Sol

Revision as of 17:56, 31 March 2009

Sol, Roman deity of the sun. His cult was ancient and important. Varro mentions Sol as one of the 12 principal agricultural deities. He was worshipped with Luna, the moon, and their temple was in the center of the Circus Maximus. Sol was represented as driving a quadriga, a four horse chariot and thus is the patron of the Circus. Luna, is represented driving a biga, a two horse chariot and was also the patron of racing.

Sol's feria was celebrated August 9th, while the publicum was August 8th.

Sol has the epithets "Indigens" and "Invictus." The cult of Sol Invictus was extremely widespread during the Empire and a 2nd pontifical college of pontifices Solis, pontiffs of the Sun was created. Previously it was believed that solar cults came from the East, but this has been disproven.

Sources: Steven E. Hijmans, "The Sun which did not rise in the East: The Cult of Sol Invictus in the Light of Non-Literary Evidence" BABesch Bulletin Antieke Beschaving, 71, 115-150

Steven E. Hijmans "Sol Invictus, the Winter Solstice, and the Origins of Christmas" Mouseion Number 47/3 (2003)