Sun Symbols Through the Ages

Throughout the history of mankind the sun has inspired worship, awe and fear. Sun symbols carved in stone, almost identical in concept, dating back over six thousand years, have been found in North and South America, Australia, Asia, Asia Minor, Africa, New Zealand and throughout Europe. Archaeologist and anthropologist can only speculate on their meaning, and the measure of importance placed on the sun by the ancient people. Medallions dating from the 2nd Century, B.C., interchanging the sun symbol and the lotus bloom suggest the Buddhist belief in the relationship between the sun and the growth of plants. And, as in many other civilizations, East Indians believed in a direct connection between fertility and the power of the sun.

Sun symbols of Medieval Europe often depicted a human face surrounded by rays heralding great strength, power and wisdom. These symbols were often found in tapestries and on shields of that era. An emblem that appeared in mid 16th Century France showed a sword overlaying a magnificent sun which symbolized power, justice and truth. In this period the sun was regarded with awe and reverence. A custom of that era forbid pointing at the sun because to do so could do harm to the planet. Thirteenth Century Persian art portrays the sun as the symbol of royalty, power and the fertility of the earth. Persian astrologers cast the fates of the noblemen with charts meticulously calculated by the position of the planets with particular attention given to the sun. Modern astronomers still use the point in a circle, the hieroglyphic sign of the Egyptian sun god Rd.

Throughout the Southwestern United States, petroglyphs, sand paintings and Kachina masks emphasize the importance and reverence given the sun by Indian cultures. They gave prayer for the warmth it brought, the plant and animal life it made possible, and for the opportunity it offered for human existence. LEFT: The Soyál Chief of the Hopi Ceremonial is portrayed by the Kachina Tawa, left. The lower half is painted blue, the upper right quadrant is red, the upper left is yellow, representing the face of the sun. The whole face is edged with long, red-stained, human hair to symbolize the rays of the sun, and eagle feathers radiate from the outer circumference like the aura of power from the Creator. Although the sun is considered a God, to the Hopis he is but the face through which the omnipotent Creator, Taiowa, stands behind and oversees his creation.

In 2100 B.C. this was the symbol of Shamash, giver of light and wisdom in Babylon.

The Greeks erected the colossus of Rhodes at the entrance to the harbor of Rhodes about 280 B.C. as a tribute to their Sun God, Helios.

European farmers attached wooden sun symbols to their gates for hundreds of years. This one is from 18th century Austria.

This prehistoric sun symbol can be found in New Zealand, Spain, Asia, Asia Minor, South America and Australia as well as Arizona.

The god Mithras represented light, truth and justice to the ancient peoples of Asia Minor, 52-117 A.D.

In ancient Egypt the Sun God Ra held supreme place among all deities as the giver of life.

This stained glass window in the Lausanne Cathedral in Switzerland illustrates the association with 13th century Christianity.

In Medieval Europe the sun was often depicted as a human face surrounded by rays.

Sun medallion decorating a 2nd century B.C. sanctuary housing a sacred relic of Buddha.

In 16th century France this emblem appeared as a symbol of power, justice and truth.

In Asia Minor the Sun and Lion were the royal symbol of the Seljuk turks1055 to 1157.

The early Aztec Sun God was Quetzalcoatl. Here the sun is pictured among the branches of the tree of life.