‘They were great fighters and even thought it a disgrace to die what they called a “straw death”, that is, to die in their beds of straw instead of on the field of battle.’ Reginald C. Couzens (The Stories of The Months and Days)

 

Their stories tell of the Gods, Goddesses and Frost Giants, the creation and destruction of the world and brave heroes among men. These songs known as Eddas and Sagas were written down and kept sacred, eventually being passed from generation to generation.

Therefore in honour to the Norse pantheon, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are named after Tyr, Odin, Thor and Freya.

 

 

 

 

The earliest evidence of continuous use of a seven day week based on planetary names originates with the ancient Sumerians and Babylonians.

The Druids of ancient Ireland and the Egyptians had their own interpretations and lived within another cycle, that being related to the position of the stars and constellations, in relation to the Sun and Moon. The celestials had a major influence in their lives but they viewed the Gods and Planets in a different light from their neighbours. These inspiring facets are explored in the individual Day sections.
 

The Sumerian and Babylonian names of the Days, Planets and Gods are as follows;
 

Counting from the new moon, the Babylonians celebrated the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th as ‘holy days’ also known as ‘evil days’ during which officials were prohibited from various activities and offerings were made to various Gods.

Further along the line, the Jews had been using the seven day cycle during the Babylonian Captivity ¹ in the 6th Century (600 – 501 BC) after the Temple of Solomon ² was destroyed.
 

Temple of Sol-om-on

The knowledge of the cycle filtered out throughout the world and was adopted by the Greeks who caught onto the idea and substituted their own planetary names using the names of their Gods for the names of the days. The Romans definitely thought this was an excellent idea as they too adopted this principle. These themes are found in the Anthologiarum, the writings of astrologer Vettius Valens (170 AD).
 

The Romans traditionally used the nundinal cycle ¹ until the Julian calendar was adopted in the time of Augustus (63 BC – 14 AD) when the seven day week came into practise. For a time, the week and nundinal cycle co-existed but when Constantine ² officially adopted the week in 321 AD, the nundinal cycle had fallen out of use.
 

¹ A nundinal cycle refers to the ‘market week’ of eight days in the Roman Republic, marked as A to H in the calendar. A nundina was the market day. ² Constantine (272 – 337 AD) was the first Christian Roman Emperor during the period, also known as Constantine the Great.

 

In the Germanic languages which were adopted from the Norse mythos, similar Gods were substituted for the Roman ones; Tyr, Odin, Thor and Freya. This act hid the planet name within the personality of the Deity.

Interestingly the Hebrews did not use planetary names, instead designating the days by numbers. Only the Seventh (Sabbath) day was given a specific non-numerical name. The Sabbath (Saturday) specified the last day of the week and day of rest. One can see how this numerical system filtered into the cultures that were to come later on, most notably in the Eastern European countries.
 

 

A seven day cycle is mentioned in the Creation story in the Book of Genesis, where God created the heaven and earth in six days and rested on the seventh. The Book of Exodus mentions rest on the seventh day (Sabbath) which suggests a social ordering within the society at the time.

The word Shabbat (Sabbath) corresponds to the Sumerian Sa-bat, which means mid-rest. Variations of the word can be found in words for Saturday throughout cultures (sobota, subbota, sábado, sabato, samedi).
 

 

Christianity inherited the Jewish week and gradually put more emphasis on the day after the Sabbath, where ‘dies solis’ (day of the Sun) became the ‘Lord’s Day’ in celebration of Christ’s resurrection at Easter. Sunday became a day of rest and worship for Christians.

The seven day weekly cycle remained unbroken in Europe for almost two millennia, despite changes to the Alexandrian ¹, Julian and Gregorian ² calendars and attempts to impose a system of numbering by Pope Silvester (314 – 335 AD).
 

¹ The Alexandrian (Coptic) calendar is still used in Egypt and is based on the ancient Egyptian calendar. ² The Gregorian calendar is the internationally accepted civil calendar and was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582.

Seven centuries later, in the region of Japan, where the East wind blows, the Chinese interpretation of the planetary system was brought over by Kobo Daishi, a Japanese monk. The diaries of statesman Fujiwara Michinaga show the seven day system in use during the Heian period in Japan as early as 1007.
 

France replaced the seven day week with a ten day week in 1793. The Concordat ³ of 1801, which re-established the Roman Catholic Church, also re-introduced the seven day week, beginning with Easter Sunday (18th April 1802).
 

³ A Concordat is an agreement between the Pope and government of a country.

In a similar story, the USSR in 1929 replaced the seven day week with a five day week, followed by a six day week. Looks like they were tinkering on how to control their population better, through their famous social experiment. Finally they gave up in their bungling and the seven day week was restored on 27th June 1940.

 

 

 

The Sun has truly earned the name and accolade of a Universal Deity, One honoured in the heavens above and depths below, the guiding light in Man.
 

Since the beginning of the timeless ages, the glorious Sun has been seen as an object of wonder. Our ancestors in those eras understood the benefits and comforts the Sun brought, as it rose every day from the grip of Hades ¹, escaping the depths of the Underworld on its daily journey across the sky and was seen as a glowing Chariot, carrying the essence of the Creator within its golden boughs, God’s Sun, the Light of the World, the Hero and Saviour of all Creatures ² great and small.
 

‘The adoration of the sun was one of the earliest and most natural forms of religious expression. Complex modern theologies are merely involvements and amplifications of this simple aboriginal belief. The primitive mind, recognizing the beneficent power of the solar orb, adored it is the proxy of the Supreme Deity.’ Manly Palmer Hall (The Secret Teachings of All Ages)

With the Sun came warmth, heat, light and life. The rays sent by this majestic Orb ripened fruit and crops, clothed the trees with radiant leaves and allowed the seeds from the flowers and fauna to scatter the way of the four winds. For the inhabitants of the land, the Sun brought security, chasing away the predator filled night of terror and fear, where hungry demons lurked in every shadow.
 

Across the cultures of the world, the Sun was anthropomorphized ³ in allegorical myths which tell the countless tales of its trek across the heavenly sea of the sky (twelve houses of the Zodiac), the contest with darkness, quest into the Underworld and then final victory at Dawn, where the glory of the rising Sun is borne for all the world to see and bear witness.
 

¹ Hades (known as ‘the unseen’) refers both to the ancient Greek Underworld, the abode and the God of the Underworld. ² Creatures is another word for Creators hence all creatures are creations of the Divine Being in the Universe and have the Divine Right. ³ Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human characteristics to non-human creatures, beings, phenomena, states, objects and abstract concepts.

Utu, ‘he who sheds a wide light’ was the Sun God of the Sumerians and God of Justice, the implementation of law and order. He is usually depicted as wearing a horned helmet and carrying a saw-edged weapon which he uses to cut through the side of the mountain from which he emerges, symbolising the dawn. He has also been known to carry a mace and stand with one foot on the mountain. He was the son of Nanna and Ningal ¹ and at the end of every day he journeyed to the underworld, setting in the mountains of the west and rising in the mountains of the east, to begin his trials once again and emerge as the victorious one.
 

¹ Nanna was the Sumerian Moon God and Ningal, the Goddess of the reeds and land.

In the myth of Enki and the World Order, Utu is placed in charge of the Universe;
 

‘The valiant Utu is the herald of the holy Anu, the judge, the decision-maker, who wears a lapis lazuli beard, who comes from the holy heaven, born of Ningal, Enki placed in charge of the entire Universe.’

In the Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh ¹, Shamash was the Sun God and also God of Justice and Divination. His light enabled him to see every misdeed and also see into the future.

Every morning the Scorpion men ² opened a gate in the vast mountain of Mashu and Shamash slowly climbed the mountain. Then as evening approached, he rode his chariot towards another great mountain and disappeared inside. During the night Shamash travelled through the depths of the earth back to Mashu. Together with his wife Aya he had two children; Kittu (justice) and Misharu (law and righteousness).

According to legend, the Babylonian King Hammurabi ³ received his code of laws from Shamash the Holy, the eternal fire that burns bright in the sky, the one who protects and is kindred to the peoples of the land.
 

¹ The Epic of Gilgamesh is an epic poem from Mesopotamia (ancient Iraq) and is among the earliest known works of literary writing. (circa 2700 BC) ² The Scorpion men were first created by Tiamat in order to wage war against the younger gods for the betrayal of her mate Apsu. They warn travellers of the danger that lies beyond their post. Their heads ‘touch the sky’, their ‘terror is awesome’ and their ‘glance is death’. ³ Hammurabi ‘the kinsman is a healer’ was the sixth King of Babylon (1792 – 1750 BC)

The Hyperboreans (Megalithic Irish) who were descendants of the pre-diluvian inhabitants of the ancient continents of Atlantis and Lemuria were the founders of the original, pure form of Solar, Lunar and Stellar worship where the powers of the Universe were personified through the heavenly bodies. These practises were then adopted by the Druids of the Isle.
 

‘The daily course of the sun, bringing about the alternation of light and darkness and the succession of the seasons, was the most immediate example of the natural order of the universe. In old Irish the universe was seen as something circular and the words for universe, cruinne and roth, signify that concept.’ Peter Berresford Ellis (The Druids)

The primary Sun God was Bel (Baal) which was the same deity that was held in high esteem by the Phoenicians. For the wise men of the ages, the Sun took on different personalities as it traversed through the great mansion in the sky (the Zodiac with twelve houses and thirty-six abodes) and this was incorporated into the story of the Sun King and his trials and tribulations.

These traditions and teachings filtered down into the many diverse cultures throughout the ancient land and became common practise among the learned, the people of knowledge.

The term Zodiac simply means ‘circle of animals’ being thus named as most of the signs of the constellations are named after animals.

The Irish Sun King was known as Iesa and in the Druidic custom, the congregation would face towards the East, to the rising Sun and sing hymns and chants to the new born deity ¹. The word east is a homage to the Sun rising (Esa).
 

‘Esa was the third deity of the Druidic Trinity, of Bel, Taranis, and Esa. His name meant “The Raised One.” His element was the wind. This was picked up by the Gnostics and Christians and turned into the “Ruach”, the “Pneuma”, and finally as the “Holy Spirit”. Esa was commonly shown “hovering” in the sky, cutting from a tree in the form of a carpenter or, even more suggestively, hanging from a great tree while being stabbed to death. According to Druidic tradition his life-blood healed the Earth. It purified and revivified the land allowing a new season’s abundance. The Druids understood the land to be literally born again from the blood of the sacrificed god Esa.’ Michael Tsarion (The Irish Origins of Civilisation)

The Sun was also known as Nudd and Ludd (Lugh) and appears in Ludgate. It is thought that a Temple to the Sun stood at what is now Ludgate Hill in London. Remains of a temple have also been found in Lydney, Gloucestershire.

There is the certainty that because of the West to East movement of peoples across the land-bridges that existed, before the waters of the cosmos washed them away, the ethos and teachings of the ancient Irish Arya was adopted by the peoples of the Egyptian lands. For the Souls of the land and sky ocean, your Spirit is honoured!
 

¹ Deity is from the Latin ‘Deus’, which traces back to the word ‘dies’, a day, a period of time measured by the Sun.

The Egyptians venerated the Sun in many guises (Athom, Amun, Phtha, Osiris, Ra, Horus) throughout the dynasties that emerged in the reign of the mighty Pharaohs.

As the Sun was a symbol of light, warmth and growth, the Sun came to be the ruler of all and represented the eye of Ra, the all-seeing, which in truth is the eye of consciousness, the higher eye of our own inner awareness.
 

‘The Egyptian priests in many of their ceremonies wore the skins of lions, which were symbols of the solar orb, owing to the fact that the sun is exalted, dignified, and most fortunately placed in the constellation of Leo, which he rules and which was at one time the keystone of the celestial arch.’ Manly P. Hall (The Secret Teachings of All Ages)

Ra travelled across the heavens in the sky in his solar boat called the Mandjet (the barge of the Millions ¹) in order to protect the Sun’s fires from the primordial waters of the Underworld. Travelling with him in his boat were various deities including Set, Mehen and Thoth, who defended against the demons of the Underworld and Ma’at who served as navigator. The serpent Apep always attempted to consume the Sun in order to stop the divine journey of the heavenly celestial, however, Ra and his companions would emerge victorious.
 

¹ A warm thanks to William Henry for use of the above photo from his Denderah gallery.

There was also the belief that the Sun died every night as it entered the Underworld. The Mandjet barge would then become the Mesekhet barge (Night barge) that would carry Ra back to the east in preparation for his rebirth by the sky goddess Nut.
 

‘To the Egyptians the sun was the symbol of immortality, for, while it died each night, it rose again with each ensuing dawn. Not only has the sun this diurnal activity, but it also has its annual pilgrimage, during which time it passes successively through the twelve houses of the heavens, remaining in each for thirty days. Added to these it has a third path of travel, which is called the precession of the equinoxes, in which it retrogrades around the zodiac through the twelve signs at the rate of one degree every seventy-two years.' Manly P. Hall (The Secret Teachings of All Ages)

During the Amarna Period, Akhenaten ¹ suppressed the cult of Ra (and all other lunar and stellar cults) in favour of his solar deity Aton, the deified Solar disc. This was an act of monotheism, the exclusion of other deities.

After the populace rebelled in disfavour of this change, the Solar cult of Amun-Ra was re-established.
 

¹ Akhenaten (spirit of Aten) was a Pharaoh (1353 – 1336 BC) of the Eighteenth dynasty who ruled for seventeen years. He was also known as Echnaton, Akhnaton and Ikhnaton.

Horus - Anubis - Thoth (Hall of Judgement)

Ra was later merged with the God Horus as Re-Horakhty (Ra, who is Horus of the two horizons; the rising and setting sun). The original form of Horus was ‘lord of the sky’ and the God was imagined as a celestial falcon whose right eye was the Sun and left eye, the Moon. The speckled feathers of his breast symbolized the stars and his wings were seen as the everlasting sky.

The immaculate conception and birth of Horus mirrors that of the Christian Jesus. In the mythological narrative found in The Egyptian Book of the Dead, Horus was born of the virgin Isis on December 25th in a cave. His birth was announced by a Star in the East and attended by three wise men.

The infant Horus was carried out of Egypt to escape the wrath of Typhon ¹ and later at the age of thirty was baptized by Anup the Baptizer. He had twelve disciples and performed miracles such as walking on water and feeding bread to the masses. He was known for raising one man from the dead; El-Azur-us.

Horus had many titles and was known as ‘the way’, ‘the light’, ‘the truth’, ‘the Messiah’, ‘God’s anointed Son’, ‘the Son of Man’, ‘the Word’ and ‘the light of the World’. He was also ‘the Fisher’ and was associated with the lamb, lion and fish.

The titles ‘KRST’ and ‘Anointed One’ were also associated with his magnificence. At the end of his life, he was crucified, buried in a tomb and then resurrected from the dead to once again project his goodly nature into the world.
 

¹ Typhon is the Greek name for the Egyptian God Set who is the God of deserts, storms, darkness and chaos. He is also known as Seth.

In the fertile and sparkling Greek lands to the South, the Sun was personified as Helios ¹ (Phoebus) who was imagined as a handsome and shining God crowned with the aureole rays of the Sun, who each day drove the Chariot of Flames across the sky, circling Oceanus and returning by night through the world ocean to the East.

The fiery horses that tirelessly pulled his golden chariot were named; Pyrois, Aeos, Aethon, and Phlegon and were symbolic of the four seasons.

His daughters were Aeëtes, Circe, and Pasiphaë. Later he sired Phaethusa (radiant) and Lampetia (shining). He also had a son named Phaeton who fell to his death when he tried unsuccessfully to drive the Solar Chariot across the sky.
 

¹ Helios was the son of Hyperion, the Titan of Light who also fathered the Moon (Selene) and the Dawn (Eos).

Over time Helios was increasingly identified with the god of light, Apollo, who set out each day after the Gates of the East had been opened by the Goddess of the Dawn. Riding his Flaming Chariot across the sky, he dipped into the ocean, where Charon’s boat awaited to bring him back to the green fields of the lands of kings and heroes.

The principle temples to Apollo were on the islands of Delos and Delphi. It was at Delphi where the great Pythian Games took place, in honour of Apollo slaying Python in this region.

On the island of Rhodes (off the coast of Asia Minor) stood one of the Seven Wonders of the World, a statue to Apollo known as the ‘Colossus of Rhodes’ built by initiated artist Charles of Lindus. The Sun Man was over one hundred feet high, the fingers of the God being as long as a man. The titan was placed at the entrance to the harbour and remained there for almost sixty years. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 224 BC.

The Romans eventually assimilated the Greek culture into their midst and gave the name Sol Invictus ¹ to the name of the Sun, dedicating many sacrifices. The Roman festival (birthday) of ‘Dies Natalis Solis Invicti’ was celebrated on December 25th.
 

‘The Romans also had their solar festival, and their games of the circus in honor of the birth of the god of day. It took place the eighth day before the kalends ² of January – that is on December 25. What rendered the festival of Christmas venerable was less the birth of Jesus Christ than the return, and, as they expressed it, the new birth of the sun. It was on the same day that the birth of the Invincible Sun (Natalis solis Invicti), was celebrated at Rome, as can be seen in the Roman calendars, published in the reign of Constantine and of Julian. The epithet ‘Invictus’ is the same as the Persians gave to this same god, whom they worshipped by the name of Mithra, and whom they caused to be born in a grotto, just as he is represented as being born in a stable, under the name of Christ by the Christians.' Manly P. Hall (The Secret Teachings of All Ages)

 

¹ Sol Invictus translates as the ‘Unconquered Sun’ which was adopted around 200 AD. ² The Kalends (the called) correspond to the first days of each month in the Roman calendar, signifying the start of the new moon cycle.

The life, birth and death sequence of our Solar friends is astro-theological in nature. Since the Sun symbolizes the inner Orb of consciousness, then our lives and journeys are also connected with the stars and celestials.

Joining the adventure in the heavens, from the Summer Solstice to Winter Solstice the days get shorter and colder as the Sun moves south and appears to fall, getting smaller and smaller. This must have terrified the ancients who were witnessing the ‘death of the Sun.’
 

‘To them he was the innate fire of bodies, the fire of Nature. Author of Life, heat and ignition, he was to them the efficient cause of all generation, for without him there was no movement, no existence, no form. He was to them immense, indivisible, imperishable, and everywhere present. It was their need of light, and of his creative energy, that was felt by all men; and nothing was more fearful to them than his absence. His beneficent influences caused his identification with the Principle of Good.' Albert Pike (Morals and Dogma)

Therefore, as the Sun descends into the Underworld on December 22nd, our psyches also take this journey, being tied into the archetypal pattern within the realm.
 

The magnificent Orb moves to the lowest point in the sky and then stops moving for three days. During this time, the Sun is in the area of the Southern Cross (Crux) constellation, hence the Sun has ‘died on the cross.’
 

On December 24th Sirius which is the brightest star in sky, aligns with the three stars in Orion’s belt, which point to the birth of the Sun on the following dawn. Orion’s belt is also known as ‘the three kings.’

On December 25th the Sun moves 1˚ North and emerges from the Tomb of Averna, together with our Souls, springing upwards in harmonious song, lifted in Spirit by the breath of vitality. The constellation Virgo rises with the Sun on this glorious day.

Virgo in Latin is ‘virgin’, whose symbol is the (mary, myrra, maya, mother). Virgo is also known as the ‘House of wheat’ and Bethlehem translates into ‘House of bread.’

One can imagine the celebrations that took place as the goodly folk of the land witnessed the Eye of the Unseen One, the Creator, rising from the tomb, marking a time of rejoicing, song, dance and merriment!
 

‘The pagans set aside the 25th of December as the birthday of the Solar Man. They rejoiced, feasted, gathered in processions, and made offerings in the temples. The darkness of winter was over and the glorious son of light was returning to the Northern Hemisphere. With his last effort the old Sun God had torn down the house of the Philistines (the Spirits of Darkness) and had cleared the way for the new sun who was born that day from the depths of the earth amidst the symbolic beasts of the lower world.' Manly P. Hall (The Secret Teachings of All Ages)

The celebration and veneration of the Sun carries on into the present day and as soon as the majestic Light shows its lustrous face, all flock outside, crowd the beaches and sizzle under the smoky warmth of luminous heat. To say that the Sun affects us profoundly is an understatement!

The energy that we receive from the marble of Fire moves us on all levels, emotionally, bio-energetically, physically, electro-chemically, magnetically and spiritually. Our chakras, the energetic vortices and meridians are directly replenished, the gift of nutritional wholeness permeating the core of being.
 

Then as the Sun springs upwards the journey takes it to the Spring Equinox (Easter/Ishtar) where the Sun truly conquers the darkness as the days become warmer, longer and more fruitful in duration, up until the Summer Solstice, where the cycle begins anew.
 

The Christian holy days mirror that of the Sun in the heavens as at the roots of Christianity, Jesus is the current incarnation of the Solar hero, the champion who follows in the flights of Horus and the footsteps of Hercules, travelling with his twelve followers (twelve houses of the Zodiac).
 

‘The Christian religion is a parody on the worship of the Sun in which they put a man called Christ in the place of the Sun and pay him the adoration originally paid to the Sun.' Thomas Paine (1737 - 1809)

It was in 325 AD when Emperor Constantine at the Council of Nicaea established the Christian doctrines which led to ‘enlightening’ periods such as the Dark Ages and the Holy Inquisition not to mention the slaughter of the indigenous peoples of Nature, together with the Medicine Men, Shamans, great Sages and Teachers.
 

To this day, the Vatican (behind the smoke and mirrors) continues to keep a stranglehold on the world, while millions of Christians have no idea what they are giving and submitting themselves to. The tide of sorrow continues and is constantly buried under the hood of conscious awareness within the unconscious, which has become a rubbish tip of refuse that is oozing its way unto the surface.
 

Within the epic and heroic Norse sagas, the Sun was portrayed in a variety of characters, as it journeyed across the heavenly sea of sky, bringing resplendent warmth and life to the often white blankets of Winter’s embrace.

During the Norse creation myth, the gods studded the heavenly vault with sparks secured from Muspelheim ¹, which shone as brilliant stars in the night sky. The brightest of these stars were reserved for the Sun and the Moon, which were placed in beautiful golden chariots.
 

‘And from the flaming world, where Muspel reigns, Thou sent’st and fetched’st fire, and madest lights: Sun, moon, and stars, which thou hast hung in heaven, Dividing clear the paths of night and day.' Matthew Arnold (Balder Dead)

The steeds Árvakr (early waker) and Alsviõr (rapid goer) were harnessed to the Sun chariot. Great skins filled with cooling air were placed under the withers to protect the steeds. A shield named Svalinn was also fashioned to shelter from the powerful rays of the Solar orb.

The gods needed a rider for the chariot and found Sól, the Sun maid who was the spouse of Glaur (glow) and daughter of the giant Mundilfari. Sól took up the reigns with delicate divinity and hence from that day fulfilled the appointed duty, guiding the steeds along the path of the heavens.
 

¹ Muspelheim is a realm of fire and is one of the Nine worlds, home to the Fire elementals. ² A warm thanks to Zoe Abou Samra for introducing the art of Nicolas Roerich (flame chariot)

The Norse god of Light was named Balder and as Apollo before him, the Solar deity was blessed with inner radiant beauty, projecting his happy and light-hearted glow into the world of Man. He wore golden hair and had striking bright blue eyes, a symbol for the clear sky. His smile infected all heart’s that were fortunate to meet him along his eternal journey.

Balder was well versed in the science of runes which were carved on his tongue and he knew the virtues of the flora and fauna.
 

‘Of all the twelve round Odin’s throne, Balder, the Beautiful, alone, The Sun-god, good and pure, and bright, Was loved by all, as all love light.’ J.C. Jones (Valhalla)

One day the gods were greatly troubled for they knew Balder to be smiling and happy, but noticed that gradually the light had died out of his blue eyes, an emptiness came to him and his step grew heavy and slow.

Odin and Frigga saw their beloved son’s depression and asked him what was troubling him. Balder confessed to his worried parents that his dreams of late were dark and oppressive and constantly haunted him with a feeling of fear and foreboding.

Frigga sent her servants in every direction with strict orders for all creatures of the Earth and heavens, not to harm Balder. All of creation heeded to the instructions from the blessed mother of Nature.
 

‘On a course they resolved that they would send To every being, assurance to solicit, Balder not to harm. All species swore oaths to spare him; Frigg received all their vows and compacts.’ Saemund's Edda (Thorpe translation)

Frigga resumed her spinning of the clouds, content that no harm would come upon her beloved son as she trusted all her children of the world.
 

Odin in the meantime resolved to consult one of the dead Vala, a prophetess who resided deep in the Underworld. He rode on his eight footed steed Sleipnir over the bridge Bifröst into Niflheim ¹, passing through Helgate and straight into Hel’s sanctuary.

               

Once Odin encountered the ancient Seer, he did not announce himself as the Father of the Gods, but as Vegtam, son of Valtam. Vala told him that Hel was expecting Balder as an honoured guest and that he would be slain by Hodur, his brother.

There was nothing else Odin could do as this was not his domain, so he started his journey back to Asgard ².
 

¹ Niflheim is one of the primordial realms, the world of mist and shadow. ² Asgard is the capital city where Odin and Frigga reside as mother and father together with the Aesir.

Meanwhile, the gods were at play on the green plains of Ida and having heard that Balder could not be harmed by any missile, they cast all manner of weapons at him, part of a game to amuse themselves. Only Hodur was not participating in the festivities as he was blind.

Loki, the god of Fire, who was disguised as an old woman, saw the merriment and was fiercely jealous of Balder. Having spied Hodur standing to the side he joined the blind God and tricked him into firing a stem of mistletoe ¹ at Balder.

       

‘At Balder, whom no weapon pierced or clove; But in his breast stood fixed the fatal bough Of mistletoe, which Lok, the Accuser, gave To Hodur, and unwitting Hodur threw – ‘Gainst that alone had Balder’s life no charm.’ Matthew Arnold (Balder Dead)

The mistletoe pierced Balder’s side and the god fell dead. Asgard was plunged into grief and sorrow for the radiance that had been.
 

¹ Mistletoe is symbolic of the Winter Solstice when the Sun dies and journeys into the Underworld, only to rise again after three days.

Hermod, the messenger of the Gods was sent to Hel, goddess of the Underworld, praying to restore Balder to life.

In the meantime, Odin removed Balder’s body to Breidablik and directed the gods to cut down huge pines.

A giant funeral pyre was built for Balder on his ship, Ringhorn and his body was laid reverently on the deck. Offerings were made to Balder in the form of flowers, swords, armour and cloth. Balder's wife Nanna was watching and sadly the sight of his lifeless body was too painful for her and her heart was broken. She was laid beside her dead husband. Odin added his precious magical ring Draupnir as a protective gift of rejuvenation for his dear and loving son and whispered him a private message.

The pyre was set light and started its journey across the waters towards the west, the flames lighting the sea and sky, until the fire sank into the sea, mirroring its symbol, the Sun – Balder had now entered the Underworld.
 

 

Balder's Funeral Pyre ‘But when the gods and heroes heard, they brought the wood to Balder’s ship, and built a pile, full the deck’s breadth, and lofty; then the corpse of Balder on the highest top they laid. And they set jars of wine and oil to lean against the bodies, and stuck torches near, splinters of pine-wood, soak’d with turpentine, and brought his arms and gold, and all his stuff, and slew the dogs who at his table fed, and his horse - Balder’s horse – whom most he loved, and placed them on the pyre, and Odin threw a last choice gift thereon, his golden ring. The mast they fixt, and hoisted up the sails, then they put fire to the wood; and Thor set his stout shoulder hard against the stern to push the ship through the thick sands; - sparks flew. From the deep trench she plough’d, so strong a god furrow’d it; and the water gurgled in. And the ship floated on the waves, and rock’d. But in the hills a strong east wind arose, and came down moaning to the sea; first squalls ran black o’er the sea’s face, then steady rush’d the breeze, and fill’d the sails, and blew the fire. And wreathed in smoke the ship stood out to sea. Soon with a roaring rose the mighty fire, and the pile crackled; and between the logs sharp, quivering tongues of flame shot out, and leapt, curling and darting, higher, until they lick’d the summit of the pile, the dead, the mast, and ate the shrivelling sails; but still the ship drove on, ablaze above her hull with fire. And the gods stood upon the beach, and gazed. And while they gazed, the sun went lurid down into the smoke-wrapt sea, and night came on. Then the wind fell with night, and there was calm; but through the dark they watch’d the burning ship still carried o’er the distant waters on, Farther and farther, like an eye of fire.   And long, in the far dark, blazed Balder’s pile; but fainter, as the stars rose high, it flared, the bodies were consumed, ash choked the pile. And as, in a decaying winter-fire, a charr’d log, falling, makes a shower of sparks – so with a shower of sparks the pile fell in, reddening the sea around; and all was dark.’ Matthew Arnold (Balder Dead)

In the meantime, Hermod, having entered Hel, bargained with the maiden of the Underworld. Hel consented to release Balder on condition that all creatures of the Earth should weep for the once radiant god. Messengers were sent to all corners of the world with a message to shed tears for the brave god of Light.

   

A giantess, who was really Loki in disguise, encountered the messengers and replied ‘Let Hel keep what she has’ - once again showing envy for Balder.

In our present age, Sól, the Sun maid is found on commercial products such as Sun Maid raisins, for it is the glowing Orb who ripens the juicy grapes and forms the raisin.
 

       

Balder is honoured in literature as Balder’s Gate, which in the world of fantasy is a port city where civilisation thrives. The story of Balder is also contained in comics by Marvel. Ships and oil rigs have also been named after the glorious Solar hero.
 

In the rich and vibrant Hindu mythos, Surya is the chief Solar deity, who belongs to the family of Ādityas ¹. His father is Kashyap, an ancient sage (rishi) who is father of the Nāgas and humankind.

Surya travels the heavens in his chariot, pulled by seven magnificent horses, symbolizing the seven chakras. His golden hair and arms light the way to knowledge and enlightenment. His is the form of God that is visible, manifesting as the divine Trimurti ² ; Brahmā in the morning, Vishnu during the day and Śhiva at night. Surya is known to be one of eight forms of Shiva, named the Astamurti.
 

Surya is often depicted with four hands, holding a lotus, chakra, conch and mace. The lotus symbolizes the causal power of illusion from which the Universe arises. The chakra represents the connection to Spirit and Mind. The conch is the symbol for the creative force of the five elements, while the mace signifies individuality and strength. Surya is also known as Mitra, meaning friend.

The Solar God had three queens; Saranyu (goddess of the dawn and clouds), Ragyi and Prabha. Saranyu gave birth to Vaivasvata Manu and the twins Yama (Lord of Death) and Yami. The twins, Nasatya and Dasra, also known as the Ashwins, divine horsemen to the Devas, are also daughters of Surya.
 

¹ Ādityas are Solar children of Āditi, the mother of the Celestial Gods and Universe. ² Trimurti is the trinity of Gods personified by Brahmā the creator, Vishnu the maintainer and Śhiva the deconstructor.

Saranyu, who was unable to bear the radiance of Surya, created an entity from her shadow called Chhaya, who was instructed to act as Surya’s wife in her absence. Chhaya mothered two sons; Savarni Manu and Shani (the planet Saturn), and two daughters; Tapti and Vishti. Surya also has a son through Ragyi, known as Revanta.

Shani and Yama are responsible for the judgment of human life. Shani serves as judge in the physical realm, while Yama presides over the kingdom in the afterlife.
 

In Ramayana, Surya is described as father of King Sugriva, who helps Rama and Lakshmana in defeating the demon, King Ravana. He also trains Hanuman as his adept and friend.

In the Mahabharata, Princess Kunti receives instruction for a mantra from the sage Durvasa which states; that by reciting the spell, she would be able to summon any god and bear a child by him. Kunti unwittingly tests it on Surya, but when Surya appears, she gets scared and requests him to go back to his personal kingdom. However, because of the power of the words, Surya has an obligation to fulfil the mantra before returning home and magically causes Kunti to bear the child, whilst retaining her virginity so that as an unmarried princess, she need not face any embarrassment. Kunti feels compelled to abandon the child, Karna, who grows up to become one of the central characters in the great battle of Kurukshetra.

In Vedic astrology, Surya is considered a mild malefic on account of his hot and dry nature and is the governor of soul, will-power, fame, eyes, vitality, courage, kingship, father, highly placed persons and authority. He is exalted in the sign of Mesha (Aries) and is in decline in the sign of Tula (Libra). In yoga, the Sūrya namaskār, also known as the Sun salutation is in honour to the Solar hero.
 

There are Surya temples all across India. The most famous is the Sun Temple in Konark. There are also various Festivals dedicated to Surya in India.

Makara Sankaranthi is the most widely celebrated Hindu festival. The nature of the day of honour ensures a good harvest where the first grain is dedicated to Surya.

Ratha Saptami is a Hindu festival that falls on the Seventh day (Saptami) of the bright half of the Hindu month Maagha. This day is also known as Surya Jayanthi because it celebrates the power of the Sun as an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu in his form as Surya is usually worshiped on this day. Usually, Ratha Saptami begins in households with a purification bath while holding a few bilva leaves on one's head. It also involves doing a puja with the ritual ‘Naivedya’ together with flowers and fruits.
 

 

coming up next ...
 

Mesoamerican Sun Sacrifices

 

 

 

 

I thought it wise to examine the comparisons between the sizes of the Celestials whilst also keeping in mind the nature and personality of the Gods related to the heavenly spheres.

It is interesting to note that whilst Jupiter (Thor) and Saturn are of a similar size, it is also worthwhile mentioning that these were also regarded as the Fathers, the Giants, the ones who had the final word within their cluster.

The Sun would of course remain as the eye of the Creator, with the Moon as the consort and ally, part of the same dynamic flowing and curving pattern.
 

- Chart to follow -

 

 

 

The order of the week can be calculated geometrically from a septegram which dates to the Hellenistic ¹ period in history. The luminaries are arranged in such a way that tracing the line from one planet to the next gives the weekday order.

The order of the days was explained by Vettius Valens and Cassius Dio ² who stated that it was the principle of astrology that the heavenly bodies presided in succession over the hours of the day. The first hour of the day began at sunset, which followed Greek and Babylonian convention and the light and dark halves of the day were presided over by the heavenly bodies of the first hour of each half.

The Ptolemaic ³ system asserts that the order of the heavenly bodies from the farthest to the closest to Earth is; Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon, which also presents itself as an archetypal cycle.

View chart showing order of planets related to the hours of the day and the days of the week
 

¹ The Hellenistic period (323 - 146 BC) describes the era which followed the conquests of Alexander the Great. During this time, Greek cultural influence and power was at its zenith in Europe and Asia. ² Vettius Valens was a 2nd Century Astrologer and Cassius Dio a Roman historian. ³ The Ptolemaic period began when Ptolemy I Soter declared himself Pharoah of Egypt in 305 BC and ended with the death of Cleopatra in 30 BC.

 

 

 

 

The following tables show the names of the days in the languages of the world, so comparisons can be made between the many forms the words take and also see where the words have their ‘root.’

 

It is of interest to note that the cultures that numbered their days, still retained the three primary luminaries as start days to their weekly cycle, confirming that the Sun, Moon and Saturn remain the primary forces in the psyche of Man, steering the steeds of thought, along the sparkling river that Is and has always been so in the eternal Now.

 

 

 

- Will be added at the end of the study -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A list of Gods (Deities) that have symbolized the Sun in anthropomorphized form across the ages is as follows;

Zoroaster and Mithras (Mithra) of the Persians Athom, Atom, Amun (Ra) of Egypt Brahma of the Hindus Bel and Crite of the Chaldeans Adonai of the Phoenicians Adonis, son of the virgin Io of Greece Odin, Woden, Wotan, Balder of the Northmen Zulis (Zhule), Osiris, Orus of Egypt Dionysus, Attis, Apollo of Greece Buddha Sakia , Krishna of India Christna of Hindorstan Salivahana of Bermuda Baal and Taut, 'the only Begotten of God' of Phoenicia Malakbêl of Palmyra Indra of Tibet Bali of Afghanistan Wittoba of the Bilingonese Phtha, Osiris, Horus of Egypt Deva Tat and Sammonocadam of Siam Hesus, Eros, Bremrillah, Nudd, Ludd of the Druids Thammuz of Syria Jao of Nepal Atys of Phrygia Xaniolxis of Thrace Zoar of the Bonzes Adad of Assyria Alcides of Thebes Mikado of the Sintoos Beddru of Japan Thor, son of Odin of the Gauls Cadmus, Jove, Zeus of Greece Hil and Feta of the Mandaites Gentaut and Quexalcote of Mexico Universal Monarch of the Sibyls Ischy of the Island of Formosa Divine Teacher of Plato Holy One of Xaca Fohi and Tien of China Ixion and Quirinus of Rome Prometheus of Caucasus Mohamud, Mahomet of Arabia Arinna (Hebat) of the Hittites (Syrian) Jesus Christ of the Christian Solar Sect Varuna, Surya and Agni of the Hindus Ahura Mazda of the Persians Helios and Sol of the Romans Utu and Shamash of the Sumerians and Babylonians