November 4, 2024 12:53 PM

Top 5 Countries That Once Worshipped The Sun

The sun was one of the oldest divine objects worshiped by man. In fact, sun worship is considered to be one of the oldest religions on earth - dating back as early as prehistoric times. The top 5 countries that once worshiped the sun still has monuments, ruins and cultural remnants that directly links to the ancient religious practice.

United Kingdom

The Stonehenge is arguably the oldest man-made structure built in England. Archaeologists conclude that the Stonehenge was built way before the Bronze Age. As for its purpose, this old ring of dolmen is believed to be a sacred altar for the winter solstice. Prehistoric people in the United Kingdom were among the first builders of an altar for sun worship.

Egypt

Heliopolis may not exactly be the oldest town in Ancient Egypt, but this ancient city now located in around suburban Cairo has an obelisk dedicated to the sun god that reigned the Ancient Egyptian pantheon. Curiously, Ancient Egypt has two sun gods: Ra (Amon-Ra) and Aten - the former representing traditional polytheism and the latter representing the oldest monotheism on earth.

Mexico

Another place that has a significant history of worshiping the sun is Mexico. Home to the Mayan civilization, the UNESCO Heritage Site of Chichen Itza in the Yucatan State houses the magnificent El Castillo pyramid. This monument is dedicated to the serpentine sun god named Kukulkan - a deity that demands human sacrifice every solar eclipse.

United States

Some of the Plains Indian natives like the Apache and the Sioux now living in several reservations still retain their old ways. Among these cultural practices includes venerating the sun. The Sun Dance ceremony is a solemn vigil for attaining higher understanding (power), especially in times of trials. Curiously, however, the sun may be a central theme in the ritual but it does not assume a personified form of other ancient sun worship.

Japan

A predominantly atheist nation of Japan once acknowledged the Shinto gods. Leading the local pantheon is the sun goddess Amaterasu, the heavenly queen that gave birth to the archipelago's very first emperor. Japan's national flag is one of the strongest indications of Japan's history of venerating the sun.

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