Sun Lore of All Ages

In the history of astronomy, William Tyler Olcott—member of the Royal Astronomical Society—entered above all as one of the creators of the most scientifically productive and one of the most widespread amateur organizations: the American Association of Variable Star Observers.

In this book, the author offers readers an overview of the traditions, legends, and myths about the Sun held by different peoples throughout all of human history. The role of the day star—its influence on the development of life—created an unmatched history of the Sun, turning it into a golden source of folklore.

In literature on celestial mythology, legends connected with the creation of the main luminaries occupy a significant place. Naturally, primitive people had to think early about the great riddle of how the visible universe was made—and especially where the Sun and the Moon came from.

This great question, which has captivated all peoples since the dawn of history, remained unsolved even in our enlightened age: although the nebular hypothesis is sufficiently well grounded, some prominent modern astronomers do not accept it unconditionally.

Myths about the creation of the Sun usually consider it to be something made and placed in the sky by some primordial tribe or by a god of Light, rather than something that existed before the birth of the world. In other legends, the Sun was freed from a cave by a hero, or it arose as a result of a god or hero’s self-sacrifice.

These traditions undoubtedly arose from a foundational belief that the Sun and the Moon were living, animated beings—and that people once lived in darkness or twilight. The need for light suggests that it must have been created; thus, diverse ingenious methods for obtaining it found their way into the mythology of ancient peoples.