With the sun being seen as a predominantly masculine energy, we tend to associate the God with solar energies - but this is not always the case. Below are some of the more well-known sun Gods (and Goddesses), but this is in no means a definitive list!
Aine: Irish Goddess of the sun and summer
Amun: Egyptian creator God sometimes associated with the sun
Apollo: Greek Olympian God
Aten: Egyptian God
Atum: Egyptian God, represents the setting sun
Aurora: Roman Goddess of the dawn
Bast: Egyptian cat Goddess said to be associated with the sun
Belenus: Celtic God
Dazbog: Slavic God
Eos: Greek Titan Goddess of the dawn
Etain: Irish Goddess
Hathor: Egyptian Goddess
Helios: Greek Titan God
Hemera: Roman primordial Goddess of the day
Inti: Incan God
Lugh: Celtic God
Ra: Egyptian God
Saule: Baltic Goddess
Shamash: Akkadian God
Sekhmet: Egyptian lion Goddess said to be associated with the sun
Sol Invictus: Roman God
Sulis: Celtic God
Utu: Sumarian God
The Oak and the Holly King
The Oak King and the Holly King represents the light part of the year (the Oak King) and the dark part of the year (The Holly King). We often use the Oak King as a representative of the sun, and the oak tree has a strong association with solar energies. Below is an excerpt from https://www.learnreligions.com/holly-king-and-the-oak-king-2562991 which gives a brief overview of the legend of the Holly King and the Oak King:
“In many Celtic-based traditions of neopaganism, there is the enduring legend of the battle between the Oak King and the Holly King. These two mighty rulers fight for supremacy as the Wheel of the Year turns each season. At the Winter Solstice, or Yule, the Oak King conquers the Holly King, and then reigns until Midsummer, or Litha. Once the Summer Solstice arrives, the Holly King returns to do battle with the old king, and defeats him. In the legends of some belief systems, the dates of these events are shifted; the battle takes place at the Equinoxes, so that the Oak King is at his strongest during Midsummer, or Litha, and the Holly King is dominant during Yule. From a folkloric and agricultural standpoint, this interpretation seems to make more sense.
In some Wiccan traditions, the Oak King and the Holly King are seen as dual aspects of the Horned God. Each of these twin aspects rules for half the year, battles for the favor of the Goddess, and then retires to nurse his wounds for the next six months, until it is time for him to reign once more.”
Aine: Irish Goddess of the sun and summer
Amun: Egyptian creator God sometimes associated with the sun
Apollo: Greek Olympian God
Aten: Egyptian God
Atum: Egyptian God, represents the setting sun
Aurora: Roman Goddess of the dawn
Bast: Egyptian cat Goddess said to be associated with the sun
Belenus: Celtic God
Dazbog: Slavic God
Eos: Greek Titan Goddess of the dawn
Etain: Irish Goddess
Hathor: Egyptian Goddess
Helios: Greek Titan God
Hemera: Roman primordial Goddess of the day
Inti: Incan God
Lugh: Celtic God
Ra: Egyptian God
Saule: Baltic Goddess
Shamash: Akkadian God
Sekhmet: Egyptian lion Goddess said to be associated with the sun
Sol Invictus: Roman God
Sulis: Celtic God
Utu: Sumarian God
The Oak and the Holly King
The Oak King and the Holly King represents the light part of the year (the Oak King) and the dark part of the year (The Holly King). We often use the Oak King as a representative of the sun, and the oak tree has a strong association with solar energies. Below is an excerpt from https://www.learnreligions.com/holly-king-and-the-oak-king-2562991 which gives a brief overview of the legend of the Holly King and the Oak King:
“In many Celtic-based traditions of neopaganism, there is the enduring legend of the battle between the Oak King and the Holly King. These two mighty rulers fight for supremacy as the Wheel of the Year turns each season. At the Winter Solstice, or Yule, the Oak King conquers the Holly King, and then reigns until Midsummer, or Litha. Once the Summer Solstice arrives, the Holly King returns to do battle with the old king, and defeats him. In the legends of some belief systems, the dates of these events are shifted; the battle takes place at the Equinoxes, so that the Oak King is at his strongest during Midsummer, or Litha, and the Holly King is dominant during Yule. From a folkloric and agricultural standpoint, this interpretation seems to make more sense.
In some Wiccan traditions, the Oak King and the Holly King are seen as dual aspects of the Horned God. Each of these twin aspects rules for half the year, battles for the favor of the Goddess, and then retires to nurse his wounds for the next six months, until it is time for him to reign once more.”
