Celestial Deities

The early observers noted that while most of the celestial objects (stars) appeared to remain fixed with respect to each other, seven objects behaved differently; they moved across this fixed background of stars along a fixed band (path). Each object moved along the path at its own rate but they all traversed the same path. These seven objects were:

Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn

  Of these, the two deities worshipped by almost all of the Ancient civilizations were the Sun and the Moon. The Sun was worshipped for its life-giving power in the form of light and warmth, and feared for its destructive power as evidenced by heat and drought. The Moon was worshipped for its beauty and cool light that holds darkness at bay at night. Several civilizations associated the Moon with rains and storms, and the sea-faring civilizations also recognized the influence of the Moon over the tides.

For a brief summary on deities associated with the sun, the moon and the solar system planets by different civilizations, follow this link: ;   The Solar System Deities
In fact, you may want to refresh your recollections about the solar system and view some neat pictures of the sun and the planets. If so, click on the picture and you will be transported to the Windows to the Universe website.

Ancient Babylonians devoted one day to each of the seven celestial gods starting cycle over again once each deity had received its day of reverence. This practise eventually became common among the Mediterrenean civilizations and is the basis of our present-day seven-day week. In fact, the names of the days of the week bear still reflect this origin:

Sunday

Sun's day of worship

Monday

Moon's day of worship

Saturday

Saturn's day of worship



Lundi

Moon's day of worship

Mardi

Mars' day of worship

Mercredi

Mercury's day of worship

Jeudi

Jupiter's day of worship

Vendredi

Venus' day of worship


Looking back at the the civilizations in the South Asia, Near East and Mediterranean, it is clear that the comings and goings of the celestial deities were of great concern to them. The location of the celestial deities in the sky at the time of a significant event was thought to influence the event and foreshadow success or failure of a venture (astrology). Several major festivals developed around periods of transition and some are celebrated even today albeit under a different guise.

For example, it is well known that the earth orbits the sun, completing one orbit every 365.25 days. In fact, all major planets orbit the sun in a plane. You can see this in the artist's rendetion of the solar system shown above. This plane translates into a band across the sky, which is known as the ecliptic. The sun, the moon, and most of the planets travel across the sky along this band.

Now, we also know that the earth also spins about on its axis once every 24 hours giving us our days and nights. The direction of the spin axis, however, is not perpendicular to the plane in which the earth and the planets orbit the sun. There is a slight tilt of 23.5 degrees. This tilt causes the north pole to oscillate between pointing towards and away from the sun over the course of the year.

When the northern hemisphere is pointing towards the sun, the sun appears to climb higher in the sky, the days are longer and the increased exposure to the sun's heat gives us our hot season, the summer.

Looking at the position of the sky from the earth, we see the sun's path (or more generally, the ecliptic (since the moon and the planets follow the same path) ranges from rising slightly north of east, climbing to nearly over head at mid-day and setting slightly north of west in the summer. As the year progresses, the sun's path shifts southward and the climb into the sky drops lower in the sky. On or about September 21st (fall equinox), the day and night are of equal lengths and thereafter, the day grows shorter. On or about Dec 21st (winter solastice), we experience the longest night and thereafter, the process reverses, with spring equinox (day and night of equal length) occuring on or about March 21st.

Image of the Ecliptic

In the days when the sun and the moon were considered to be deities, this north-south march of the sun's path - and the associated lengthening and shortening of the day as well as the switch between winter and summer - was thought to be part of the eternal battle between the light and dark, life and death.

In the pre-Christian Roman Empire, the last two weeks of December were a time of rest and celebration after the last sowing. Agricultural deities such as Saturn were especially honored. In fact, the name Saturn is derived from satus, which means sowing. The Saturnalia festival (Dec 17-23), the most joyous of the Roman festivals, was followed by one or two other festivals and the whole period culminated in the Festival for Sol Invictus (Unconquered Sun) on Dec 25th, the day that Sol proved himself to be yet unconquered by the Darkness. Similarly, the Teutonics and the Norse celebrated the Festival of Yule the night before December 25th as the night on which Goddess gives birth to the Sun God ending the encroachment of Darkness. When Christianity swept across the Roman Empire and Northern Europe, the winter festivals and corresponding rituals (giving of gifts, lighting of yuletide logs, bring indoors and decorating evergreen trees, etc.) were incorporated within Christianity and December 25th was established as the Day of the Birth of the Son or Christmas.

 "Day of reborn sun"/Winter Solastice  =>  Christmas

If these are winter solastice celebrations, why not December 21? Why December 25th? Without precise clocks, it is only 2-3 days after the solastice that tne can recognize an increase in the daylight time is roughly 2-3 day. This day is typically around Dec 25th.

Similarly, the ancient Mesopotamians, Persians and Assyrians used to celebrate the Spring Equinox with great festivity. The euphoric feelings brought on by the first days of springtime weather, the return of birds, the coming of the rains, and the greening of the land mingled with the hopes for bounty (in the agricultural sense) in the coming season. This was the time to review one's life and to renew one's family bonds. In short, it was the period of beginnings, of renewal, of reawakening. In fact, the Persian calendar starts on March 21st.

  The soul of the universe
  is the sovereign of time,
  for God has raised up
  the body through the soul.

  When the auspicious Jupiter
  saw his face, it became
  the source of munificence,
  the mine of good fortune.

  As long as the clouds
  of Navroz wash
  all quarters
  of the garden with
  showers of lustrous pearls;

  and the nightingale laments
  the rose at the break of dawn,
  like a grieving soul
  separated from its lover:

  may the authority of
  the sovereign of time
  prevail over space and time
  and the denizens of the world!

                  by Nasir Khusraw
                  - Translated by Faquir Hunzai
     

 Spring Equinox   =>  Navroz

In time, this festival became incorporated into Zoroastrianism, Bahai and Shiite Islam religions and has come to symbolize the Day of Spiritual Awakening and Rejuvenation.