o At L or, and many ther places in Egypt ,
r of a a the e are to be seen evidences this ch nge , later axis having been constructed to meet the
r new requi ements .
r r a In the weste n wo ld , in ncient times , we find 2 78 S un Lore of All Age the same rites of orientation observed and practised a r a r o s p ev iled in the O ient . Am ng the Sun worshipping Peruvians the villages were So laid out that they sloped ea stward so that the people when they rose each day might behold first of all t he
or deity they w shipped . In the temple of the Sun
C o r a o a r at uzc , the g e t g lden disk th t epresented the sun w as so placed that it received the rising rays of
orb of da and r e the y , eflect d its light through the
r or edifice e ected to its w ship . In ancient Mexico the inhabitants faced the east
a a s r r or when they knelt in pr yer , thei b other w
r far a and o o shippe s did in the e st , th ugh the d ors of a a a their temples f ced westw rd , the alt r itself
a a a w s situ ted in the east . Even the Christi nised
a a sur Pueblo Indi ns f ce the east when rising , a
i al of r a or v v thei ncient Sun w ship . The Sun chief of the Natchez Indians of Louisiana always
r o smoked towa d the Sun each m rning . The
o a a a o t o a war C m nche Indi ns , when b ut t ke the
a r a p th , present thei we pons to the Sun , that their
o o deity may best w his blessing up n them . The a ncient cave temples of the Apalachees of F lorida
a a on a a r faced e stw rd , and festiv l d ys the p iest waited till the rays of the sun had entered the temple before beginning the ceremonial chants .
o t o o I of Acc rding Tyl r , the ceremony orienta
P ri mi ti ve Culture dward B . T lor. , E y
2 80 S u n Lore of All Ages
for heretics , the Jews when praying face west , and
o o certain heretics s uth , and thers north . In the ninth century there was a strong pro test against orientation , but the custom revived a - da o or l ter , and to y all our churches are m re less
a os of o oriented , particul rly th e the R mish and
a of C a C English br nches the hristi n hurch . “ “ An r a 1 y chu ch , s ys Keary , that is properly
o t o of built , will have its axis p inting the rising the
’
i . e. a sun on the Saint s day , , a church dedic ted to
no St . John should t parallel a church dedicated to
St Peter .
’ a In regard to St . Peter s at Rome , we read th t
was a so exactly due east and west the B silica , that on the vernal equinox the great doors of the porch
' of the were thrown at quadriporticus Open sunrise ,
of and and also the eastern doors the church itself ,
a o as the sun rose, its rays p ssed through the uter
and doors , then through the inner doors , pene t rat in m g straight through the nave , illu inated the ” High Altar . There is little doubt that the stones at Stone henge were so arranged that at sunrise at the summer solstice the shadow of one stone fell ex actl of y on the stone in the centre the circle , indica ting to the priests that the new year had
on begun . It is thought that fires were lighted
The Daw o st . F . ear . n f Hi ory, C K y B urial Customs 28 1
this occasion to flash the important news through the country Orientation plays an important part in many
a and - g mes customs in vogue t o day . In the ring
a of r a a g mes child en , particul rly , we see surviv ls of a o as for a ncient Sun w rship ; , inst nce , in the
a r as g mes where the child en Sing , they circle round , ” “ a a and a o Oats , pe s , be ns , b rley gr w , and Here
’ ” rr of we go round the mulbe y bush . The people early times held that going sunwise was good and
t o o o rar o was lucky , while m ve in the c nt y directi n
a a inauspicious . The l m monk whirls his praying
one o on and r cylinder in directi n this account , fea s
o one o r r that s me will turn it c nt a iwise , in which
a a c se it woul d lose its virtue . These monks lso
a of o r a and o build up he ps st nes in the o d , unif rmly pass them on one side as they proceed in one direc
on o o tion , and the pp site side in returning , in imi
’ t ati on of the sun s circui t . In India and Ceylon the same circumambulatory
r ra a customs we e p ctised . As we h ve seen , it was “ ” an old Irish and Scotch custom to go deazil or
o o a t o r sunwise r und h uses and gr ves , and tu n the body in this way at the beginning and end of
o r for j u neys luck , as well as at weddings and
ar o r v i us ce emonies . The Irish and Scotch peasants always went west
a a o o r of w rd round holy well , f ll wing the cou se the 282 S un Lore of All Ages
on a as sun , and creeping their h nds and knees , did the ancient Persians when off ering homage at sacred fountains . In the mystic dances performed at the B aal festivals the gyrations of the dancers
r a r of we e alw ys westwa d in the track the sun , f or the dance was part of the ancient ritual of Sun
T o o o . wa a is w rship turn the Opp site y , th t a a r g inst the sun , was conside ed very unlucky , and was supposed to be an act intimately connected
of il one W e with the purposes the ev . itches wer said to dance that way . In a religious observance called paying ” rounds , much practised by the Irish peasantry when they essayed t o cure diseases or bodily ail
one of ments , finds an interesting instance the custom of going sunwise to produce auspicious results . It is a general popul ar belief throughout the
or United States that in making cake the eggs ,
o or indeed the wh le mixture , must be stirred beaten from beginning to end in the same direction
or a in which the stirring began , the c ke will not be
a light , and that custard will curdle if the stirring
a motion is reversed . Often it is s id that the
o stirring must be sunwise , the p pular expression “ ” for this motion being with the sun . The same notion is found in Newfoundland and Scotland .
o S me matrons in Northern Ohio say that , to
Chapter XII
Embl em a t i c a n d Sym bo li c F o rm s o f
t he Su n
2 88 S un Lore of All Ages
o r of m dern chu ch edifices . The meaning these symbols was lost sight of a s the wave of
C a so r was hristianity swept onw rd , and yet g eat the power that these mute forms at one time
o o r a of p ssessed ve men , th t , in spite the decline and the utter extinction of the worship that
r o t o ro o c eated them , they c ntinued live th ugh ut
a and a of of o the ges , m ny them in the light m dern
a a a r a times h ve ttained an lte ed signific nce , and are as greatly revered and adored t o- day as in
a of a the ncient days he thendom . Although the Canaanite symbol for the sun was
r o o a and a an up ight st ne , the m st ncient popular sol r
o symbol seems to have been the eye . This symb l was ra o natu lly suggested by , and in c nformity t o a was an all , the ancient ide that the sun
a seeing god , whose penetrating gaze reve led every
a t o . o thing th t was visible man The sun , in sh rt , possessed t o primitive minds all the attributes of a
a great eye gazing down upon the e rth .
r a was To the Pe si ns the sun the eye of Ormuzd .
a r of T o the Egypti ns it was the ight eye Demiurge , and in the B ook of the Dead the sun is often re
o presented as an eye pr vided with wings and feet . To the a ncient Hindus the sun was the eye Of
T o of Varuna . the Greeks it was the eye Zeus , and the early Teutons regarded it as the eye of
Wu ot an or W . o , oden Greek myth logy , in fact , S ymbolic Forms of the S un 2 89
o of o C o sh ws us a race sun pe ple , the ycl ps , huge giants possessing but one great eye in the centre of
r thei foreheads .
Not was t he m o of only sun regarded as, a sy b l
of r o a the eye the Sup eme Being , but in s me c ses it was thought to represent his full face and countenance . Vieing in importance with the eye symbol of the
was w as a sun the wheel symbol . This very a o o and a a of ncient c ncepti n , , in this c se , the r ys the sun were represented by the Spokes of the
’ o f a wheel . AS the sun s m tion w as a matter o gre t o t o a o o r was c ncern the ncients , its m tive p we a
of o r and r subject much c njectu e , the e emerged the fancy that the sun was drawn across the sky by a
r r number of Spi ited steeds . Acco ding t o Hindu myth these steeds of the su n were appropriately red
o r or golden in c lou . The symbol of the sun at Sippara was a small
o a a a o a circle with f ur tri ngul r r ys , the f ur ngles
a and between being occupied by r diating lines ,
o a a r the wh le circumscribed by l rge circle . The same symbol occurs repeatedly upon the shell gorgets of the ancient Mound - Builders of the west
I ern continent .
The Moqui Indi an Symbol of the sun is a G reek cross with a small circl e in the cent re in which a re three ma r s t o indi ca t e the e es and , k y
mouth of a fa ce. 2 90 S un Lore of All Ages
r - God In G eece the symbols of Helios , the Sun ,
’ r o a r n we e h rses he ds , a c ow of seven rays , a cornu
o a a r c pi , and ripened f uit ; while the symbols of
o a o a a o Ap llo were w lf , sw n , st g , d lphin , laurel , and r C ly e . The ancient hinese solar symbol was a raven in a circle .
o of of Given the symb l a wheel , and that the
a com Sun drawn by d shing steeds , we find in the bination of these symbols the image of the chariot of aro a the Sun , und which so m ny ancient myths
F o w as and legends cluster . r m the vehicle it but a step of the imagination t o regard the Sun as the
r a i charioteer , the sup eme deity , driving his fl m ng
da ro firm am en car each y ac ss the t . The warlike propensities of primitive m an were responsible f or
ar o of of another very e ly symb l the sun , that a a of highly burnished shield , while , in a p ssage
o a F r re the Persian nati n l epic by i dusi , the sun is garded as a golden key which is lost during the
o night , and the lighting up of the sun each m rning was looked upon as an unlocking of the imprisoned
r o b of day . Egypt has probably given us more symbols of
n r o the sun than a y othe country . This is d ubt less because the Egyptians had a more elaborate form of Sun worship than existed in any other a a ff r a of l nd , in th t the di e ent spects the sun were ,
a i - o E a s . we h ve seen , de fied The best kn wn gyp
2 92 S un Lore of All Ages
r a a itself along . The sculptu es indic te cle rly that
r orb of the scarabaeus epresents the the sun . The
ar a a a o 0 0 B C . e liest scar bs d te b ck to ab ut 39 . , and they were regarded as a sacred symbol for a period of o a a over three th us nd years . In smuch as the
w as o a scarab a s l r symbol , it was likewise an
of or a o emblem imm t lity , and thus this symb l in its d ay closely resembled in its true significance the
C a o of a a was hristi n symb l the cross . The sc r b
- - Ra especially sacred to the Sun God Amen , and
o r a an further symb lised c e tive d fertilising power . It was the first life appearing after the annual
a of inund tion the river Nile . Of equal importance to the beetle as a symbol of was or the sun in Egypt the hawk , the hawk and
‘
o . globe , sacred as the emblem of the s lar deity
The Sun - God Ra was generally represented as a
’ man with a hawk s head surmounted by a globe or of r an as disk the sun f om which p issued , and the hawk was p articularly known as the type of the
o a sun , w rshipped at Heliopolis as the s cred bird , and the representative of the deity of the place .
was o The winged disk likewise a s lar symbol , and r highly egarded by the ancient Egyptians , who
o r of o c nside ed it an emblem divine protecti n .
’ and a o It typified the sun s light power , tr nsp rted t o the earth on the wings of a bird (possibly the
a and on of the h wk) , the emblem appears many f Pt ol em arna The Gat ewa y o y , K k
294 S un Lore of All Ages
phases , as diurnal and nocturnal , Har and Set , Shu
Tefuut as one so and , and there is but solar orb , he
of a is the lion the double lions . In the funer l r a a or o itu l the Osiri n , s ul seeking divine union ‘ : and communion with the sun god , prays Let
od : me not be surpassed by the Lion g Oh , f the Lion of the sun , who li ts his arm in the hill of a : [ heaven] and excl ims I am the Lions , I am
’ a the sun . The white lion is the ph llus of the sun . The lion and sun form the familiar national
of v standard Persia , and a Persian coin by Ta ernier
a the shows the sun , horned and r diate , rising over b ack of a lion .
of the In many parts Egypt , in ancient times ,
a crocodile appears to h ve been worshipped . This worship was intimately connected with Sun wor
o ship , and rested on the anal gy between the natu ral habits of the crocodile and the course of the
— on sun as the crocodile spends its days the land ,
- a a so and at night f ll seeks the w ter , the sun , after
r o running its daily cou se , sinks at evening int the ea o r t o re s . The croc dile , therefo e , came be
r on ga ded as a solar symbol , and SO figures the sculptures . The cat was a conspicuous solar symbol in
f of Egypt . The emale the species was emblematic of B ub astis a e Bast or , a sol r deity , and the mal
- symbolised the great Sun God Ra . S ymbolic Forms of the S un 295
The Egyptians also represented the sun by the
r m n a o a figu e of a a sailing in Ship upon the ce n . Sometimes the ship w as supported on the back of a
ro o and a a a a c c dile , g in the man appe red flo ting in
at the ship , but the same time seated upon the a o was o quatic l tus , and often the ship mitted , and man was r the suppo ted simply by the lotus .
’ Sometimes the man s pla ce in the calyx of the lotus
a o of pl nt is ccupied by the figure a child , and in
B embini ur n on the table , a frog is fig ed squatti g
a o a of man or the flo ting l tus le f in place the child . The Egyptians also represented the sun and
o and as ox and cow and mo n , Osiris Isis , the the ,
’r Lady Wilde tells us that these were used at the
a Irish wake ceremoni ls until very recently .
“ ” 2 “ a a F a of There is perh ps , s ys ber , no part the Gentile world in which the bull and the cow were
o not highly reverenced , and c nsidered in the light
f o and o o h ly mysterious symb ls . Among the
C F ohi o hinese , the great father , whose wh le
a o history proves him to be the scriptur l N ah , is
a a of a ul feigned t o have h d the he d b l . In the
of a neighbouring empire Jap n , this ancient person
age is venerated under the title of ox- headed
’ of and ur i a prince heaven , his fig e is here aga n th t
of a man having the horns of a bull .
Ancient Le ends o I rela nd Lad Wilde. g f , y
The Ori i n o P a an I dol atr eor e tanle F a er. g f g y , G g S y b 2 96 S un Lore of All Ages
Bearing in mind the nature and meaning of these
o a a r s l r symbols , the Egypti n sculptu es have , for
who a i those study them , sign ficance that renders
r them doubly inte esting .
The Sun - Gods of the Hindus were represented as
a on o on a se ted the sacred l tus , or floating the surf ce
of on f or the great deep , either a lea , a huge serpent
o oa c iled up in a b tlike form . In Greece there were legends Of the voyage of
o o o a o the s lar deity ver the ce n , b rne in a golden
o are o cup , riginated , we told , fr m the circumstance of the yellow or golden cup of the lotus being
r of employed to rep esent the ship the Sun . Indeed ,
a of in Hindust n , the cup the lotus and the ship of
- the Sun God Siva mean the same thing . So
I a F ab er of a strongly , s ys , was the idea a m riner sun impressed upon the minds of the ancient
rr Pagans , that they even transfe ed it to the sphere . Not content with making the sun sail over the
o r cean in a ship , they conside ed the whole solar system as one large vessel in which the seven
a a r as pl nets act as s ilo s , while the sun the fountain
r a of ethereal light presides as the pilot o capt in . “ These eight celestial mariners who navigate the ship of the sphere are clearly the astronomical
r f a of rep esentatives o the eight gre t gods Egypt , all
of as whom , including the sun their head , were
The Ori i n o P a an Idolatr eor e tanle F a er. g f g y, G g S y b
298 S un Lore o f All Ages
Encircling this central figure are seven rings of unequal widths ;from the third t o the seventh they
r r a e incomplete . The inne ring represents two
r of o g oups signs , each gr up containing four sym
o o a of b ls . Ab ve the face is an arrowhe d , symbolic
and a of the wind , beneath it cluster balls and
a e a hieroglyphs . In the rect ngl s bove and below the eagle claws at the right and left are symbols r o F W ’ epresenting the f ur elements , Air , ire , ater ,
r o on and Ea th . The symb ls both sides of the upper arrowhead are supp osed t o represent the
a F o a b e ye rs . ive rnament l disks fill the spaces tween the symbols . The rectangles of the second ring contain the names of the days of the Aztec
a o of ar month , they begin bove the p int the
h o ar row ead and continue t w d the left . The third ring contains forty small squares each with — five balls supposed t o represent days two hundred
r r in all . C ossing this ing and extending to the
r o sixth are fou large arr wheads . The latter ring
ar of o t w o is the l gest all , and is f rmed by huge serpents whose tails terminate in arrowheads
r a a ro o o fi o n mented with fe thers . The ch n l gical g ures between the ends of the tails are thought to orr a 1 c espond to the ye r 479 of our era . The
. u a a h man heads orn mented with fe thers , eagle
a a and not cl ws , disks , ear pend nts , what represent
o at Tonat iuh the g ds , ( the left) , the sun , and (at The Azt ec Ca l enda r St one
R Creel m a n Cou rt es y of M rs J .
30 0 S u n Lore o f All Ages ofli ci at es with symbols Similar to those which awed
or r of a or the w shippe s Ashur , Isht r , the sun .
Chief among these ecclesia stical solar symbols
ro o of C a a a is the c ss , symb l the hristi n f ith , symbol
a of C and one a that ntedated the birth hrist , th t o orl l n i n o a o o o f und its g s l r w rship . It ccurs up n the monuments and utensils of every primitive
o r C a t o . be pe ple , f om hin Yucatan It may
how o o of asked , did the cr ss , symb l the sun , origi nate ? The following ingenious explanation has been off ered “ If or any one will Observe carefully a lamp ,
a a o the other bright light , with p rti lly cl sed eyes , answer will be obvious . The rays which appear to proceed from the lum inous point form a cross of o s me kind . This is due to the reflection from the
lu and of . ev o eyelashes , edges the eyelids The tion of the sun symbol seems t o have been as follows : He w as first represented by a circle or
a a a o Ob ser disk as he ppe rs when ne r the h rizon . v at i ons made when he was shining brightly
r com revealed the crossed ays . This led to a
a o o bin ti n of the circle and cross . If this is c rrect the swastika is a modification of the circle and
Not a r a inscribed cross . the le st emark ble feature of this subject is the fact that the most ancient and universal symbol of the physical sun Should
Anci ent F ai ths Thomas nman . , I S ymbolic F orms of the S u n 30 1
for entirely independent rea sons continue in use
a s of. of o and the sign the Sun Righte usness , the ” of W r Light the o ld .
ro r ar and ra The simple c ss , with pe pendicul t ns
a of a r r a verse rms equ l length , ep esents the n ve and
of o a or r spokes the s l r wheel , sending f th its ays
all a ar in directions . In the ncient p ish church of C r a r Bebington , heshi e , Engl nd , the e is to be
da not o o ar as one of seen to this y nly the s l wheel ,
a o s of o a a r the d rnment the rered s , but delt s , co ns , and Maltese crosses (all of which are pagan symbols) enter profusely into the decorative features of the edifice . One of the oldest and most widely occurring forms of the cross is the cross with crampons
omm o o as turned to right and left , c nly kn wn “ S a a a of a the wastik , the su v stika Indi ,
’ of W r o the Thor s ham mer este n Eur pe . Professor Max Mul ler thinks that this symbol re
r and a an p esents the vernal sun , th t it is emblem
of a r a r . o life , he lth , and c e tive ene gy It is th ught t o have arisen from the conception of the sun as a rolling wheel . The halo depicted as encircling the heads of the
o o a r saints , and th se endowed with h ly tt ibutes , is
ar a o a o a nd o cle ly s l r symb l , the wheel symb l suggested by the disk of the sun w as often used
a as n emblem of God . S un Lore o f All Ages
In the chancel of a church in New England
to - day we see in the mural decorations symbols
deificati on of that typify the ancient the Sun ,
and r or originated f om that w ship , such
a as the disk fringed with darting r ys ,
the sun symbol , in the , centre of which
C a incon is the hrist name symbol , a str nge and gru ous combining of the symbols of antagonistic ff and widely di ering cults . In another church in the same locality is the
of Six- symbol the pointed star , enclosing the
- all seeing eye . This double equilateral tri angle is one of the most sacred of all
of a o was the emblems Pyth g ras , and revered for ages as the seal of King Solomon .
It is also an important Masonic emblem . The strange part of this study of symbolism is that the significance of these heathen emblems shoul d be utterly meaningless to the multitudes who worship in their sight , which indicates an indifference to a knowledge of symbolism not in
r o accord with the desi e ftentimes emphasised for it , and the great number of emblems which embellish
and adorn modern ecclesiastical edifices . The emblems of heraldry perpetuate the sym
i b olism expressive of the solar worship of pr mitive
e o a r of times . W see the R y l A ms England ,
supp orted by the solar lion and the lunar unicorn .
S ymb olic F orms of the S un 30 3
two r a ro are These c e tures , says B wn ,
a ra a o . a n tu lly ntag nistic In the ncient myth ,
or r at o the Unic n , when ushing the Li n , sticks
n a a his hor f st in mythic Tree , behind which his o o has a and com pp nent t ken refuge , the Lion
ro ing und devours him whilst thus defenceless .
a o This is the expl nation of the myth . The Li n
ro r o - M o Sun flies f m the ising Unic rn o n , and hides
r or of r- behind the T ee Grove the Unde world , the
Moo k ur n pursues , and sin ing in his t n , is caught
r lain o suns . in this myste i us Tree , and In many escutcheons are t o be seen solar symbols a a rr t o for lre dy refe ed , as , instance , in the cut , the escutcheon of a Greek - letter fraternity Shows
- the winged sun disk and the all seeing eye .
a ro o a o o a o a In st l gy ls , s l r symb lism pl ys an “ a as hi con import nt part , such the rules w ch
o o o o ne t the sun with g ld , with heli tr pe and
aaon o ra da and p y , with the c ck which he lds y , with magnanimous animals such as the lion and ” bull . There is to be found in certain old brick houses
o in England a curious solar symbol . It c nsists of a flat piece of iron five or six inches in length , “ a a sh ped somewh t like the letter S , which was placed upon the house walls about the line of division between the
The ni c n r U or o ert rown . , R b B , J 304 S u n Lore of All Ages
r an r fi st d second sto ies . It is still used in Here
f dshir a or e . There , it is s id that these irons are
a of a a in the n ture t lism ns , and are supposed t o
o o protect the h use fr m fire and collapse . Brown tells us that Masonic tradition is but one of the numerous ancient all egories of the yearly passage of the personified sun among the twelve
o of o on a c nstellations the z diac , being founded of o system astr nomical symbols and emblems , employed t o teach the great truths of omnipotent
1
. o God and immortality Its symbolism , theref re , is closely associated with solar symbolism and
o o o interesting t n te in this connection . The w rd Masonry is said to be derived from a Greek word “ ” am of a al which signifies I in the midst he ven ,
r r luding to the sun . Othe s de ive it from the “ ” Phre and Mas ancient Egyptian , the sun , , a
- f o of Phre i . e. o child , mas , , children the sun , or s ns “ ”
F our r F r o . light . rom this we get wo d eemas n Masons are instructed to travel eastward in
f as . search o light , the sun rises in the east The
initiation into all the ancient mysteries was a drama founded on the a stronomical allegory of the
‘ o of and death and resurrecti n the Sun , impressed on the mind of the candidate the unity of God and
an the immortality of m . These facts are taught
in the ritual of the Third Degree .
1 Stell ar Theolo o ert rown r. gy, R b B , J
Symb olic Forms of the S un 30 5
o n The Sun , verwhelmed by the three autum
o r r t o at r a o and m nths , etu ns life the ve n l equin x ,
a a is exalted at the summer solstice . In this dr m
a r t r r the candid te w as equired o ep esent the Sun , and a solar significance characterises the whole ritual . The following references to the symbolism of
Ma sonry are taken from S tell ar Theol ogy by
o r o r . R be t Br wn , J “ o o a a and W The L dge Sh uld be situ ted E st est ,
a or of o bec use the Sun , the gl y the L rd , rises in the
a an W o has r E st d sets in the est . A l dge th ee
a W o . lights situ ted in the East , est , and S uth The
’ M a r a i s i n a ste s pl ce the E st , whence the sun
’ o Wa o o rises , the Seni r rden s in the S uth , the p int
t - the sun occupies a mid day . P M . C . . signifies the sun , the moon ,
M . M . o God of F and the sun , Benev lent ire . is derived from t wo roots signi f in or or a a o of a o y g the igin m nifest ti n light , ls he f who w as and . o r o , is The s u ce eternal light ,
a as f the sun t ken an emblem o Deity .
r rep esents the sun . The three
’ steps delineated on the master s carpet have an obvious reference t o the three steps or degrees by
a o a M r- a o which the initi ted bec mes aste m s n .
a t o o a o a They llude the c nstell ti ns T urus , Gemini ,
Ca r of and nce (emblematic three steps) , by means 306 S un Lore of All Ages of which the sun ascends to the summit of the
o A R yal rch . The emblem of the Blazing Star alludes t o the
a r of C Sun as symbol of Deity . The ite ircum
ul o ar a o a s wa s amb ation has a direct s l llusi n , it a o t o of lways performed fr m right left , in imitation the apparent course of the sun from East to West
of o by way the S uth . Masons celebrate June 24th and Decemb er
2 th a r o 7 . These dates have pu ely astr nomic
r r r significance , and efe to the summe and winter
of a solstice , the periods great festiv ls and celebra
o a r ti ns throughout the ncient wo ld . “ The symbol of the all - seeing eye is distinctly
a o of solar in its char cter . In m st the ancient
of A a and r languages si , eye sun are exp essed by
Ma o a the same word . In like manner s ns h ve emblematically represented the omniscience of
r the great Architect of the Unive se . “ The significance of the Pillars of the Porch is of
t wo interest . In every Lodge there are pillars
o surmounted by gl bes . These represent the
’ pillars in the porch of King Solomon s temple . The Egyptian temples always contained two such
‘ ’ r one o on pilla s , called B az , meaning the sun ,
‘ ’ o o r r r the n rth side , the the Jachin , efe ring to the
o on o . mo n , the s uth “ The corner - stone of the Lodge is placed in the
Chapter XIII
Rev eal ed Sci en ce
3 1 2 S un Lore of All Ages toward solving the many enigmatic problems that
r and man has of a o the subject p esents , l te , thr ugh the wonderful ingenuity of those tireless and gifted o r a a t ile s in this field , ccomplished so much , that résumé of what has been done even in the last ten
a of o years reads like the p ges a r mance .
o of Our kn wledge the sun , physically and scienti
f a a ficall a o o . y spe king , is c mp r tively recent date
a of In fact , only hundred years ago the question the habitability of the sun was discussed in all
o o of seri usness by the astr nomers the day , but
of cons ruc with the invention new apparatus , the t
o of ti n powerful telescopes , the development of
of spectroscopic research , and the zeal intelligent
ff ul a men , this question and many other di ic t sol r
r p oblems have been positively solved , and no scientist of standing believes to - day that the sun
a f li is c pable o sustaining fe as we know it . Even half a century ago our scientific knowledge of the sun might easily have been contained in a
r so a b ief essay , but , r pid has been the advance , that to - day two large volumes can hardly do the subject justice . An apology is therefore due the reader for this attempt to treat in brief such a
t o vast subject . No attempt will be made discuss
a and f a technic lities , it will su fice to st te briefly the fa cts that have rewarded the eff orts of man in his endeavour to wrest from that great and distant The S un Reveal ed by S cience 3 1 3
power- house of vitality the secrets that have baffled the ages . Looking back on the centuries Shrouded in
o a o a a ign r nce and superstiti n , when im gin tion was a more potent factor than study and inv es ti ation t a nd r of g , when my h legend we e more
o r a f o a a c nce n th n act and kn wledge , we re lize wh t
of how an age progress this is , and the rigid and scientific methods of t o - day have w on their way through the superstitious mists of pa st
f a m of ar of ages , af ording us gli pse the m vels the
r a of a a unive se , and the be uties n ture sublime in
o its perfecti n .
Perhaps the first and most important fact to mention in discussing the sun from a physical
a a ar ar standpoint , is th t the sun is st , the ne est
ar t o so a o o st the earth , th t the m re we kn w about the sun the greater will be our knowledge
f ar o a o . the st s It is a fact , theref re , th t we
o no a for mi o kn w light save st rlight , the lu n sity
of and ra attributed to some the planets , the t n
our infinit e sient comets that come way , is too
a t o sim l be considered . Apart from a knowledge of what the sun really
ro is , the chief consideration is its distance f m the
ar and e th its size . There are several reliable and totally inde 3 1 4 S u n Lore of All Ages pendent methods of calculating the distance that
r r r separates the ea th f om the sun . They a e de rived from the following investigations as given in
The o o C ar : S un by Pr fess r h les G . Abbot
1 o or on Heli meter w k the minor planets .
2 M a o . e surements inv lving the asteroid Eros .
ra o a o . 3 . G vitati n l meth ds
’ of of 4 . Observations the eclipses Jupiter s satellites .
F ro of r of 5 . m the constant abe ration light .
a of of a o o A me n the results investig ti ns , acc rding t o o these meth ds , yields miles as the
’ a r a a sun s dist nce f om the e rth . This m y be r ar a s eg ded very close , comparatively Speaking , to
a a a the ctu l dist nce .
a t o Given the dist nce the sun , it is a com
arat i v el a a o t o a p y simple c lcul ti n st te its size .
’ ’ Professor Abbot s estimate of the sun s diameter is
a o 1 1 0 dia miles . This is b ut times the
of r and m or l of meter the ea th , the volu e bu k the sun is calcul ated t o be more than times
of that the earth .
’ In Spite of the sun s enormous bulk it has been
’ o weighed , and it is f und that the sun s mass is
’ of about times that the earth . The earth s weight is estimated t o be six thousand millions of f millions o tons . If a human being were trans
or two a p ted to the sun , he would weigh tons ,
31 6 S un Lore of All Ages
of a of remarked , but composed series enveloping a r one o a of l yers p essing upon the ther , m de up
r a authori matter wholly gaseous o v porous . Some ties claim that liquids and even solids exist in the
f or r of sun , but it is not us to discuss the me its
o or or these contenti ns , set f th the technical argu
ur ments which favo these views . The surface of the sun which we see when we Vi ew the sun through a smoked glass is called the
r o photosphe e . In the telesc pe this enveloping
ra a a a o layer has a g nulated ppe r nce . It lo ks as if
r o a of it we e sprinkled ver with gr ins rice , and the projected telescopic image of the sun will reveal
’ t o any one that the centre of the sun s disk is
a ro a brighter th n its limb . This p ves th t the sun is surrounded by an a tmosphere that absorbs to
r a a a ce tain extent the light th t eman tes from it .
of sun The photosphere is merely the Shell the ,
r a several hund ed miles deep , and prob bly gaseous
a o o r in its n ture . Ab ve the ph tosphe e is a layer of a a o g ses c lled the chr mosphere , which can be o r bserved by the spect oscope , and by direct vision during total eclipses . Still above the chromosphere there is a layer of “ a ro a o thin g ses called the co n , a s ft silver radi
of ance , the beauties which a total eclipse alone r eveals . The nature of the corona has long presented a The S u n Reveal ed by S cience 31 7
affli a ar b ng problem t o astronomers . Its sh pe v ies
a o a - ar - o r o in cc rd nce with the eleven ye sun sp t pe i d , an r d it seems electrical or magnetic in its natu e . It streams out from the sun many millions of miles until its rays are lost in the rare regions of
r a a inte stell r sp ce . These glowing layers of gases thrust out great waves of light and heat t o the very confines of the
o a and o n t h a r o ow . s l r system , we kn w much f rthe We d o know that the planet Neptune receives its
r and a now o o light f om the sun , this pl net , the utp st
our r at a of Of system , ci cles the sun a dist nce
2 2 ro . ,79 ,ooo ,ooo miles f m it
’ Of the potency of the sun s rays we can form but
o o for a a feeble c ncepti n , the mount received by the
has a a one - t w o earth is , it been c lcul ted , but twenty
f a a hundred millionth o the whole . Our nnual sh re
o l o f a a w u d , it is supp sed , be su ficient to melt l yer of ice spread un iformly over the earth t o a depth of one un r or t o a an o a of r a h d ed feet , he t ce n f esh w ter sixty feet deep from freezing t o boiling point . The illuminating power of the sun has t o be expressed in
a a of r has l ngu ge similar p ofundity . Thus it been calculated t o equal that which woul d be afforded by 5563 wax candles concentrated at a distance of one oo ro r r a has f t f m the Obse ve . Ag in it been concluded that no fewer than one half a million of full moons shining all at once woul d be re 3 1 8 S un Lore of All Ages quired to make up a mass of light equal to that
” I of su n the .
ewcomb of N , writing the stupendous forces set
’ in play merely in the outer portions of the sun s “ o : r of o gl be , writes Pe haps the explosion p wder when a thirteen - inch cannon is fired is as striking an example of the force of ignited gases a s we are
a o f famili r with . Now suppose every fo t o space
all in a whole county covered with such cannon ,
o ar a p inted upw d , and all being disch rged at once . The result woul d compare with what is going on
’ a o - inside the photosphere , bout as a boy s p p gun
” 2 o a o c mp res with the cann n .
r r of The ave age tempe ature the photosphere , ° t o o A o 620 0 according Pr fessor bb t , is about ° n a d p ossibly near 70 00 absolute centigrade . It is qui te impossible t o form any comprehension of the terrific expenditure of heat and light from the sun , and the first question that arises in this o o and c nnecti n , the one that is absolutely vital o our r how a ? t inte est is , are the sun fires maint ined
an o on da How c this enorm us waste go , day in y out and t o our , not diminish , SO as render globe uninhabitable in a short time ? It has been proved that if the sun were of the nature of a white - hot ball it would cool off so
The Stor o the S ol ar S stem . F . Cham ers. y f y , G b 3 Astronom or Ever bod imon Newcomb . y f y y, S
320 S un Lore o f All Ages
A t o o o ccording this hyp thesis , the s lar system is the result of the contraction of a nebula in
o f the c urse of millions o years . This hypothesis
o a t he is , h wever , by no means wholly ccepted by
o - scientific w rld to day . We come now t o a brief account of solar pheno
as of o mena , revealed by instruments precisi n in
of who o the hands skilled men , have dev ted their
o r a o lives to s lar research . P ob bly the best kn wn solar phenomenon is the appearance from time to
’ of u n - o are time on the sun s disk s sp ts . They
a and a o dark and irregular in Sh pe , r nge in size fr m minute points scarcely visible in the largest tele sc0 e - o o a of p , to naked eye sp ts th us nds miles in e o xtent , that would c mpletely engulf the entire
if one. F or a earth it were placed in inst nce , the
of r 1 6 1 882 of spot Novembe , , had an area over
r t wo billion squa e miles . The spots are composed of a dark nucleus or central core surrounded by a fringe a trifle lighter
a a and sur in hue c lled the umbr , this in turn is
a The rounded by a border known as the penumbr .
f for o Spots , strangely enough , are ound the m st part in a zone extending thirty - fiv e degrees on each
’ of o a o are o side the sun s equat r , lth ugh they seld m
a seen directly under the equator . The l titude of greatest frequency is seventeen or eighteen degrees .
’ ’ The sun s rotation carries the spots across the sun s ' n Dis Showin S ot s a nd ra nula tion ul 0 1 r u s 0 6 . e es S k , g p G , J y 3 , 9 Y k
322 S un Lore of All Ages
of - - great sun spot activity , just as an eleven year
of - o period marked an epoch sun sp t quiescence . The future years that mark these periods are given below for the next fifty years :
Maxi mu m Number Mi ni mum Number
1 9 1 6 1 922 I 927 1 933 1 938 1 944 I 949 I 9SS 1 960 1 966
o In 1 90 8 Dr . Hale f the Mount Wilson Solar
one of Observatory , the most eminent investi
o i n o gat rs s lar research work , discovered the
of - o existence a magnetic field in sun sp ts . This confirmed a fact previously noted that terrestrial magnetic disturbances and displays of the aurora borealis frequently accompanied the appearance of
- a a large sun spot . Recent research has reve led the “ fact that the spots are vortices similar in form to
of ocean waterspouts . The stem the vortex is the
- o t o umbra of the sun sp t , the spreading p the pen ” of a umbra . They savour the nature of gre t
ra r cyclones , circling with wonderful pidity , a ve y maelstrom of whirling matter evolving currents of
o electricity that produce a magnetic field . It w uld appear that these stupendous convul sions on the
A ot . The S un Charles . , G bb The S u n Rev eal ed by S cience 323
’ sun s surface are of sufficient power t o penetrate our atmosphere and produce magnetic and el ect ri
cal a a o not of phenomen . Sp ce d es permit further discussion of this subject which in interest ranks
r ar o fi st of the sol phen mena .
Closely allied t o the phenomena of sun - spots are “ so - a faculm o o of l o the c lled , c llecti ns smal Sp ts
ar r which e b ighter than the photosphere . These areas of disturbance are revealed by the spectro
o ra a o heli g ph , w nderful instrument invented by
ro o o . a a P fess r Ge rge E H le , which en bles us to photograph the sun by the light of a single ray of
W o o ra the spectrum . hen the sun is ph t g phed by
a a ae are o on r ar of c lcium light , f cul f und eve y p t
ro t o of the sun , which p ves them be evidences
of a eruptions of gases chiefly composed c lcium .
o o o a ul ar o Bey nd questi n , the m st spect c phen
a on o men visible in c necti n with the sun , excepting a o are o r ro n are t tal eclipse , the s la p mi ences as they
a a o of o a are c lled , gre t t ngues hydr gen fl me that
’ projected outward from the sun s limb thousands of
l o a a of r mi es int sp ce , at Speed sometimes hund eds
o r are of miles a second . These w nde ful flames of such extent that the earth if enveloped by them “ woul d be as a grain of sand in the flame of a
a ro o and o o a c ndle . The spect sc pe spectr heli gr ph
’ enable the observer t o comm and a view of the sun s
and at of - limb at will , times sun Spot activity there
324 S un Lore of All Ages
of r are often marvellous displays the p ominences . An extraordinary outburst was witnessed on Sep
1 8 1 a o tember 7, 7 , by the l te Profess r Young . At noon he Observed a prominence that had remained
a of da o o unch nged since noon the y previ us , a l ng
- or low quiet looking cloud , not very dense brilliant , or a r for in any way speci lly emarkable its size .
In a half - hour interval this great flame sprang into
and t o o activity was Shattered pieces . The s lar “ atmosphere was filled with flying débris and some of these portions reached a height of one
a o o ur hundred thous nd miles ab ve the s lar s face , moving at a velocity which even at the distance of ninety - three million miles was almost perceptible to the eye . These fragments doubled their height
r r in ten minutes . Another rema kable outbu st was wi o of a tnessed by Pr fessor Tacchini Rome , Janu ry
0 1 88 a of one 3 , 5, when the flame re ched a height
- a hundred and forty two thous nd miles .
AS a of the sun is the nearest st r , a comparison its
r of light with the b ight stars is interest . Stellar
r a of brightness is exp essed in m gnitudes , a star the first magnitude being about times brighter than
- a a . second m gnitude star Sirius , the brightest
ar a of and st in the heavens , has magnitude
of Aldebaran , the ruddy star in the eye the Bull ,
’ has a magnitude of The sun s magnitude is calculated t o be and gives the earth ninety
326 S un Lore of All Ages
f x been ound to e ist in the sun . The better known of : r ro ma these are Ve y st ng , hydrogen , helium , g nesi m um u . o o um , calci Str ng , manganese , ir n , bari .
a o a a Not very strong , c rb n , aluminum , v n dium .
Very weak , nickel , cobalt , lead . Possibly Shown ,
I
. l silicon . zinc , tantalum Doubtfu , An exceedingly important problem in connection
now a with the sun is being ttacked ; namely , the
a of question as to the vari bility its light . If the
t o it s sun can be proved be a variable star , and
ul a period and range determined , a wonderf adv nce will have been made in solar physics . There seems every reason to believe now that there is a
f a are slight variation in sunlight , but su ficient dat lacking at present for a positive determi nation as f W to the range o this variation . hen this fact is once ful ly established we shall be in a position to
o o apply the knowledge to pr blems of mete rology , and it may be possible t o make long - period weather
or forecasts remarkable f their reliability , an ines timable boon to the race . The author must again apologise for this extremely brief and fragmentary account of our
of . scientific knowledge the sun The subject ,
a however , is highly technic l , and extended dis cussion is irrelevant in a popular treatise of this nature . An attempt has been made to Show that
x A ot . The S un Charles . , G bb The S un Revealed by S cience 327
’ man s ingenuity and intelligence have enabled him t o o o c pe with , and in many cases to s lve , the
r b a an p o lems that the sol r phenomena present , d
t o - da the scientific knowledge of the sun extant y , compared with the superstition and ignorance
o r a c nce ning it in the p st , is the best evidence of
’ a a a m n s intellectu l dvance.
330 S u n Lore of All Ages
CURIOUS MYTHS OF THE MIDDLE AGES B ari ng- Gould MYTHS AND SONGS F ROM THE SOUTH P F i W . W . ll ACI IC Rev . G POLYNESIAN MYTHOLOGY Sir George Gray ZOOLOGICAL MYTHOLOGY Angel o de Gub ernat is F all GREEK LI E J ohn M . H OF AN nr om of Kame HISTORY M Hon . He y H e ( s) NOTES ON THE F OLK - LORE OF THE NORTHERN COUNTIES O F E NGLAND Willi am Henderson POPULAR ROMANCES O F THE WEST OF ENGLAND Robert Hunt ANCIENT F AITHS Thomas Inman THE DAWN OF HISTORY
- K CURIOSITIES OF F OLK LORE Charl es F . eary OUTLINES O F PRIMITIVE BELIEF CURIOSITIES OF INDo - EUROPEAN
- Kell T RADITION AND F OLK LORE Walt er K . ey in B L . K BA YLONIAN RELIGION AND MYTHOLOGY W . g CUSTOM AND MYTH Andrew Lang i orman ock er THE DAWN OF ASTRONOMY S r J . N L y art Merriam THE DAWN OF THE WORLD C. H CHIPS F ROM A GERMAN WORKSHOP Max Mull er Murra MANUAL OF MYTHOLOGY Alexander S . y Pale F rederic A. A B VOL . 111 RTICLE IN DU LIN REVIEW , xxx y ROUND THE YEAR WITH THE STARS Mary, Proct or HALF HOURS WITH THE SUMMER STARS i Proct o MYTHS AND MARVELS OF ASTRONOMY R chard A. r
K - alst on RUSSIAN F OL TALES W . R . S . R TH E NATIVE RELIGIONS OF MEXICO AND PERU Albert Rev ille PERUVIAN ANTIQUITIES Riv ero and v on Tschudi NORTHERN MYTHOLOGY B enjamin Thorpe i l P . T e e C. HISTORY OF THE EGYPTIAN RELIGION Dr. RESEARCHES IN THE EARLY HISTORY OF M NK N A I D l or Edward B . Ty PRIMITIVE CULTURE ANTHROPOLOGY B ibliography 33 1
ANCIENT LEGENDS OF IRELAND Lady Wilde T HE MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE
A Sir . ardner Wilki n NCIENT EGYPTIANS J G son JOURNAL OF THE POLYNESIAN SOCIETY JOURNAL OF AMERICAN F OLK - LORE
O . OF G REPORTS F THE U . S BUREAU ETHNOLO Y
334 Index
Au rora orealis 22 B rides sun S 1nfluence on 262 B , 3 , , Aust ralia 6 0 1 8 rint on Dani el 1 1 , 3 , 5 , 9 B , G , 9 Au st ralian cust om 22 1 26 rit ons earl , , 9 B , y , 47 l e end 1 rit t an 2 6 g , 3 B y , 3 — m al ui o 20 n Aut u n e n 1 row r. o ert 2 0 0 q x , B , J , R b , 93, 3 3 3 5 A ial rot ation of sun 1 Sir Thomas 2 6 x , 3 5 , 5 A oni B ubast is 1 2 z , 47 , 59 , 94 A t ec cal endar st one 2 uddhism 1 z , 97 B , 79 A t ecs 1 26 B uildi n irons solar s m ol 0 z , 33, 9 g y b , 3 3 u ll A is 1 B p , 55 B ull solar s m ol 2 B y b , 95 un ee ndi ans 2 1 8 B g I , B aal 1 - 1 2 2 u rial cust oms 268- 2 1 . 45 47 . 34 . 59 B , 7 estiv als 282 urial rounds New n land 2 1 f , B g , E g , 7 res 2 2 6 2 8 2 ushmen 28 fi . 34 . 3 . 3 . 39 B , aal ec 1 8 ut o 1 0 B b k , 4 B , 7 aal hemesh 1 200 B S , 43, B aal e u 1 z b b , 45 a lon 1 B by , 43 B a l onians 8 1 Cacus 82 by , 5 , 44 , acchus 1 Cai n B , 99 , 57 alder 1 2 6 Ca es estiv al 2 0 B , 54 , 9 , 3 k , f , 3 ali 60 Calendar 2 B , , 47 B ani er A é 8 1 1 2 0 Cal endar st one 2 , bb , 5 , 4 , 4 , 97 a t ism orient ation i n 2 Callimachus 1 6 B p , , 79 , 7 a st 2 Cama tli 1 86 B , 94 x , av ari a 8 2 Canaanit e solar s m ol 2 8 B , 3 , 4 y b , 3 e in t on n land 0 1 Canaanit es 1 B b g , E g , 3 , 45 B ed ho si a 26 1 n lema Da 26 , w tu t ed , Ca d s y , 3 edouin sun worshi 1 8 Carneia 2 1 B p , 9 , 4 eetl e 1 2 1 Ca rneius 1 B , 53, 9 , 75 B el - amen 1 Ca rtha inians 200 S , 47 g , elt ane dances and ames 2 8 Cat solar s m ol 2 B g , 5 , y b , 94 el v edere A ollo 6 sun a 60 B , p , 9 , B hame 1 Cat tle in ein 2 , 4 s g g, 39 B heki le n of 1 2 Cent au r , ge d , 1 , 73 B il 1 Cent ral Ameri ca 8 1 8 2 , 45 , 3 , 5, 97 B i rds sacred 1 88 1 8 Ce l on 28 1 , , , 9 y ,
la in - st ar em lem 06 Chaldeans 1 200 2 0 B z g b , 3 , 45, , 93, 3 7
l ondes 2 6 1 Cham ers . F 1 8 B , b , G 3 lood of sun 1 6 2 Chanah 1 8 B , 3 , 37 , lowin t oward sun 222 Chandra ans B g , b , 47 oa 0 6 Chariot solar s m ol 6 1 28 B z , 3 , y b , , 9 ochica 2 Charon B , 7 , 59 o ot a 26 Chemmis 1 0 8 B g , , B onfires 2 2 Chero ee ndians 1 6 , 34 , 37 k I , 5 , 4 , 37, 9 B ook o the Dead 1 0 288 Cheru im 2 2 f , 5 , b , 7 ou h olden 2 Children of sun and moon B g , G , 37 , 47, owin t o sun 1 8 1 1 8 B g , 9 , 97 5 ’ rahma 1 6 Children s ames 28 1 B , 3 g , rahmas 1 0 1 6 2 China 22 B , 9 , 5 , 73 , 9 rand ohn 2 6 Chinese solar s m ol 2 B , J , 5 y b , 95 randen ur 2 8 sun - s ot record 2 1 B b g, 3 p , 3 ra il 2 1 28 word for well and e e 12 1 B z , 7 , y , B réb euf F ather Choct aw ndi ans 1 1 , , I , 9 Index 335
Christ esus 1 1 solar 1 , J , 73 , 74 , 47 ’ — hn D Christmas 22 2 1 2 6 St . o s a 26 1 , 9 3 , 3 J y , Ev e 2 8 sunwi se motion 2 282 28 , 5 , 59 , , 3 t ree 2 0 wedi sh 2 6 , 3 S , 4 Chromos here 1 6 Thule 22 8 p , 3 , h r h dedi cati on 2 8 Tun use 260 C u c , 5 g , solar s m ols 0 2 Welsh 2 y b , 3 , 35 a rd 2 1 Cu co 1 0 8 1 28 2 8 y , 7 z , , , 7 Ci rce 6 Tem le of Sun 1 82 , 3 p , Ci rcumam ulation rit e of 0 6 C clo s 6 28 b , , 3 y p , 7 , 9 C rene lar e ti al Clar e Hel en A. 2 so s v 2 2 k , , 3, 54 y f , 4 Col our sun 2 C i cus coins of 1 8 Of , 55 yz , , 7 Column o n 1 8 s f su , 3 Comanche ndians 2 8 D I , 7 Com osition of sun 26 p , 3 ’ Camus Mil t on s 1 6 Da ot a ndians 1 0 , , 9 k I , 9 Concord u ri al - round at 2 1 Danae le end of 262 , B g , 7 , g , Const antine m eror 1 8 Dance el t ane 2 8 , E p , 9 , B , 5 Cont raction of sun 26 Chri st mas Ev e 2 8 , 3 , 5 Con estiv al a t 2 1 ast er sun 2 6 z , f , 3 E , 5 ’ Cord It u s 2 1 2 ndian su n 1 6 1 1 , , I , 4 , 93, 95 Cords associat ed with sun 20 reli i ou s 2 , 7 g , 35
Corner- st one of lod e 06 sun 1 6 2 8 g , 3 , 4 , 3 Cornu co ia solar s m ol 2 8 Da hne 66 p , y b , 9 p , Corona 1 6 Da hne horia 2 2 , 3 p p , 4 Cort e 1 8 Dar s ot s on the sun 1 z , 7 k p , 37 Cow and ox 2 0 Da r ness earl t raditions of 1 , , 7 k , y , 34 a ellation of sun 6 1 6 Dasent 1 26 pp , , 5 , sacred 228 Da e e of 1 6 , y , y , 3 Cox Si r eor e 6 0 6 80 Dead B ook o 1 0 288 , G g , 5 , 7 , 7 , , f , 5 , Co ot e- man 1 1 uri al of 268 y . 7 . 9 . 33. 34 b , Cree ndians 1 8 Death of Hera l es 1 k I , 9 k , 79 Cret e 1 6 D eazil oin 2 2 8 1 , 79 , 9 g g, 59 ,
Cri ssa 6 1 1 1 2 1 Deerfield u ri al - round i n 2 1 , 5, 7 , 7 , 74 , b g , 7 Crocodil e sol ar s m ol 2 D eit ies hint o 1 y b , 94 , S , 79 Cronus 1 D e anei ra , 99 j , 73 Cross sol ar s m ol 00 0 1 0 Del os 6 1 0 8 1 0 y b , 3 , 3 , 3 7 , 5 , , 7 Crow the olden 6 Del hi 6 1 , g , 4 p , 5 , 73 Crown solar s m ol 2 0 Del hi an ora cl e 1 2 1 y b , 9 p , 7 , 73 Cru cifi i on 26 Del hini us 1 6 x , 4 p , 7 Cu rsin the sun 1 2 1 De h g , luge myt , 5 Cu rtin eremi ah I t he 6 , J , 4 , 3 Cust oms Athenian 2 Demiu r e e e of 288 , , 73 g , y , Aust rali an 22 1 cendant s of u n 22 , Des s , 1 children assed throu h fire Di amet er of sun 1 p g , , 3 4 2 Diana 1 0 34 , 7
F i i sland 262 Dimensions of sun - s ot s 20 j I , p , 3 fire wheel 2 Diodorus 1 2 1 8 , 33 , 4 , 4 F n h 2 1 Di on sus 1 re c , 3 y , 99 erman 2 1 Di seases sunwise motion in t reat G , 3 , ri sh wa e 2 0 i n 2 82 I k , 7 g, need- fires 2 Di s olden 1 8 , 44 k , G , 4 New oundland 282 su n 8 f , , 5 a on and randen u r 2 8 win ed 2 2 S x y B b g, 3 g , 9 sin ein cat tle 2 worshi 1 8 g g , 39 p , 5 336 Index
Dist ance sun 1 i ru s ree s of Of , 3 4 Ep , G k , 49 Do ri ndians 2 1 6 ui noctial orient at i on 2 g b I , Eq , 74 Dol hi n 1 uino es 1 20 p , 73 Eq x , D oria ns 1 6 1 0 1 8 recessi on of 2 , 9 , 7 , 7 p , 77 D ormou se rees t he su n 2 1 ridanu s iv er 80 f , 4 E , R , D read of t he sun 1 2 1 Er thou 8 , y s , 5 D reams of sun 26 s i mos 2 2 0 , 4 E k , 5 , 7 , 5 D rill fire 1 1 8 1 1 t hi o ians 20 0 , 5 , , 9 , 33 E p , D ruidi cal worshi 1 8 1 thnol o ureau e ort 8 p , 9 , 99 E gy B R p , 5 , 9 , D ruids 2 2 1 , 39 7 D urandus 2 1 ur di ce le end of 80 , 3 E y , g , D a s 1 u se ius 20 0 y k , 3 E b , v a oration m ths 1 1 1 8 E p y , 3 , 3 cav ations at aal ec 1 8 Ex B b k , 4 E e all - seein 2 28 y , g, 55 , 8 a le hunter l e end of 1 2 Chinese word f or 1 2 1 E g , g , 3 ,
arth - mother 6 1 of Da 1 6 E , 7 , 3 , 35 y , 3 arth sunli ht recei v ed b 2 Demiur e 288 E g y , 3 4 g , arth S wei ht 1 Ma ni 2 E g , 3 4 , 9 ast a nd West urial cust oms rmu d 288 E b , O z , 268 aruna 288 V , ast er dance of the sun 2 8 2 6 Wuot an 1 2 288 E , 3 , 5 , , 5, 2 eus 288 57 Z , estiv als 2 8 elashes lown t oward sun 222 f , 3 Ey b , sacri ces 2 0 2 fi , 3 , 39 solar charact eri sti cs 2 8 F , 3 ast ertide s m ol s of 8 E , y b , 5 li F c se 0 a er . S . 6 1 02 1 0 8 1 E p , 4 b , G , 3 , 47, , , 49 , dda the 2 6 , , 4 E 3 den ort al s of 2 2 F a ri cius 1 6 E , p , 7 b , 3 B eri c and the d ra on 8 F acul ae 2 k g , 4 , 3 3
t 8 2 2 F a r- Dart er 1 0 Egy 5 . 7 , 7 p . — — t i an est i v al s 22 8 2 2 1 F east of Wint er olstice 22 2 1 Egyp f , , 39 4 S , 9 3 uneral ceremonies 2 0 F eathers sun a all of 1 2 8 f , 7 , b , l e end 1 0 F ern seed 2 6 2 g , 3 , 3 , 37 m t holo 8 F estiv al s A is 2 0 2 1 y gy , 5 , p , 4 , 4 ’ New ear s 2 0 A oll o 2 1 Y , 4 p , 4 solar s m ol s 288—2 1 2 aal 282 y b , 9 , 93 B , 2 at Con 2 1 95 z , 3 t em les 2 2 ti an 228 p , 7 Egyp , t radition 1 20 fire 2 , , 33 t ians 0 60 1 20 1 22 recian 2 1 Egyp , 47 , 5 , , , , G , 4 1 1 0 I —1 Ma Da 2 8 493 5 . S3 59 y y , 3 l ement s In t he sun 26 Peruv ian 2 E , 3 , 43 El Sol P ramid 1 86 candinav ian 2 6 y , S , 3 m lems la in st ar 06 i cilian 2 2 E b , b z g , 3 S , 4 heraldr 0 2 Sun - oddess 1 80 y , 3 g , Masonic 0 2 0 at The es 2 2 , 3 , 3 4 b , 4 solar 1 2 F i i slands 22 1 262 , 5 j I , , sun - oddess 1 urial cu st oms 26 g , 79 b , 9 n land 2 F i nni sh elie 2 E g , 34 b f , 55 o al A of 02 l e end 1 R y rms , 3 g , 9 n lish Chu rch 280 m tholo 1 E g , y gy , 4 noch F i rdu si 2 0 E , 37 , 9
Eos 8 F i re- drill 1 1 8 1 1 . 7 . 79 , 5, , 9 , 33
338 Index
Hott ent ot elief 262 i wa 2 1 2 b , Oj b y , Hou sewi e cust oms 28 maha 2 1 f , 3 O , 7 Hu 0 , 4 7, 2 1 nonda a 1 O g , 94 Huma n sacri ces 1 1 8 t t awa 1 1 fi , 45 , 4 O , 37, 9 Hummi n - i rd 1 Pawnee 1 8 g b , 33 , 7 Hu nt o ert 260 Pomo 8 , R b , , Huron ndians 1 8 Pott awot omie 1 8 I , 7 , 9 Hu thaca 2 Pue lo 2 8 y , 7 b , 7 H acinthu s 66 1 2 2 eneca 1 y , , 75, 4 S , 93 H dra Lernean 2 hawnee 1 8 y , , 7 S , 9 H mn t o su n 1 1 6 1 hoshone 1 y , 74 , 7 , 77 S , 33 H er oreans 1 1 i ou 1 8 1 yp b , 7 S x , 9 , 95 H eri on 1 6 1 6 Thom son i v er 1 2 yp , 7, 9 p R , 9 inne a o 26 W b g , 9 I andot 8 2 1 Wy , , 5 ana 2 1 Y , eria 1 20 Yokut 6 Ib , , celandi c sa a 2 ucat an 222 I g , 59 Y , uma 8 Y , 4 , ncas 1 0 8 1 2 1 8 1 1 8 ndra 1 2 1 6 2 2 I , 37, 47, , 7, , 3 , I . 54 . 75. 7. 3 . 33. 34 20 nit iation 0 I , 3 4 ndia nman Thomas 00 I , 54 I , , 3 ori ent ation i n 2 nti 1 8 1 , 73 I , sun m ths of 60 ol aus 2 y , I , 7 sun worshi i n 1 6 onians 1 6 p , 3 I , 9 ndian fire worshi 1 Iou skeha I p , 47 , 44 , 45 h mns 1 0 1 1 ri sh cust oms 2 0 282 y , 9 , 9 I , 7 , sun dance 1 6 1 1 dance 2 , 4 , 93, 95 , 35 sun worshi 1 1 estiv als 2 8 p , 4 f , 3 ndians Al on ui n 1 1 easant s 1 2 6 I , g q , 54 , 9 p , 47 , 5 A ache ro uois ndians p , 9 I q I , 37 A alachee 1 1 88 2 8 saac st or of p , 35 , , 7 I , y , 57 Atha asca sht ar 0 0 p , 37 I , 3 un ee 2 1 8 si s 1 2 0 2 B g , I . 49 . 7 . 95 Chero ee 1 6 sland in La e Titicaca 1 28 k , 5 , 4 , 37, 9 k , Che enne 1 2 slands F i i 22 1 y , 45, 3 I , j , Choct aw 1 1 srael 220 , 9 I , Comanche 2 8 sraelit es 1 1 , 7 I , 43 , 47 Cree 1 8 thaca 6 k , 9 , 3 ’ Da ot a 1 0 tu s cord 2 1 2 k , 9 , Do ri 2 1 6 ion 6 g b , Ix , 7 Ho i 2 ana i 2 p , 44 Iz g , 4 Huron 1 8 anami 2 , 44 , 7 Iz , 4 ro uoi s 1 8 I q . 37. 45 . 7 ansas 26 K , 9 iowa 1 K , 94 oot ena 1 achin 06 K y , 5 , 35 J , 3 M aidu 1 2 ac - and - the- ean - t al 2 1 , 3 J k B S k , 4 M ewan 1 ac the iant iller 1 0 , 33 J k G K , 3 Missi on 6 anus 60 1 , J , , 99 Modo c, 95 Mo ui 28 a anese eli e 6 q , 9 J p b f , 4 le end 86 8 Muysca , 26 g , , 9 Nat che 1 2 8 m ths 2 206 z , 35 , 7 y , 3 , Nav a o 1 1 sun worshi 1 j , p , 79 Index 339
asher oo of 22 1 A ollo and Da hn e 66 J , b k , p p , av a 1 6 A ollo and H acinthu s 66 J , 3 p y , eremi ah 1 Au st ralian 1 J , 47 , 3 erome of Pra ue 206 of B heki 1 2 1 1 2 J g , , , 5 erusal em 2 2 Chero ee ndi an 6 J , 7 k I , 9 ewi sh Midra sh Che enne ndi an 1 2 J , 59 y I , 45 , 3 ews ori ent ation amon 2 of Danae 262 J , g, 73 , ian 1 0 ohn St . 280 t J , , Egyp , 3 onah of u r di ce 80 J . 57 E y , ose hus 2 2 F i nni sh 1 J p , 7 , 9 oshua 220 erman 1 06 J , G , osiah 1 ree J , 43 G k , 49 J ournal Ameri can F olk- Lore 8 Hu ron ndian , , I , 44 ov e 6 of ion 6 J , 4 Ix , 7 udah 1 a anese 86 J , 43 J p , u it er 1 8 Ke hal os and Prokri s 8 J p , 4 p , 7 , 79 L tl Re idin Hood 8 it e d R g , 4 , 1 0 6 Maidu ndian 1 2 I , 3 ali 2 M aori 0 1 0 K , 73 , 3 , 3 ansas ndians 26 Maui 20 8—2 1 1 K I , 9 , ant el et ar 1 M el ea ros 80 K , 4 g , a rna t em l e at 2 2 2 6 M ewan ndian 1 K k , p , 74 , 75 , 7 I , 33 F 6 1 1 1 6 ear C . 6 Modoc ndian K y . . 7 . 9 . 54 . 57. 4 . I , 95 Nio e 8 1 b , 280 2 Norse, 5 eat s 1 6 1 North Am eri can ndian K , 9 , 77 I , 43 em le 2 6 r heus 80 K b , 4 O p , Ke halos l e end of 8 t t awa ndi an 80 1 1 p , g , 7 , 79 O I , , 9 Ke sola r s m ol 28 of Perseu s 8 1 y , y b , 9 , i owa ndian sun dance 1 Peruv i an 1 02 K I , 94 , i ss t o sun 1 6 Phaet on 80 K , 9 , Kmu 1 Red wan I OO , 4 S , ons 1 anscri t 1 0 6 K , 59 S , oot ena ndians 1 erv ian 1 2 K y I , 5 , 35 S , 4 a hi 2 i s hus 8 K p , 39 S yp , 75 , 7 Kwi kumat 8 t Mi hael 1 2 1 2 , S . c , 4 , 5 unli ht and moonli ht 1 0 S g g , 7 L Tan alu s 6 1 0 t , 7 , 77 , 7 illi am T ell 1 1 W , 5 ’ L h n u n i st er 2 a aal Ti nné 2 8 it c a d s , 9 B , 3 W S S — La ours of Hercules 2 8 onder ul mi ll 1 2 1 2 b , 7 , 73 , 7 W f , 5 7 La e Titicaca 1 28 ulu 1 0 k , Z , 5 Lama mon s 28 1 Le eune Paul 2 1 k , J , , 5 Lam and fla 2 8 Leo 2 0 2 b g, 5 . 3 . 93 sacri ce of 2 Le us fi , 39 p . 95 Lam os 8 L rnean H dra 2 p , 5 e y , 7 Laomedon 6 Li er 20 1 , 7 b , La rsa 1 Li ra , 44 b , 73 La amnah 2 Li ans 200 S , 39 by , Lat ona 1 0 1 0 Li ht of su n 1 , 7 , 7 g , 3 7 Laurel 2 0 Lilli ut u ri al cust om in 268 , 9 p , b , Le end Al on uin ndi an Li on Nemean 2 g , g q I , 54 , 99 , , , 7 1 00 and mou se 2 1 , 5 Althaia 8 1 and Umeorn 0 , , 3 3 340 Index
Lions 1 Me ico orient ation i n 2 8 , 57 x , , 7 Lithuanians 206 sun worshi i n 1 80 , p , Lit tle Red idin H 8 Michabo R g ood , 4 , , 94 Lo k r Mi a c e Sir . Norman 2 d s 68 y , J , 74 , Lod e orient ation Of 0 Mid ard g , , 3 5 g , 43 Lo ule 2 0 2 6 Midras h ewish g , Y , 3 , 3 , J , 59 Lot us s m ol 2 Mil sacri ce of 1 6 y b , 93 k , fi , 9 Lunar s m ol 2 Mil wa 1 2 y b , 93 ky y , 5 Lu or t em l e at 2 Mill l e end of 1 2 x , p , 77 , g , 5 ’ L cia 1 6 Mi t 1 y , 7 l on s Camus , 69 L cius 1 6 M i u 1 2 y , 7 nota r, 70 , 42 L dia 68 Mi rror em lem 1 y , b , 79 L y ra , constellation of 2 Mi ssion ndians 6 , 3 5 I —, L re solar s m ol 2 0 Mistletoe 2 6 2 8 y , y b , 9 , 3 3 Mithras 1 2 1 1 22 , 47, , 47, 9 Moa it es 200 b , M odoc ndian le end I g , 95 Mol holds u sun 1 1 1 2 e p , 3 , 3 Maane 2 Mol och 1 200 2 , 5 , 45, , 34 M acro ius 1 20 1 200 2 Moni 1 b , , 99 , , 93 , 59 M a da ascar 1 6 M on s lama 281 g , 3 k , ,
Ma netic elds i n sun- s ot s 22 Mont e uma 1 8 g fi p , 3 z , 7 Ma ni ude of sun 2 M n 2 6 8_ —0 g t , 3 4 oo , 3, 3 1 3 4 I o 43 5 M aidu ndian le end 1 2 children of I g , 3 , 47 M a in t he deazil 2 creation of 6 8 1 1 2 1 k g , 59 , 5, , , , M al a eninsula oddess 1 0 y p , 37 g , 7 Mana arm i nha it ed b hare 6 g , 43 b y , 4 Mana o ho 1 0 1 lace of u ni shment b z , 54, p p , 49 Man oo I of un 6 d , 59 wif e s , 3 Mani 2 worshi 1 86 , 4 p , Mani a as 2 M 1 c c , 7 oses , 43 ’ Mani o Mo i on sun s 2 t , 44 t , , 3 5
Maori l e end 0 1 0 Mound - uilders 2 8 g , 3 , 3 B , 9 Mars as 68 Mull sland of 2 y , , I , 47 M r o Max 1 06 0 1 Mas s sun 2 ul le r f . k , , 44 , P , 59 , , 3 Ma n ri ation of word 0 undilfare 2 2 so , de v , 3 4 , 5, 4 M A n r M asoni c sol ar s m olism 0 2 0 urra le a de S . 66 y b , 3 , 3 4 y , x , Maui 2 1 0 1 0 20 8—2 1 1 Mu sca ndians 26 , 9 , 3 , 4 , y I , a Da 2 8 M rrh 2 M y y , 5 y , 39 Ma ole dances 2 8 2 2 8 M sin 1 2 yp , 3 , 39 , 5 y g , 7 a 1 2 —1 M thol o Finnish 1 M ealway or Millw y , 5 27 y gy , , 4 Norse Medusa , 81 , 54 M elanesian sun ma i n 1 2 M ths v a oration and ainf all k g, 3 y , E p R , Mel ea ros le end of 80 1 1 g , g , 3 M elkarth 1 6 200 ree 8 , 4 , G k , 4 M em hi s 1 1 1 2 1 ndian 2 1 2 2 1 - 2 1 8 p . 53. 55. 59 . 4 I , , 5 M en a 1 26 ac and - ean - t al 2 1 j , J k B S k, 4 M ercu r 1 8 200 a anese 2 206 y , 4 , J p , 3, Meridian assa e of sun 1 28 sun 60 p g , , H t 1 sun- cat cher 2 1 1 M erri am . ar , C , 33 , M es a t o un 2 Teut onic 8 s ge s , 55 , 4 M et zli 8 , 4 M ewan ndians 1 N I , 7, 33 Me icans 2 8 8 1 0 2 1 x , 7 , 3 , 4 , , 35, o n 1 2 Name f r su , 5
342 Index
l u Proc s , 293 S Proco ius 228 p , Proct or 2 8 acred herds of the sun 6 , 3 S , 3 Prokri s le end of 8 i e 1 88 , g , 7 , 79 p p , Promi nences solar 2 acri ces solar 1 1 6 2 0 2 , , 3 4 S fi , , 45, 4 , 3 , 39 Pro ert i us 82 amoan uri al cust oms 26 p , S b , 9 t ah 1 anscrit st or of B heki 1 2 1 P , 59 S y , ueblo ndians 2 8 ar on 1 P I , 7 S g , 43 Pur 2 Sas 1 - 20 22 , 35 , 4 , Puri cation east of 2 at urn 1 fi , f , 43 S , 99 P ra mids of i eh 2 a on 2 8 y G z , 74 S x y , 3 ' an uan 1 86 n inav i an Of S , ca d s, 2 6, 2 5, 0 , J S 3 4 3 7 P rrhic da ce 2 cara u 1 2 1 y n , 35 S bm s, 53, 9 “ P t ha oras 0 2 cheiner 1 6 y g , 3 S , 3 P thia n a es 68 1 2 Schiefner Herr 1 y g m , , 7 , , 4 P t hi us 1 2 choolcra t 26 y , 7 S f , 9 P tho 1r 1 1 1 2 chwa e 2 1 y . . 57 . 7 . 7 S b , 3
Schwatka F . 1 Q , , 95 cotland cust om in 2 S , , 59 uails as sacri ces 1 6 1 8 e het 1 Q fi , 4 , 5 S k , 59 ’ uern F rodi s 1 2 el - t ort u re 1 1 6 1 Q , , 7 S f , 94 , 9 , 97 uet zalcohuat l 1 86 1 8 2 era i s 200 Q , , 7, 99 S p , er entine dance erv ian le end R S p , S g , 1 24 Ra 1 22 1 1 1 1 6 2 et 1 60 20 1 . 59 . . 5 . 53. 7. 77 . S , ,
I " ' 2 — 29 94 Sex of sun and moon, 36 38 ain 26 ha es ea re 6 1 6 R , 3 S k p , 3 , 9 ai n all m ths 1 1 hawnee ndians 1 8 R f y , 3 S I , 9 Ralei h Si r Walt er 26 hemesh 1 g , , 9 S , 57 , 43 Ram 1 2 1 hi nt oism 1 , 57, 9 S , 79 ameses 1 2 hoshone ndians 1 R , 5 S I , 33 Rat 1 iamese urial customs 2 0 , 53 S b , 7 av en the i cil 2 2 R , , 43 S y , 4 R h n 1 228 2 8 26 1 i l Dio oru 1 2 ays of t e su , 6 , , 5 , , S cu us , d s, 4 ilence God of 1 S , , 57 Red Crawfish the in ein cat tle 2 , , 5 S g g , 39 Red idin Hood Lit t le 8 i ou ndians 1 R g , , 4 S x I , 95 e i ndlin sun 1 2 Si ara 1 1 R k g , 7 pp . 43. 44 eli ious dance 2 i rius 2 R g , 35 S , 3 4 eni uido 8 i st er marria es R , G , 4 S g , 37 enou 8 is hu s le end of 8 R f , 5 S yp , g , 75, 7 Resurrection of the dead 268 2 1 iv a 20 1 2 6 , , 7 S , , 9 et ar in sun 222 SkOll R d g , , 43 ev ille Al ert 2 mo i n the sun 1 88 R , b , 99 S k g , h 2 n w n Re T ia 1 6 odes 1 68 2 o de v . o s R , , 4 S , b , 3 Ri eda 1 6 ocrat es 1 68 g V , 4 S , i n cross s m ol 0 801 2 2 1 66 R g y b , 3 7 , 5 , 4 , isin sun 2 1 olar cust oms 1 6 1 R g , 9 S , 7 , 97 oman elie 8 estiv al s 228—2 1 2 6 2 R b f , 5 f , 3 , 3 , 37, chu rch 2 8 280 2 - 2 , 3 , 39 45
sun - od 60 s st em a e of 2 g , y , p x , 3 5 ’ wint er sol stice 22 olomon s seal 02 , 9 S , 3 ome 1 6 1 280 t em le 0 6 R , 7 , 97 , p , 3 ot ation of t he sun 1 ol stices 1 20 22 - 2 1 2 6 2 R , 3 5 S , , 9 3 , 3 , 37, o al Arms of n land 0 2 2 0 R y E g , 3 43 . 3 5 Index 343
ol stitial t em les 2 hi ssin 1 20 1 2 S p , 74 g, , 3 o hocl es 1 h mn t o 1 0 1 1 S p , 99 y , 9 , 9 outh A ri ca 28 222 i sland 1 0 1 0 8 S f , , 49 , , 7, outh Ameri ca 8 i ss t o 1 6 S , 37 , 3 k , 9 ou th Pa cific sla nds 0 ma i n 1 2 S I , 3 k g, 3 ani sh con uest of Peru 1 8 manu act ure of 8 1 0 1 1 Sp q , 4 f , 3, 7, , , art a 1 2 1 mari ner 2 6 Sp , 75 , 4 , 9 ect rohelio ra h 2 ma s s 2 Sp g p , 3 3 k , 44 ri n e u ino 1 20 meridi an assa e 1 28 Sp g q x , p g , ta r morni n 2 1 messa es t o 2 S , g, g , 55 ole 1 name 1 2 1 2 2 p , 4 , 5 , 5 , 59 worshi 2 net 20 6 p , 77 , t arli ht a nd sunli ht com ared eo l e 28 S g g p , p p , 9 2 ri esthood of 1 3 4 p , 53 ta rs children of sun and moon ra s of 6 6 1 1 1 0 1 S , , y . 5 . . 45. 5 . 59 . 39 t eeds of sun 28 re i ndlin 1 2 S , 9 k g , 7 t onehen e 1 8 280 ret a rdin 2 22 S g , 9 , g, ’ n Da cu st om 2 1 2 6 t eeds of 8 6 1 8 St . oh s s J y , 3 , 3 , , 57 , 5 , , 5
26 1 t ea rs of , 1 82 Mat t hew 268 t em les 1 8 1 1 82 22 St . , p , , , 9 ’ P r ome 2 280 o h hrown at 26 1 St . et e s , R , 74 , t o t t , uicide urial of 2 1 wal i n t oward 2 S , b , 7 k g , 59 umat ra 1 6 wheel 228 2 S , 3 , , 34 ummer sol stice 2 1 2 6 2 worshi 1 1 6 1 1 S , 3 , 3 , 37 p . 47 . 3 . 75. 79 . Sun a all of eathers 1 28 b f , i rd 8 ea rl course 1 20 b , 5 y y , lind man 1 6 Sun and eds 261 b , 3 b , cat 60 londes 26 1 , b , chari ot 8 ride 262 , 5 b , hario he l 8 Ca ndl emas Da 26 c t w e , 5 y , 3 o u h Da 26 c w, 61 Ch rc ys, 3 e e 1 2 1 1 6 2 o s 20 y , , 3 , 55 c rd , 7 ather 1 Cruci ion 26 f , 35 fix , 4 ro 1 2 1 d reams 26 f g, , 4 hell 1 2 ast er Da 2 6 , 37, 55 E y , 5 mass of i ron 1 ood F rida 26 , 37 G y , 4 shi hu nt ers 26 1 p . 59 , swimmer 1 2 oshua 220 , 7 J , t ar et 1 n av i ation g , 33 g , 59 well 1 2 1 o en 6 , x , 5 orn rom e 1 1 0 er u red erson 260 b f gg, 3 , 9 p j p , owin t o 1 8 1 1 8 a t u rda 26 b g , 9 , 97, 9 S y , 4 lood of 1 6 2 unda 26 b , 3 , 37 S y , 4 lowin t oward 222 t rea sure 26 b g , , 4 children of 1 8 i r in Mar 2 , 47, 5 V g y , 55 columns 1 8 Wat er 1 06 1 2 1 261 , 3 , , , cur in h h 6 s g t e, 1 2 1 weat er, 2 3 dance ast r 2 on 2 , e 8 2 8 S un and mo , 53 E , 3 —, 5 ndian 1 1 as man and wi e 8 I , 93 95 f , 3 , 39 di s of 8 2 a rent al i nfluence of 6 k , 5 , 55 p , 3 d readed 1 2 1 l ace of uni shment , p p , 49 hei ht 22 1 ower t o a du ct g , p —b , 49 held u b mole 1 1 1 2 sex of 6 8 p y , 3 , 3 , 3 3 ’ Hercu les n n - at cher m t hs 20 2 1 seat i , 1 20 Su c y , 3, 7 344 Index
n - Su goddess, 1 7 halo 0 1 9 — , 3 Sun - ods 6 1 62 1 6 1 20 1 ha re 2 g , , , 3, 99 , , 2 g 288 haw and lo e 2 k g b , 9 1 unset 2 Helios 28 S , 55 , 9 ’ unshi ne maki n 1 2 horses hea ds 2 0 S g, —3 , 9 Sun - s ot s 1 20 22 Horu s 2 1 p , 37, 3 3 , 9 unst ro es 8 1 esus Christ 02 S k , J , 3 unwise motion 2 282 28 ke 28 S , 59 , , 3 y , 9 Sun- woman Hon 2 , 7 , 93 ’ un s chromos here 1 6 Masoni c S p , 3 , com osition 26 M e i ca n 2 p , 3 x , 99 cont raction 1 M o ui ndians 28 , 3 9 q I , 9 corona 1 6 M ound uilders 28 , 3 B , 9 di stance 1 ox and cow 2 , 3 4 , 95 oal 2 Persian 288 g . 3 5 , ha it a il it 1 2 Ra 2 1 b b y, 3 , 9 heat 1 rin cross 0 , 3 7 g , 3 7 li ht 1 ri si n s n 2 g . 3 7 g u , 9 1 ma nit ude 2 sca rab us 2 g , 3 4 m , 9 1 motion amon stars 2 Si ara 28 g , 3 5 pp , 9 hot os here 1 6 st a 2 8 p p , 3 g, 9 rotation 1 on , 3 5 st e, 288
’ si e 1 sun 228 2 z , 3 4 , , 47 sur ace 1 swan 2 8 f , 3 5 , 9 v aria ili t 26 wasti a 0 1 b y , 3 S k , 3 wei ht 1 The es 2 1 g , 3 4 b , 9 u erstition sol ar 26 ti er 2 S p , , 3 g , 99 ur a 1 6 1 6 Tolt ec 2 S y , 4 , 5 , 99 u r a - ans t ri an l e 0 2 S y b , 47 g , 3 wa ians 2 wheel 2 0 S b , 57 , 9 wan l e end of 1 0 wheel cross 0 1 S , g , 7 , 3 wans sacred 1 0 Wi n ed di s 2 2 S , , 7 g k , 9 weden 2 6 ria 1 8 S , 4 Sy , 4 ’ ’ wi t s Gulli ver s Travel s 268 S f , m ol all - seein e e 2 88 T Sy b , g y , A oll o 2 0 p , 9
a st rolo ical 0 Ta cchini rof . 2 g , 3 3 , P , 3 4 B e in ton n land 0 1 Ta nt alus 6—8 b g , E g , 3 , 7 7 eetle 2 1 Taoniskaron b , 9 , 44 lazin star 06 Ta ran a 2 0 b g , 3 g , 9 , 3 uil din i rons 0 Tart ars uri al cust om b g , 3 3 b ull 2 acri ces 1 8 , 95 s , 9 a b fi C naanit e 288 T a et os 1 68 a , yg , cat 2 Ta lor saac 2 6 , 94 y , I , 5 C n ral Ameri n 2 Tecumseh 1 e t ca , 97 , 35 Chaldean 2 0 Tell William 1 1 , 93, 3 7 , , 5 chari ot 2 8 T em l es A dos 2 , 9 p , by , 74 cornu O ia 28 Am clee 1 6 O p , 9 y , 7 crocodile 2 A alachee 2 8 , 94 p , 7 o 00 Athens 1 6 cr ss, 3 , 7 crown 2 0 a i s alt ered 2 , 9 x , 77 tian 288 Cu co 1 82 2 8 Egyp , z , , 7 rat ernit 0 t ian 2 2 f y , 3 3 Egyp , 7 ruit 2 0 ree 2 f , 9 G k , 73 ree 288 erusalem 2 2 G k, J , 7
346 Index
Worshi —Conti nued Yoku t ndians 6 p I , D ru idical 1 8 1 or shi re cust om in 2 8 , 9 , 99 Y k , , 5 i an o o t 1 8 u n Pr . 2 Egyp , 4 Y g, f , 3 4 fire 1 1 66 ucat an ndi ans 222 , 47 , Y I , Hera l es 1 8 ul e l o 2 0 2 6 k , 7 Y g , 3 , 3 ndia 1 6 uma ndi ans 8 I , 3 Y I , 4 , ndra 1 6 Yumanas 2 0 I , 3 , 7 a anese 1 Yuul 228 J p , 79 , M e i can 1 80 x , ian 1 80 Peruv , t ar 2 S , 77 Worshippers of Kali and B rahma 2 end Av est a 1 0 73 Z , 9 Wuot an e e of 288 eu s 6 1 80 82 1 6 288 , y , Z , 7, 7 , , , 7, a ndot ndians 8 2 1 o di ac 2 Wy I , , 5 Z , 93 odi acal si ns 1 8 Z g , 7 oni Y Z , 47 oroast er 1 1 66 Z , 47, ana ndians 21 Zulu l e end 1 0 Y I , g , 5
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A Coll ection of Myth s , Legends , and F acts Concerning th e Const ell ati ons of th e North ern H emi sph ere
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S t a r Lore of a ll Ages i s a v ol u me w hi ch wil l appeal alike t o t hose w ho are i n t erest ed i n folk- lore an d t hose who are at tract ed by a s t ron om In i t t he au t or ha s at ere t o et er t he curi ous m t s y . h g h d g h y h and t radi ti ons t hat hav e at t ach ed t hemselv es f rom th e earliest t imes t o difierent const el la ti ons and ev en to i n i v i ual stars d d .
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By George Forbes , M. A. , m rl ro esso f t u s F or e y r o Na ra l il o o p y , P f ' Ph h n erson s oll e e Gl as ow A d C g , g
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(By mail, 85 cen ts) His to f the Scien S ri No I. A r o ce e es . y The aut hor t races t he ev ol u t i on of i ntellect ual t hought i n the progress of ast ronomi cal i scov er reco n izi n t he v ar ou s oint s of v iew of d y, g g i p t he di fierent a es iv i n due cre i t ev en t o t he an cient s It has een g , g g d . b necessary t o cu rt ai l m any parts of t he his to t o l ay before t he reader i n u nlimi t e s pace enoug a ou t eac age t o i l ust rat e i ts t one and spiri t , d h b h ' t he i eals of t he w orkers t he ra ual a i ti on of new oints of vi ew d , g d dd p and of new means of i nv est i ati on g .
An Ea sy Guide t o the Const ella tions
With a Mini ature Atlas of th e Stars By J ames Gall ’ Aut or of The eo l e s tlas of th e tars et c . h P p A S ,
New and Enlarged Edi ti on, wi th 30 Map s m s B m ail 8 n s l 6 o. 75 cen t net. ( y , 5 ce t ) This new edi ti on of A n E a sy Gu i de t o t h e Const el la t i ons has b een t orou l rev i se : fiv e a i t i onal lat es av e een a e so as t o l n h gh y d dd p h b dd d , cl u de a ll t he cons tellat i ons of t he Zo i ac and ren er the ook com lete d , d b p for Sou t hern Europe and t he U nit ed St ates .
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