The Sun Goddess: Myth, Legend and History

by Sheena McGrath

Does the mention of a sun deity make you think of Apollo? Perhaps you should envision a female divinity instead! Unlike the Greeks, many Indo-European peoples probably believed a goddess ruled our bright, blazing star. So, dispense with the stereotypes of mainstream culture and set out on a journey of discovery to bring this long-forgotten idol into focus. Through etymology, mythology, and religion, a compelling argument emerges for seeing the sun in feminine terms. Norse, Baltic, Celtic, and Hittite legends, goddesses named Sol and Saule, plus pictures of a variety of artifacts, lend weight to this eye-opening thesis.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Spirituality

192 pages, Hardcover

First published December 12, 1981

Reviews

[Lena Nour · Rating 5 out of 5]

We don't talk enough of the Sun Goddesses but they do exist ! Yes, the sun can also be associated with the feminine and it makes perfect sense. A very interesting book. I also really liked the chapter on Moon Gods and wish I could find a whole book on them. Be aware though that this book is centered around Indo-European Goddesses.

[Gavin White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been interested in the feminine aspects of the sun since getting into Norse myth. For so many people the sun is inalienably male and the moon female yet there are many mythologies that reverse this gender attribution.
The author limits her survey to the mythologies of the Indo-Europeans. Even so there are a surprising number of solar goddesses within this field.
I found the chapter on the Baltic goddess Saule to be the most enlightening. For me this delineated the overall nature and symbolism of the sun goddess better than any other chapter.
The author has also included short chapters on the gods of the moon, sky and thunder. This, although somewhat out of character for a book on goddesses, was useful in painting a more complete and rounded picture of Indo-European mythologies.