Mythologis
Sun Gods: The Solar Deities of World Mythology

Mythology Themes

Sun Gods: The Solar Deities of World Mythology

Ra, Apollo, Helios, Amaterasu and the Powers of Light

The complete guide to the sun gods: Ra of Egypt, Helios and Apollo of Greece, Amaterasu of Japan, the Aztec sun, and how cultures worshipped the star that rules the day.

180 pagesPDFEnglishMythologis Library

$14.99

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Inside this book

What you will read

  • 11 chapters, primary sources
  • Instant PDF download
  • Original ink illustrations
  • Egyptian, Greek, Japanese and American sun gods
  • Designed for print quality
See all chapters  +
  1. 01The God Everyone Can See
  2. 02Ra and the Solar Boat of Egypt
  3. 03The Sun That Dies and Is Reborn
  4. 04Helios and the Chariot of the Sun
  5. 05Apollo and the Radiance of Greece
  6. 06Sol Invictus: The Unconquered Sun of Rome
  7. 07Amaterasu and the Divine Line of Japan
  8. 08Surya and the Sun of India
  9. 09The Sun Gods of the Inca and Aztec
  10. 10Solar Worship Across the World
  11. 11Why We Worship the Light

About this book

About this Mythology Themes mythology guide

The sun is the one god everyone can see: it dies each evening and is reborn each dawn. This is the complete guide to the sun gods, from Ra and Apollo to Amaterasu and the blood-fed Aztec sun.

The sun is the one god everyone can see. It crosses the sky each day, gives light and life and ripens the grain, then dies in the west and is reborn in the east; no wonder so many peoples made it the highest of their gods. But the sun is worshipped in surprisingly different ways. The Egyptians watched Ra sail his boat across the sky and fight a serpent each night to be reborn; the Greeks had Helios drive his chariot and Apollo lend the sun his radiance; the Japanese trace their emperors to the sun goddess Amaterasu; the Aztecs believed the sun needed blood to keep rising.

This is the complete guide to the sun gods of the world. Ra and the solar theology of Egypt; Helios and Apollo of Greece; Sol and the late Roman cult of the Unconquered Sun; Amaterasu and the divine line of Japan; Surya of India; the sun gods of the Inca and the Aztec, and the price they were thought to demand; and the deep human impulse to worship the light.

The book gathers the solar deities across cultures, drawing on the Egyptian texts, the Homeric Hymns, the Japanese chronicles and the sacred sources, and every chapter cites where it comes from.

Delivered as a print-quality PDF within 24 hours of purchase.

What you will discover inside

  • Ra and the night-journey in which the sun fights a serpent to be reborn
  • Helios driving the chariot of the sun across the Greek sky
  • Sol Invictus, the Unconquered Sun of the late Roman Empire
  • Amaterasu, the sun goddess from whom Japan traced its emperors
  • The Aztec belief that the sun needed blood to keep rising
  • The deep human impulse to worship the light

Mythology Themes mythology book at a glance

TraditionMythology Themes mythology
Chapters11 chapters
Length180 pages
SourcesDrawn from the primary sources, cited inline
Reading levelBeginner-friendly. Every name and place is explained from scratch
FormatPrint-quality PDF
DeliveryPDF within 24 hours

Formats and editions

EditionWhat you getPrice
Instant PDFPrint-quality download, readable on any device. PDF within 24 hours.$7.99
PaperbackA paperback edition is on the way. Sign up on this page to hear when it lands on Amazon.Coming soon

About the author

Guillaume Henry, founder of Mythologis

Guillaume Henry

Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Mythologis

Guillaume Henry founded Mythologis to make the world's mythologies readable without losing what makes them strange. Every Mythologis book draws on the primary sources first, cross-references multiple translations, and avoids inventing details that aren't in the originals.

More about the author

Questions about the Mythology Themes mythology book

When will I receive my PDF?

Within 24 hours of purchase. Your download link arrives in your inbox automatically.

Is Apollo the Greek sun god?

It is more complicated than that, and the book explains it. The original Greek sun is Helios, who drives the chariot, while Apollo is a god of light who only later absorbs the solar role. The book keeps the two distinct.

Is this book based on primary sources?

Yes. It draws on the Egyptian solar hymns and the Book of the Dead, the Homeric Hymns, the Japanese Kojiki and Nihongi, the Vedic sources and the records of the Americas, with references to the standard translations.

How long is the book?

Eleven chapters, around 180 pages depending on the final layout.

Will there be a paperback on Amazon?

The PDF is available immediately. A KDP paperback edition follows once the book has been validated by readers.

What formats is this book available in?

Every title is available as an instant PDF, downloaded the moment you buy it: the link appears on the confirmation page and lands in your inbox. Selected titles also have a paperback edition on Amazon. Where the paperback is not out yet, you can sign up to be notified the day it does.

What is the return policy?

The PDF is delivered instantly by Mythologis. If a download ever fails or a file looks wrong, get in touch and we will make it right. Paperbacks bought on Amazon are handled under Amazon's own returns and refund policy.

Can I order from outside the United States?

Yes. The PDF is a digital download, so it works instantly anywhere in the world, with nothing to ship. Where a paperback edition exists, it is sold across Amazon's international marketplaces, with shipping rates and delivery times depending on your country.

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