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=high&dev=1/earth/Atmosphere/moons/triton_atmosphere.html">Tonatiuh</a> was a <a href="/sun/sun.html&edu=high&dev=1/earth/Atmosphere/moons/triton_atmosphere.html">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 known as the sun-god and the creator in ancient Egypt. He took on many forms, each depending ...Read more

Celts: Lugh

Lugh, whose name means "the shining one," was the Celtic Sun god. The underworld god Balor ...Read more

Aztec: Tonatiuh

Most of the astronomical beliefs of the Aztecs of central Mexico are known from the existing ...Read more

Aztec: Huitzilopochtli

Huitzilopochtli was the patron deity in Aztec mythology. The Aztecs were an ancient civilization ...Read more

Greek and Roman: Apollo

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

African: Liza

Liza is a deity of the Fon people who live in West Africa. Liza is associated with the Sun, ...Read more

Chinese: Ten Suns

Antique inscriptional documents tell us how during the time of the Chou dynasty (c. 1027-221 ...Read more

Polynesian: Maui

Maui was the trickster hero of Polynesian mythology. It is said that Maui was born prematurely ...Read more

Japanese: Amaterasu

Amaterasu was the Sun goddess according to the oldest Japanese religion called Shinto. Shinto ...Read more

Sumerian: Shamash

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

More about Myths about Sun

Historical Events

Full Earth and Space Science    History Calendar (Members only)

Teacher Opportunities

Full Teacher Events Calendar (Educator Members only)

Did you know?

Did you know that, according to ancient Chinese myth, humans were generated from the fleas which lived on the body of the giant Pan-Ku?

Did you know that Zephyr was the Greek god of the west wind?

 

Earth and Space Science Concept of the Day

Do you know what this word or phrase means?

Alluvium
xAlluvium : Alluvium is loose gravel, sand, silt, or clay deposited by streams.

Click on the word to find out!

Research Highlights

Marine Scientists, Students Find Widespread Floating Plastic Debris in North Atlantic Ocean

Despite growing awareness of the problem of plastic pollution in the world's oceans, little solid scientific information has existed about the nature and scope of the issue. This week, a team of researchers...Read more


Windows to the Universe, a project of the National Earth Science Teachers Association, is sponsored in part is sponsored in part through grants from federal agencies (NASA and NOAA), and partnerships with affiliated organizations, including the American Geophysical Union, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Earth System Information Partnership, the American Meteorological Society, the National Center for Science Education, and TERC. The American Geophysical Union and the American Geosciences Institute are Windows to the Universe Founding Partners. NESTA welcomes new Institutional Affiliates in support of our ongoing programs, as well as collaborations on new projects. Contact NESTA for more information. NASA ESIP NCSE HHMI AGU AGI AMS NOAA