The solar cult in Late Antiquity

Every year, as Christmas approaches, it is not uncommon to hear claims that the holiday actually derives from an earlier festival dedicated to the god Sol Invictus, introduced in Rome by Emperor Aurelian in 274 CE. What is generally left unsaid, however, is that the matter is far more complex and intricate—an engaging story of ancestral deities, mystery cults, and imperial propaganda, fused together through religious, political, and philosophical currents over at least three centuries.Who, in fact, was Sol Invictus? What connections did he have with other solar deities such as Sol Indiges, El Gabal, and Mithras? What motivated Aurelian to establish his cult, and what implications did this have for the role of the emperor? And finally, was the festival truly celebrated on December 25, the same date traditionally assigned to Christ’s birth?This book aims to answer these and many other questions, offering an up-to-date survey of everything we currently know about a cult that remains surprisingly little understood. Read more