Cultures and religions around the world and throughout history have worshiped the Sun in many ways, including sacrifices and building structures. Sun deities have often been the centre of their respective religions. Cultures and religions that have practiced prominent Sun worship include the Incas in Peru, the Nabateans, who built the city of Petra in Jordan, and Shintoism in Japan.

One of the most important Gods for the Inca civilization in South America, was the Sun god, Inti.¹ The majority of Inca architecture is designed and built to assist in the worship of the Sun, with pillars built to mark the Sun’s position at different solstices. Inti Ramyi is the Inca’s annual festival of the Sun, which takes place on the summer solstice, and is still celebrated today with drinking, singing and dancing.

The Nabatean people also had a spirituality centred around the Sun. One of their deities, Dushara, was associated with the Sun, daytime and mountains, and was worshiped from temple rooftops.² This god could still be found on local coinage after the annexation of Nabetea by Rome. Evidence shows that Petra, a famous Nabatean city in Jordan dating from 400 BCE, had several monuments built in relation to equinoxes and solstices.³

In the Shinto religion, there is a Sun goddess named Amaterasu, who is the most important deity and rules the High Celestial Plain.⁴ One celebrated myth is about how Amaterasu locked herself in a cave following an argument with another deity. The folktale suggests that upon Amaterasu’s disappearance, the world was thrown into complete darkness, and it was not until she emerged from the cave that sunlight returned. It is believed that the emperors of Japan are descendants of Amaterasu.

While we may never fully understand the religious beliefs of Neolithic peoples, their megalithic structures, such as Stonehenge in England (3000 BCE) and Newgrange in Ireland (3200 BCE), are testaments to the importance of the Sun in their world views. For example, Newgrange was constructed in such a way that in the days leading up to and following the winter solstice, the sunlight casts a shaft of light into the entrance of the passage.⁵ There is a suggestion that the Neolithic culture believed the winter solstice was a symbol of the inevitable victory of life.

Humans have always needed the Sun for light, heat and food, although many technological advances have allowed us some independence. The importance of solar energy in our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint is a reminder that we still depend on the Sun for our survival.

Sources:

1. “An Introduction to Inti and the Inca Sun God – ThoughtCo.” 30 May. 2019, https://www.thoughtco.com/inti-the-inca-sun-god-2136316. Accessed 14 Jun. 2021.
2. “Kingdom of Nabatea – World History Encyclopedia.” https://www.worldhistory.org/Kingdom_of_Nabatea/. Accessed 15 Jun. 2021.
3. “Light and Shadows over Petra: astronomy and landscape in …” 7 Sep. 2012, https://arxiv.org/abs/1209.1540. Accessed 15 Jun. 2021.
4. “Amaterasu – World History Encyclopedia.” 17 Dec. 2012, https://www.worldhistory.org/Amaterasu/. Accessed 15 Jun. 2021.
5. “Newgrange | Built heritage | Brú na Bóinne – World Heritage Ireland.” https://www.worldheritageireland.ie/bru-na-boinne/built-heritage/newgrange/. Accessed 15 Jun. 2021.