From the sun chariot in Denmark to the temple of the sun in Egypt: 10 ancient artifacts dedicated to the cult of the sun

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The sun is the source of light, energy and life. For many millennia, it has been an object of worship in all ancient civilizations. And today archaeologists find a lot of evidence of this - ancient artifacts that can lift the veil of secrecy over the secrets of the ancients.

1. Earliest image of an eclipse

In ancient times, people perceived solar eclipses with superstitious horror. The earliest written sources describing the sudden onset of night on a clear day were Chinese manuscripts. The oldest images of a solar eclipse have recently been discovered in the east of Ireland. They were carved more than 5,000 years ago, in 3340 BC, on three giant stones of one of the Neolithic monuments "Cairn of stones L" in County Meath. An indication of the astronomical and cosmological observations of the ancient Irish can also serve as their religious building Newgrange - the Temple of the Sun. Every year on the days of the winter solstice, the sun illuminates its pitch darkness for 17 minutes. The Celts who later settled on the Emerald Isle continued to worship the Sun. Their goddess of light was the goddess Bridget, known as the "Bright".

2. The cult of the Sun and human sacrifice in the Maya

A distinctive feature of the Mayan Sun worship was human sacrifice. Maya believed that in order for the Sun to always shine, he needed to offer human hearts. On the territory of Tikal, one of the largest Mayan settlements, archaeologists discovered a burial containing the bodies of a boy 10-14 years old and a man 35-40 years old. Apparently, they were sacrificed and burned. Knife wounds and broken ribs indicate that they were first killed and then burned.

3. Tomb of the priestess of the Sun

In 1921, archaeologists discovered the burial of the “priestess of the sun” in Denmark, which is 3,400 years old. The remains of a young girl and her cremated child were found near the village of Egtved. Almost nothing remained of her skeleton, but her hair, teeth, and clothes were partially preserved. The girl had a large bronze disc in the shape of the Sun on her belt, evidence that she was a priestess of the ancient cult of the Sun. Although her clothes were typical for Denmark at that time, they were made from animals that lived elsewhere. Isotope analysis of the remains showed that the girl was not a native of Denmark, where she was buried, but most likely previously lived in southern Germany. She may have been married to the chief of a Danish tribe.

4. British gold

Archaeologists recently discovered that parishioners of the Bronze Age Temple of the Sun in Ireland collected gold for it in various parts of the world. And although Ireland itself had its own gold deposits, they, venerating this sacred metal, preferred not to touch them, so as not to incur a curse, but bought gold in Great Britain. The Cornwallians, on the other hand, did not particularly appreciate gold, for them it was a by-product in the extraction of tin, from an alloy of which with copper they obtained bronze.

5. Solar chariot from Trundholm

The sun chariot is a reflection of the myth of a deity traveling across the sky in his chariot. In 1902, archaeologists discovered this sculpture in a Danish quagmire. Dated 1800 - 1600 BC, the exhibit consists of a horse, six wheels and a disc - all made of bronze. On one side, the disc is covered with a thin gold leaf.

6. Boats of Abydos

In 2000, researchers excavating the ancient Egyptian territory of Abydos discovered 14 boats 5,000 years old. The boats were large enough to accommodate up to 30 rowers. Technically perfect, they could easily withstand big waves and bad weather on the high seas. Perhaps the boats of Abydos are associated with the ancient Egyptian myth that the sun god Ra moved across the sky in a solar boat. Buried near the burials of the pharaohs, they could have been intended for the afterlife travels of their souls. Made from single planks, they are the earliest examples of this type of boat. It remains unknown whether these boats were used for their intended purpose before they were buried or not.

7. Danish sun temple and ancient map

Archaeologists believe that on the Danish island of Bornholm more than 5, 500 years ago there was a complex of temples for worshiping the sun deity. A large number of stone discs have been found with carved patterns reminiscent of the sun and rays radiating from it. On one of the stones, scientists managed to make out a sketch of a map. Apparently, during a magic ritual in honor of the sun god, the stone with the image of the map was broken into three parts. Two of them were found, and the third is still missing.

8. Disk of the Sun from Moncton

In 1947, near Stonehenge, England, along with the remains of a skeleton, archaeologists discovered the mysterious golden disc of the Sun, which is a thin sheet of embossed gold with a cross in the center. The age of the find is 4, 500 years. So far, only six Sun discs have been found on the island. Given the rarity of the find, experts suggested that the disc belonged to the chief. Two small holes were used, apparently, in order to carry the disk on oneself as a talisman and for status.

9. Goseck circle

In 2002, archaeological students in Germany discovered the oldest solar observatory, 7,000 years old. It is an area 75 meters in diameter, surrounded by concentric moats and wooden walls with gates. Apparently, the site was used to observe the firmament, and in this case, it is the oldest solar observatory found. The remains of donations that took place here were also found on its territory.

10. Temple of the sun of Ramses II

In 2006, archaeologists discovered an ancient temple in Cairo. Previously, it was located on the territory of the ancient city of Heliopolis and was the epicenter of worship of the main Egyptian solar deity, the god Ra. Inscriptions indicate that he founded the temple by Ramses II, famous for his monumental construction projects. During his reign, he erected temples and statues in his honor. The Temple of Ra at Heliopolis is the largest temple of Ramses II.