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

• Abenaki mythology
  • Kee-zos-en
• Aboriginal mythology
  • Gnowee
  • Walo
  • Wuriupranili
  • Yhi
• Ainu mythology
  • Chup Kamui
• Akkadian mythology
  • Samas
• Algonquin mythology
  • Michabo
• Armenian mythology
  • Mihr
• Arthurian mythology
  • Gawain

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

• Seran mythology
  • Tuwale
• Shinto
  • Amateratsu
• Sioux mythology
  • Wi

Slavic mythology

1. Byelobog
2. Dabog
3. Khors
4. Svarog

Sumerian mythology

1. Shamash
2. Uhubapút

Sumu mythology

1. Udó

• Tarascan mythology
  • Curicaberis
• Tupinamba mythology
  • Meri
• Ukrainian mythology
  • Iarilo

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".