The mythology of the Sun / La mitología del Sol

Picture by/Imagen de Christina Balit

Sol was the solar deity in Ancient Roman religion. It has long been thought that Rome actually had three different, consecutive sun gods: Sol Indiges, Sol Invictus and Apollo. Apollo is one of the most important and complex of the Olympian deities in classical Greek and Roman religion and Greek and Roman mythology. The ideal of the athletic youth is represented by Apollo. He was variously recognized not only as the god of light and the sun, but also the god of truth, prophecy, healing, plague, knowledge, medicine, music or poetry. In Roman mythology ha had a twin sister Diana (Luna) the goddess of the moon. Helios was another personification of the Sun in Greek mythology, brother of the goddess Selene. However, both gods (Helios and Apollo) co-existed as they were viewed as two distinct gods belonging to two generations; Helios was a Titan, whilst Apollo was an Olympian. Apollo, as god of music, fell in love with the lyre and he is usually represented holding it.

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Sol era la deidad solar en la religión romana antigua. Según los estudios parece ser que Roma tenía realmente tres dioses diferentes  que encarnaban al sol: Sol Indiges, Sol Invictus y Apolo. Apolo es uno de los dioses olímpicos más importantes y complejos de las religiones y mitologías romanas y griegas clásicas. El ideal de la juventud atlética está representado por Apolo. No sólo se le consideraba el dios de la luz y el sol, sino también era el dios de la verdad, la profecía, la sanación, la peste, el conocimiento, la medicina, la música o la poesía. En la mitología romana tenía una hermana gemela llamada Diana (Luna), la diosa lunar. Helios era otra personificación del Sol en la mitología griega, el hermano de la diosa Selene. Sin embargo, ambos dioses (Helios y Apolo) coexistían ya que eran considerados dioses distintos que pertenecen a dos generaciones; Helios era un titán, mientras que Apolo era un dios olímpico. Apolo, como dios de la música, se enamoró de lira por lo que normalmente se le representa con ella.