The Golden Age of Goddesses
Náoimí Smyth uncovers the folkloric tales of Sun goddesses .
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Throughout classical mythology , the sun - a symbol of power , growth and health - is typically represented by the masculine energy . And often you ’ ll find that its darker twin , the moon , epitomises the essence of the feminine .
But it ’ s not always been this way . Traditions found in Europe and beyond have depicted the sun as a feminine entity , with goddesses representing its celestial charge .
Sól : The Midnight Sun
In Norse mythology , Sól is both a goddess and the personification of the Sun . There ’ s evidence that suggests she was honoured as far back as the Scandinavian Bronze Age , with historians discovering indications of a Sun-worshipping cult .
Legends state Sól and her brother Mani were born mortals and their father named them after the Sun and Moon . This , however , angered the gods and as punishment , Sól was made to pull the chariot of the day , and Mani , the chariot of the night .
These archetypes are typical : in Nordic languages , the Sun is a feminine noun and the Moon is masculine . The symbolism of the chariot is also one that ’ s found in many cultures throughout history .
In the Poetic Edda , Sól features alongside her brother in the events of Ragnarӧk , also known as the “ Twilight of the Gods ”. It details the mythical end times , with Sól and Mani being relentlessly chased through the sky by two wolves , Skoll and Hati . They ’ re swallowed up but reborn again in the new world .
In remote parts of Norway , they experience what ’ s known as the midnight Sun : an endless day that lasts throughout the summer months . It ’ s believed that when this phenomenon occurs , Sól is at her most potent .
Étaín : The Butterfly
Étaín is nothing short of a shapeshifting goddess ; she symbolises not only the Sun , but the Moon , love , land , and sovereignty , depending on the tradition . And in Celtic folklore , she was one