Myths about Sun

Many cultures around the world have interesting myths about the Sun, reflecting its importance in all our lives. Visit the links below for interesting glimpses into the beliefs of early civilizations. Do you see any similarities between these myths?
For the Aztecs, who lived in central Mexico, <a href="/mythology/tonatiuh.html&edu=elem">Tonatiuh</a> was a <a href="/sun/sun.html&edu=elem">Sun</a> god. Aztecs believed that four suns had been created in four previous ages, and all of them had died at the end of each cosmic era. Tonatiuh was the fifth sun and the present era is still his. The carvings on this sunstone represent the four cycles of creation and destruction in the Aztec creation story. The skull at the center depicts the god Tonatiuh.<p><small><em> Image courtesy of Corel Corporation.</em></small></p>

Explore Myths about Sun

Egyptian: Re

Re was the sun-god and creator of our world. He has a head like a hawk or a ram. The god wore ...Read more

Celts: Lugh

For the Celts, who lived in central Europe, Lugh was a Sun god. The underworld god Balor was ...Read more

Aztec: Tonatiuh

For the Aztecs, who lived in central Mexico, Tonatiuh was a Sun god. He was in charge of the ...Read more

Aztec: Huitzilopochtli

Huitzilopochtli, was the Aztec god of the Sun and the war. He was a blue man fully armed with ...Read more

Greek and Roman: Apollo

In Greek mythology, Apollo was the son of Zeus (Jupiter) and Leto (Letona). His twin sister ...Read more

African: Liza

Liza is a god of the Fon people of West Africa. Liza is represented by the fierce Sun. Usually ...Read more

Chinese: Ten Suns

According to ancient Chinese mythology, there existed ten suns that used to appear in turn ...Read more

Polynesian: Maui

Maui was a hero of Polynesian mythology. For Maui and his mother the days were too short. Maui ...Read more

Japanese: Amaterasu

Amaterasu was the Sun goddess of the oldest Japanese religion called Shinto. When her brother ...Read more

Sumerian: Shamash

Shamash was a Sun god according to the Sumerian mythology. Sumerians were living more than ...Read more

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Did you know?

Did you know that, in Japanese and Inuit mythology, there is a Sun goddess rather than a Sun god?

Did you know that the Yoruba god of the sea, Olokun, lives in a palace under the sea, with human and fish attendants?

 

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