Sun - the source of life and fertility.Mankind has long for light, warms the earth, giving light and joy of creatures inhabiting the planet.Therefore, almost every nation had its own authentic symbol of the sun, worshiped and brought gifts.
Kolovrat
In Russia, so called cross with curves.Kolovrat - a symbol of the sun among the Slavs, who our ancestors were treated as "solstice" or simply "rotation".His image as a ornament often applied on the iconostasis and altar of the church, vestments and costumes, weapons and military banners squads, roofs of houses and domestic utensils.Even to this day we preserved fragments of these paintings: they can be seen in the ancient churches of Novgorod, Kiev and Chernigov.But excavations of Slavic settlements and burial mounds show that many cities have a clear form of Kolovrat, whose rays pointed to the four cardinal points.
symbol represented Yarilo Sun, change of seasons and the eternal light.He was for the people, do not expose power protection from the demons of hell and human aggression.No wonder the sign painted on the red shields brave soldiers who went into battle.Kolovrat caused panic among opponents Rus, so for many centuries our gallant ancestors successfully resisted invasions of other peoples and tribes.
pagan sun god
He had four incarnation, depending on the time of year:
- sun-baby Kolyada.Winter light, the weak and defenseless.Born in the early morning after the night of the December solstice.
- Sun-boy Jari.Fledgling star, appearing in the spring equinox.
- Sun-husband Kupaylo.The powerful light, which is rolling out in the sky at the summer solstice.
- Sun-old Svetovit.Aging and wise light, marking the autumnal equinox.
As you can see, the symbol of the sun is constantly featured in the calendar of our ancestors, pointing not only to the changing seasons, and astronomical phenomena.These four days were important pagan holiday, during which the Slavs staged dances and feasts, they offered sacrifices to the gods and praised their ceremonial songs.In addition, the light is constantly figured in other ceremonies.For example, it is - a symbol of Maslenitsa.Sun during winter wires embodied in the form of pancakes: thus our ancestors called a star and wake up to warm the Earth.
Eagle
If the ancient Slavs chief guardian of human Kolovrat and sun symbol Shrovetide present during numerous ceremonies, the other nations of the world solar signs were not so massively distributed.Of course, the sun was revered throughout the world, but only rusichi drew his picture everywhere: from the houses, ending with small household items.They also believed that the eagle is a symbol of the sun.But more than this proud bird cult worshiped in Greece and China.
These people chose the eagle is not by chance: his flight, life in the clouds has always been illuminated by rays of light.People believed that the bird was a messenger of the gods, so it can reach the stars, and even merge with it.The eagle symbolized the height and strength of spirit that can soar into the heavens.If you draw it amid thunder and lightning, it is pointed out the courage and ability to overcome any difficulties.Besides Homer claimed that bird claws holding snake - a symbol of victory.
symbol of the sun among other peoples
shining especially revered by the Indians who lived in Peru and Mexico.Like the Slavs, the Greeks and the Chinese, they worshiped the eagle: its feathers are often decorated their hats, giving a person a certain status and giving him protection.In addition, Inca star portrayed as a man with a golden face of a disk-shaped, the Aztecs also associated it with the god of war - Huitzilopochtli.Another Indian symbol of the sun - the same Kolovrat, which has several differences from Slavic: it drew in the form of a wheel, the swastika, a circle surrounded by rays or simply drive.
Residents of Indonesia considered the symbol of light cat face.In the United States the sun depicted with a twinkle in his eyes, and in Mallorca - sad.In Spain, we believed that the moon - the progenitor star, the Malays, the two lights were spouses, and Russian folklore - sisters.In Japan, an ancient symbol of the sun - Chrysanthemum.And the Egyptian scarab was associated with light.Ancient sun god Khepera here depicted as a beetle rolling clouds of heavenly bodies.
«Solar» deity
in Greece is to be made of Helios, in the name of which has already felt the radiance rays and polyhanie fire.Often portrayed as a mighty handsome young man: his eyes sparkled, her hair fluttering in the wind, covered with a golden helmet or crown.Every morning, he appeared in the sky in the solar chariot drawn by four winged horses.
The Romans symbol of the sun - god Apollo, patron of light, art, science and agriculture.His weapon - arrows - depicted in the form of sunlight.
Regarding the ancient Persians, the embodiment of their light is Mitra.He drew a stream of light that connects people with the darkness.
In Egyptian mythology the sun god Ra was represented as a man, a cat or a huge eagle, whose head was crowned with a star.Summer drought and heat felt his anger sent to the people for their sins.
As you can see, the sun still revered since time immemorial.Nowadays he also worshiped: worldwide even opened a museum dedicated to this luminary.
