Pagan symbolism: the sun cross

The sun cross is possibly one of the oldest religious symbols in the world. This symbol can be found in cultures spread across Asia, Europe, and North America. In this blog, we delve into the origin and meaning of the sun cross.

In the 19th century, mythology was often interpreted through the lens of "solar symbolism." Thinkers such as Max Müller and his followers, who engaged in Indo-European studies, saw symbols like the swastika, triskelion, and the sun cross primarily as expressions of sun worship. Since the late 20th century, however, scholars have adopted a more cautious and nuanced approach, as illustrated in The Quest for Myth (1951) by Richard Chase, in which mythological symbols are placed in broader cultural contexts.

Trigger warning: Symbols like the sun cross and the swastika were abused in the 20th century by the Naziss and later by neo-Naziss. This blog focuses solely on the historical and cultural background of the sun cross and explicitly distances itself from ideologies associated with National Socialism.

By placing this symbol in the correct context, we hope to illuminate its rich and varied history.

The exact origin of the sun cross remains unclear, but the symbol seems to have a similar provenance as the tree of life and the swastika. These three symbols appear in various cultures, from the Neolithic farmers in Europe to the tribes of North America and Asia.

The use of the sun cross by indigenous tribes in North America may point to a tradition that goes back more than 12,000 years, to the Ice Age, when the ancestors of the Native Americans migrated from Asia to America via the Bering Strait. Some researchers suspect that the sun cross, like the tree of life, may have its origins on the Siberian steppes. However, this remains speculative.

Neolithic farmers in Europe, who lived around 8000 BC, used the sun cross in their art and religion. They incorporated the symbol into stone monuments, presumably to honor the solstices. For these early farmers, the seasons and the influence of the sun were crucial to their existence. The movement of the sun and the equinoxes played a central role in their nature religion. Nonetheless, it is plausible that they were not the first to use the sun cross.

Among the Proto-Indo-Europeans, nomadic herders of the Pontic steppes, the sun cross regularly appears. They used it in rock carvings and bronze artworks, spread across Europe and Asia. In their religion, the sun also played a central role, as a symbol of the cosmic order.

In the mythology of Indo-European peoples, the sun is often depicted as a radiant wheel, drawn by a horse in a chariot. An alternative representation is that of a sun ship, as also known from ancient Egypt. Both images emphasize the journey of the sun across the sky, a motif that holds a deeper meaning in many cultures.

In Indo-European religion, the cosmic order was central. The sun played an essential role in this, as it regulates the seasons and marks the transition between day and night, life and death. Thus, the sun became a symbol of order, fertility, and life.

Darkness, on the other hand, stood for chaos and death. The light, with the sun as its primary source, was seen as the embodiment of cosmic harmony and vitality.

Various Proto-Indo-European deities were associated with the sun and other celestial bodies:

• *Seh₂ul (Old Norse Sól): the god or goddess of the sun, who brings life and maintains order.
• *Meh₁not (Old Norse Máni): the god of the moon, associated with the cycles of time and the rhythm of nature.
• *H₂éwsōs (West Germanic Eostre): the goddess of the dawn, who brings the light of the morning and symbolizes the beginning of a new day.

These deities reflected the importance of celestial bodies in the mythical and spiritual world of the Indo-Europeans. Their movements were seen as expressions of a universal, cyclical order that influenced all life.

The sun cross is a powerful symbol that appears in various forms in prehistoric art and mythology. From the rock carvings in Alta, Northern Norway (4200-500 BC) to the Bronze Age art on Bornholm (1100-500 BC), the sun cross reflects the significance of the sun in the daily and spiritual life of our ancestors.

On the rock engravings of Alta, the sun is often depicted with radiant sun rays. Additionally, there are cup marks, small circular incisions that possibly represent the months or the lunar cycles around the solstice. In some engravings, the sun is supported by a tripod-like structure, which may have had a practical or symbolic function.

In the rock art of Bornholm, five sun crosses are depicted. These crosses likely symbolize the daily journey of the sun across the sky. The cross can be compared to the layout of a clock, with 12 and 6 marking the highest and lowest positions of the sun.

Images such as the famous sun chariot of Trundholm Mose (1500-1300 BC) and engravings on razors from Neder Hvolris (900-700 BC) tell a story about the journey of the sun. During the day, the sun moves across the sky, while at 's night it travels through the darkness of the underworld. This cyclical movement symbolizes the eternal interplay between light and darkness, life and death.

In the late Bronze Age, the sun cross possibly gained a new meaning. It was then not only associated with the journey of the sun but also with the wheels that would pull the sun across the sky. The Trundholm sun chariot, found in Zealand, Denmark, has six wheels each with four spokes, which strongly resemble a sun cross. Although the wheel as an invention came later than the sun cross itself, this design reinforced the connection between the sun and its movement.

The sun chariot of Trundholm Mose is unique in its detail, but not in its concept. In a burial mound in Jægersborg Hegn, Northern Zealand, fragments of a similar sun chariot have been found, indicating that this sun chariot was not unique.

During the Bronze Age, the sun cross was a common symbol in the religious and artistic expressions of Europe. It was depicted in artworks and cultural artifacts and played a central role in the spiritual life of people.

A particular example of the sun cross is a "miniature standard" with an amber-colored inlay, which shows a cross shape when light passes through. This object, dating from the Nordic Bronze Age, is located in the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen. The design of the sun cross as a four-spoke chariot wheel appears in the same period in Scandinavia, Central Europe, and even Greece. This wide geographical use is supported by the Linear B ideogram, which also represents a sun cross.

The sun cross was also prominently present in Great Britain and Ireland, especially among the Beaker culture. A remarkable find is a sun disc with a sun cross from around 2400 BC, excavated in Monkton Farleigh, Wiltshire. This disc, one of six similar examples found in the United Kingdom, was used around the time the sarsen stones were added to the monument of Stonehenge.

The disc was discovered in a burial mound, along with a pottery cup, flint arrowheads, and the remains of an adult man. Monkton Farleigh is a little over 20 miles from Stonehenge, suggesting a possible connection between the sun cross and the monumental structures of that time.

In Sweden, at Tanum, rock carvings have been found from the Scandinavian Bronze Age (1800-500 BC). These carvings show dancing men with bronze axes, with their torsos' s taking the shape of a sun cross. This emphasizes the religious and ritual significance of the symbol during this period.

Sun discs, often featuring sun crosses, are artifacts that symbolize the sun, the sky, or possibly even the cosmos. These special objects were regularly thrown into the bog as offerings to the gods.

Many sun discs were found in pairs and often contain two small holes that allowed them to be attached to clothing. They were partly made of gold, a material that symbolized the sun through its shiny, sunny colour. The use of gold emphasizes the sacred and elevated status of these objects.

Many different sun discs have been found, with some notable examples:

• The Nebra Sky Disc: This famous disc, dating from circa 1800-1600 BC, was used by the Unetice culture. It is inlaid with golden symbols depicting celestial bodies such as the sun, moon, and stars. The disc provides insight into the astronomical knowledge and spiritual beliefs of this time.
• Distribution in the British Isles: Sun discs have been found in various locations, including:
  • Wales: 1 specimen
  • Scotland: 6 specimens
  • Ireland: 21 specimens
  • England: 5 specimens

Additionally, similar discs have been discovered in Brittany and on the Isle of Man, indicating a broader distribution of this symbolism within Western Europe.

The findings in peat bogs suggest that sun discs were offered to the gods. This may indicate a deep spiritual connection between the people and the sun, which was revered as a source of life and a symbol of cosmic order.

The Celtic thunder god Taranis shows strong similarities to the Old Norse god Thor and the Proto-Indo-European god *Perkʷūnos. Like his mythological counterparts, Taranis is associated with thunder and lightning, but also with a striking symbol: the wheel.

The chariot wheel, often with six or eight spokes, played a central role in the iconography of Taranis. Roman writers, such as the poet Lucanus, even identified him as the "wheel god." On Celtic coins, the wheel is regularly depicted, and on the famous Gundestrup cauldron, a panel can be seen with a half wheel in which eight spokes are visible.

From the Middle-Bronze Age, wheels were also used as religious objects. These symbolic wheels served as votive offerings and played a role in ritual practices. They were placed at sacred locations such as the sanctuaries of Alesia, thrown into rivers like the Seine, buried in graves, or worn as amulets.

The wheels possibly symbolized the movement of celestial bodies, the cycle of the seasons, or the cosmic order, themess that were closely linked to the divine power of Taranis.

Within European paganism, there is a rich diversity of sun crosses, ranging from ancient symbols to modern interpretations. One of the best-known sun crosses from the Slavic tradition is the eight-legged Kolovrat. Although the exact origin of this symbol is unclear and it remains uncertain whether it was originally used as a sun cross, it is often associated with the cyclical journey of the sun.

Neo-pagan sun crosses can be seen as continuations of traditional designs that were already used before the Bronze Age. This indicates a continuity in the use of solar symbolism, although modern variants often contain new interpretations and meanings.

Besides sun crosses, there are other motifs that may depict the journey of the sun:

• Spiral Patterns: These have been present since the Neolithic and can be interpreted as a reference to the cycle of the sun or cosmic energy.
• Triquetras: Although this symbol is often associated with sun symbolism, this interpretation largely rests on 19th-century speculations. Evidence for the original meaning of the triquetra is limited.

The swastika is another ancient symbol that may be as old as the tree of life and the sun cross. This sign, along with the Siberian tribes, possibly crossed into America during the Ice Age.

Although the swastika in Europe is strongly associated with the Nazi regime and has therefore acquired a negative connotation, it remains a sacred symbol in other parts of the world. In the Bronze Age, the swastika was particularly popular and was often used in art, such as Roman and Germanic mosaics. These mosaics show the aesthetic and spiritual value the sign once had, apart from the later political connotation.

The sun cross is also incorporated into Christianity, where it developed into the ringed cross or cross with nimbus. This symbol, which has many variants, originates from the early history of Christianity and has its roots in both religious and cultural traditions.

The ringed cross appears in various forms within Christian art and architecture, including:

• The cross-shaped halo, placed behind the head of Jesus in images.
• The Celtic cross, prominently featured on high stone crosses in Ireland and Great Britain.
• The Coptic cross, an important symbol within the Egyptian Christian tradition.
• Ringed crosses from Western France and Galicia, often seen in ancient churches and monuments.

The nimbus, inspired by the Roman victory wreath, was added to Christian crosses early on. This halo became a distinguishing element by the end of the 4th century, with the Chi Rho motif in a circle as a commonly used symbol.

The cross-shaped halo, specifically designed for depictions of the Holy Trinity and particularly of Jesus, emphasized his role as the embodiment of the sun and life.

Early representations of the ringed cross include:

• The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia (5th century): Here, the cross is seen as a symbol of divine triumph.
• The Crux Gemmata in the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe (6th century): This cross, adorned with gemstones, underscores the glory of Christianity and the sanctity of the cross.

The sun cross is not of Proto-Indo-European origin, but like the swastika and the tree of life, it is a much older symbol. The interpretation of the sun cross has regularly changed over the centuries, adapting to the needs of the prevailing religion. To this day, the sun cross plays an important role in both European paganism and Christianity. 

Let the sun cross speak to you as a timeless symbol of connection with our ancestors and the cosmic order, embodied by the invincible power of the sun. 

Discover in our assortment a variety of unique items with sun cross motifs, each imbued with meaning and history: