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Sol Invictus (Classical Latin: [ˈsoːɫ ɪnˈwɪktʊs], "Invincible Sun" or "Unconquered Sun") was the official sun god of the late Roman Empire and a later version of the god Sol. The emperor Aurelian revived his cult in 274 CE and promoted Sol Invictus as the chief god of the empire.
Sol is the personification of the Sun and a god in ancient Roman religion. It was long thought that Rome actually had two different, consecutive sun gods: The first, Sol Indiges (Latin: the deified sun), was thought to have been unimportant, disappearing altogether at an early period.
Nov 23, 2023 · The worship of Sol Invictus held a significant place in the hearts and minds of the people in Rome. In this article we delve into the origins, attributes, and cultural impact of Sol Invictus, shedding light on a deity whose radiance endured through much of Roman history.
- The Origins of Sol Invictus
- Sol Invictus and Aurelian
- Constantine, Christianity, and Sol Invictus
- Christianity and Sol Invictus
Sol Invictus wasn’t the first sun god in Rome. That title goes toSol Indiges. Initially considered separate gods, scholars now think they’re probably the same deity, just evolved.
Aurelian had a clear vision: to unify the Empire under one God, Sol Invictus. Unlike Elagabalus, he wasn’t keen on replacing existing Roman gods. Instead, he wove the cult of Sol into the fabric of Roman institutions. He integrated the Senatorial elite with Sol’s priests, merging political and religious power.
Emperor Constantine was a game-changer for Rome. He moved the capital to Constantinople, prolonging the Eastern Empire’s life but hastening the West’s decline. Interestingly, Constantine wasn’t always a Christian. Early in his rule, he minted coins featuring pagan gods like Jupiter, Mars, and Sol Invictus.
One theory is that Constantine saw Christianity as a better unifier than Sol Invictus. While Sol had been popular, its influence was mainly Eastern and localized. Christianity was spreading fast across the Empire. Also, unlike the Sol cult, which allowed for multiple gods, Christianity insisted on exclusive devotion to one God.
Dec 27, 2023 · Sol Invictus, also known as the invincible sun or the unconquered sun, was the official sun god of the late Roman Empire. He was a later version of the classic sun god Sol, and he was dusted off and revived as “Invictus” in AD 274 under the emperor Aurelian.
Sol, in Roman religion, name of two distinct sun gods at Rome. The original Sol, or Sol Indiges, had a shrine on the Quirinal, an annual sacrifice on August 9, and another shrine, together with Luna, the moon goddess, in the Circus Maximus.
Oct 25, 2016 · The god of the Unconquered Sun, Sol Invictus, was the official sun god of the later Empire of Rome. The Emperor Aurelian reintroduced the sun god and cult in 274 AD.
