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Solar Deity

People have worshiped the Sun and Gods who represent the Sun for all of recorded history. Hence, many beliefs and legends have been formed around this worship. Sun gods are generally (though not always) male, and usually the brother, father, husband and/or enemy of the lunar deity (usually female). They were often gods of truth, honesty, virtue, prophecy, intellect and fertility.

Solar Deities

Aztec mythology
  1. Huitzilopochtli
  2. Ipalnemohuani
  3. Tonatiuh
  • Bakairi mythology
    1. Evaki
  • Basque mythology
    1. Ekhi
  • Byelorussian mythology
    1. Iarilo
  • Canaanite mythology
    1. Moloch
  • Celtic mythology
    1. Crom Cruach
    2. Cuchulainn
    3. Etain
    4. Lugh
    5. Mog Ruith
  • Chinese mythology
    1. Shen Yi
  • Egyptian mythology
    1. Duamutef
    2. Hapi
    3. Horus
    4. Imset
    5. Kebechsenef
    6. Khepri
    7. Ra
  • Etruscan mythology
    1. Cautha
  • Greek mythology
    1. Apollo
    2. Helios
    3. Hyperion
  • Hattic mythology
    1. Wurusemu
  • Hinduism
    1. Agni
    2. Ansa
    3. Aryman
    4. Bhaga
    5. Daksha
    6. Dhanvantari
    7. Dhatar
    8. Dhatri
    9. Indra
    10. Mitra
    11. Ravi
    12. Rhibus
    13. Savitr
    14. Surya
    15. Varuna
    16. Vivasvat
    17. Yama
  • Hittite mythology
    1. Arinna
  • Hungarian mythology
    1. Napkirály
  • Ibo mythology
    1. Chuku
  • Incan mythology
    1. Inti
    2. Manco Capac I
    3. Punchau
  • Inuit mythology
    1. Akycha (Alaska)
    2. Malina
  • Japanese mythology
    1. Amateratsu
    2. Marisha-Ten
  • Jewish mythology
    1. Samson (suggested origin of the story)
  • Kachin mythology
    1. Jan
  • Korean mythology
    1. Haemosu
    2. Palk
  • Lakota mythology
    1. Wi
  • Latvian mythology
    1. Saule
  • Maya mythology
    1. Ahau-Kin
    2. Ah Kin
    3. K'in
    4. Kinich Ahau
    5. Kinich Kakmo
    6. Hun-Apu
  • Moabite mythology
    1. Chemosh
  • Navajo mythology
    1. Tsohanoai
  • Norse mythology
    1. Alfrodull
    2. Freyr
    3. Sol
  • Ossetian mythology
    1. Wasterzhi
  • Palmarene mythology
    1. Malakbel
    2. Yarhibol
  • Papuan mythology
    1. Dudugera
  • Pawnee mythology
    1. Shakuru
  • Phoenician mythology
    1. Saps
  • Persian mythology
    1. Mithras
  • Polynesian mythology
    1. Maelare
    2. Raa
    3. Tama Nui-Te-Ra
  • Pueblo mythology
    1. Tawa
  • Roman mythology
    1. Apollo
    2. Sol
  • Russian mythology
    1. Iarilo
    2. Khors
  • Sarmatian mythology
    1. Khursun
  • Scythian mythology
    1. Khursun
  • Seneca mythology
    1. Kaakwha
    • Slavic mythology
    1. Byelobog
    2. Dabog
    3. Khors
    4. Svarog
  • Sumerian mythology
    1. Shamash
    2. Uhubapút
  • Sumu mythology
    1. Udó
    • See also Phoenix, Stonehenge

    Chinese Mythology

    Unlike in many other culture, Chinese people do not personify nor worship the Sun or the Moon. The most likely reason is the heavy influence of Taoism and I Ching in Chinese culture because the Moon represents Yin and the Sun represent Yang which are the basis of everything in nature.

    In Chinese mythology (cosmology), there were nine suns in the sky in the beginning. The world was so hot that nothing grew. A hero called Hou Yi (后毅) shot down eight of them with bow and arrows. The world became better ever since. In another myth, solar eclipse was caused by the dog of heaven biting off a piece of the sun. There was a tradition in China to hit pots and pans during a solar eclipse to drive away the "dog".