This article should specify the language of its non-English content, using {{
lang}}, {{
transliteration}} for transliterated languages, and {{
IPA}} for phonetic transcriptions, with an appropriate
ISO 639 code. Wikipedia's
multilingual support templates may also be used. (January 2024) |
*Sehâ‚‚ul | |
---|---|
Sun Goddess | |
Abode | Sky |
Planet | Sun |
Symbol | Chariot, solar disk |
Day | Sunday |
Equivalents | |
Greek equivalent | Helios |
Roman equivalent | Sol |
Etruscan equivalent | Usil |
Hindu equivalent | Surya |
Hittite equivalent | UTU-liya |
Lithuanian equivalent | SaulÄ— |
Zoroastrian equivalent | Hvare-khshaeta |
Germanic equivalent | SowilÅ |
Celtic equivalent | Sulis |
*Mehâ‚not | |
---|---|
Moon God | |
Abode | Sky |
Planet | Moon |
Day | Monday |
Equivalents | |
Greek equivalent | Mene ( Selene) |
Roman equivalent | Luna |
Slavic equivalent | Myesyats |
Hittite equivalent | Kašku |
Phrygian equivalent | Men |
Zoroastrian equivalent | Mah |
Latvian equivalent | MÄ“ness |
Germanic equivalent | Máni |
*Sehâ‚‚ul and *Mehâ‚not are the reconstructed Proto-Indo-European goddess of the Sun and god of the Moon. *Sehâ‚‚ul is reconstructed based on the solar deities of the attested Indo-European mythologies, although its gender (male or female) is disputed, since there are deities of both genders. [1] Likewise, *Mehâ‚not- is reconstructed based on the lunar deities of the daughter languages, but they differ in regards to their gender.
The daily course of *Seh₂ul across the sky on a horse-driven chariot is a common motif among Indo-European myths. [note 1] While it is probably inherited, the motif certainly appeared after the introduction of the wheel in the Pontic–Caspian steppe about 3500 BC, and is therefore a late addition to Proto-Indo-European culture. [3]
*Sehâ‚‚ul is reconstructed based on the Greek god Helios, the Greek mythological figure Helen of Troy, [4] [5] the Roman god Sol, the Celtic goddess Sulis / Sul/Suil, the North Germanic goddess Sól, the Continental Germanic goddess *SowilÅ, the Hittite goddess "UTU-liya", [6] the Zoroastrian Hvare-khshaeta [6] and the Vedic god Surya. [7]
In the mythologies of the daughter languages (namely, Baltic, Greek and Old Indic), the sun deity crosses the sky in a horse-driven chariot or wagon. However, Mallory and Adams caution that the motif is not exclusively Indo-European, and mention evidence of its presence in Mesopotamia. [8]
A character related to the Sun deity is the 'Sun-maiden'. [9] Mallory and Adams cite as examples 'Saules meita', the daughter of Saulé in Baltic tradition, and SÅ«ryÄ, daughter to Indic Sun god SÅ«rya. [10] However, both scholars, as well as Martin L. West, also posit Helen of Troy, from Greek mythology, was another example of the 'Sun-maiden'. [7] [11]
*Mehâ‚not- is reconstructed based on the Norse god Máni, the Slavic god Myesyats, [note 2] [6] and the Lithuanian god * Meno, or MÄ—nuo (MÄ—nulis). [14] Remnants of the lunar deity may exist in Latvian moon god MÄ“ness, [15] Anatolian (Phrygian) deity Men; [16] [15] Mene, another name for Selene, and in Zoroastrian lunar deity Mah (Måŋha). [17] [18] [19]
Although the sun was personified as an independent, female deity, [20] the Proto-Indo-Europeans also visualized the sun as the "lamp of Dyēws" or the "eye of Dyēws", as seen in various reflexes: "the god's lamp" in Medes by Euripides, "heaven's candle" in Beowulf, or "the land of Hatti's torch", as the Sun-goddess of Arinna is called in a Hittite prayer; [21] and Helios as the eye of Zeus, [22] [23] Hvare-khshaeta as the eye of Ahura Mazda, and the sun as "God's eye" in Romanian folklore. [24] The names of Celtic sun goddesses like Sulis and Grian may also allude to this association: the words for "eye" and "sun" are switched in these languages, hence the name of the goddesses. [25]
Egyptian mythology is unrelated to Indo-European mythology so there is unlikely any historical link, but the metaphor of Eye of Ra was used in it too.
This article should specify the language of its non-English content, using {{
lang}}, {{
transliteration}} for transliterated languages, and {{
IPA}} for phonetic transcriptions, with an appropriate
ISO 639 code. Wikipedia's
multilingual support templates may also be used. (January 2024) |
*Sehâ‚‚ul | |
---|---|
Sun Goddess | |
Abode | Sky |
Planet | Sun |
Symbol | Chariot, solar disk |
Day | Sunday |
Equivalents | |
Greek equivalent | Helios |
Roman equivalent | Sol |
Etruscan equivalent | Usil |
Hindu equivalent | Surya |
Hittite equivalent | UTU-liya |
Lithuanian equivalent | SaulÄ— |
Zoroastrian equivalent | Hvare-khshaeta |
Germanic equivalent | SowilÅ |
Celtic equivalent | Sulis |
*Mehâ‚not | |
---|---|
Moon God | |
Abode | Sky |
Planet | Moon |
Day | Monday |
Equivalents | |
Greek equivalent | Mene ( Selene) |
Roman equivalent | Luna |
Slavic equivalent | Myesyats |
Hittite equivalent | Kašku |
Phrygian equivalent | Men |
Zoroastrian equivalent | Mah |
Latvian equivalent | MÄ“ness |
Germanic equivalent | Máni |
*Sehâ‚‚ul and *Mehâ‚not are the reconstructed Proto-Indo-European goddess of the Sun and god of the Moon. *Sehâ‚‚ul is reconstructed based on the solar deities of the attested Indo-European mythologies, although its gender (male or female) is disputed, since there are deities of both genders. [1] Likewise, *Mehâ‚not- is reconstructed based on the lunar deities of the daughter languages, but they differ in regards to their gender.
The daily course of *Seh₂ul across the sky on a horse-driven chariot is a common motif among Indo-European myths. [note 1] While it is probably inherited, the motif certainly appeared after the introduction of the wheel in the Pontic–Caspian steppe about 3500 BC, and is therefore a late addition to Proto-Indo-European culture. [3]
*Sehâ‚‚ul is reconstructed based on the Greek god Helios, the Greek mythological figure Helen of Troy, [4] [5] the Roman god Sol, the Celtic goddess Sulis / Sul/Suil, the North Germanic goddess Sól, the Continental Germanic goddess *SowilÅ, the Hittite goddess "UTU-liya", [6] the Zoroastrian Hvare-khshaeta [6] and the Vedic god Surya. [7]
In the mythologies of the daughter languages (namely, Baltic, Greek and Old Indic), the sun deity crosses the sky in a horse-driven chariot or wagon. However, Mallory and Adams caution that the motif is not exclusively Indo-European, and mention evidence of its presence in Mesopotamia. [8]
A character related to the Sun deity is the 'Sun-maiden'. [9] Mallory and Adams cite as examples 'Saules meita', the daughter of Saulé in Baltic tradition, and SÅ«ryÄ, daughter to Indic Sun god SÅ«rya. [10] However, both scholars, as well as Martin L. West, also posit Helen of Troy, from Greek mythology, was another example of the 'Sun-maiden'. [7] [11]
*Mehâ‚not- is reconstructed based on the Norse god Máni, the Slavic god Myesyats, [note 2] [6] and the Lithuanian god * Meno, or MÄ—nuo (MÄ—nulis). [14] Remnants of the lunar deity may exist in Latvian moon god MÄ“ness, [15] Anatolian (Phrygian) deity Men; [16] [15] Mene, another name for Selene, and in Zoroastrian lunar deity Mah (Måŋha). [17] [18] [19]
Although the sun was personified as an independent, female deity, [20] the Proto-Indo-Europeans also visualized the sun as the "lamp of Dyēws" or the "eye of Dyēws", as seen in various reflexes: "the god's lamp" in Medes by Euripides, "heaven's candle" in Beowulf, or "the land of Hatti's torch", as the Sun-goddess of Arinna is called in a Hittite prayer; [21] and Helios as the eye of Zeus, [22] [23] Hvare-khshaeta as the eye of Ahura Mazda, and the sun as "God's eye" in Romanian folklore. [24] The names of Celtic sun goddesses like Sulis and Grian may also allude to this association: the words for "eye" and "sun" are switched in these languages, hence the name of the goddesses. [25]
Egyptian mythology is unrelated to Indo-European mythology so there is unlikely any historical link, but the metaphor of Eye of Ra was used in it too.