Blog & lookbook - Pagan Symbolism: The Sun Cross

he 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 "sun symbolism." Thinkers such as Max Müller and his followers, who were involved in Indo-European studies, viewed symbols like the swastika, triskelion, and 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, which places mythological symbols in broader cultural contexts.

Trigger warning: ymbols such as the sun cross and the swastika were misused in the 20th century by the Nazis and later by neo-Nazis. This blog focuses exclusively 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 proper context, we hope to shed light on its rich and varied history.

Origin

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

The use of the sun cross by Indigenous tribes in North America may point to a tradition dating back more than 12,000 years, to the Ice Age, when the ancestors of Native Americans migrated from Asia to America via the Bering Strait. Some researchers speculate that the sun cross, like the Tree of Life, may have originated on the Siberian steppes. However, this remains speculative.

Neolithic farmers in Europe, living around 8000 BCE, used the sun cross in their art and religion. They incorporated the symbol into stone monuments, likely 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-based religion. Still, it is likely that they were not the first to use the sun cross.

Among the Proto-Indo-European nomadic herders of the Pontic steppes, the sun cross frequently 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 cosmic order.

In Indo-European mythology, 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 with deeper meaning in many cultures.

Indo-European Sun Worship

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

Darkness, on the other hand, represented chaos and death. 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, connected to the cycles of time and the rhythm of nature.
H₂éwsōs (West Germanic Eostre): the goddess of dawn, who brings the light of 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.

Meaning of the Solar Cross

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 lives of our ancestors.

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

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

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

In the late Bronze Age, the sun cross may have gained a new meaning. It became associated not only with the sun’s journey but also with the wheels that might carry the sun across the heavens. The Trundholm sun chariot, found in Zealand, Denmark, has six wheels with four spokes each, resembling a sun cross. Although the invention of the wheel postdates the sun cross itself, this design reinforced the connection between the sun and its movement.

The Trundholm sun chariot is unique in its detail, but not in its concept. Fragments of a similar sun chariot were discovered in a burial mound in Jægersborg Hegn, northern Zealand, suggesting that this type of sun chariot was not unique.

Sun Cross in the Bronze Age

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

A remarkable example of the sun cross is a "miniature standard" with amber inlay that, when illuminated, reveals a cross shape. This object, dating to the Nordic Bronze Age, is housed in the National Museum of Denmark in Copenhagen. The design of the sun cross as a four-spoked wagon wheel appears in the same period in Scandinavia, Central Europe, and even Greece. This widespread geographic use is supported by the Linear B ideogram that also represents a sun cross.

The sun cross was prominent in Britain and Ireland as well, especially during the Beaker culture. A notable find is a sun disc with a sun cross from approximately 2400 BC, excavated in Monkton Farleigh, Wiltshire. This disc, one of six similar examples found in the United Kingdom, was used around the time when the sarsen stones were added to the Stonehenge monument.

The disc was discovered in a burial mound, alongside a pottery beaker, flint arrowheads, and the remains of an adult male. Monkton Farleigh is just over 20 miles from Stonehenge, suggesting a possible connection between the sun cross and the monumental structures of that era.

In Sweden, near Tanum, rock engravings from the Scandinavian Bronze Age (1800–500 BC) have been found. These engravings depict dancing men with bronze axes, whose torsos take the form of a sun cross. This highlights the religious and ritual significance of the symbol during this period.

Sun Cross or Sun Disc

Sun discs, often featuring sun crosses, are artifacts symbolizing the sun, the heavens, or possibly even the cosmos. These exceptional objects were frequently deposited in bogs as offerings to the gods.

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

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

The Nebra Sky Disc: This famous disc, dating to approximately 1800–1600 BC, was used by the Unetice culture. It is inlaid with gold 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 example
Scotland: 6 examples
Ireland: 21 examples
England: 5 examples

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

The finds in bog areas suggest that sun discs were offerings to the gods. This points to a profound spiritual connection between people and the sun, which was revered as a source of life and a symbol of cosmic order.

The Wheel of Taranis

The Celtic thunder god Taranis bears 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 wagon wheel, often with six or eight spokes, played a central role in Taranis's iconography. Roman writers, such as the poet Lucan, even identified him as the "wheel god." On Celtic coins, the wheel is frequently depicted, and on the famous Gundestrup Cauldron, a panel shows a half-wheel with eight visible spokes.

From the Middle Bronze Age onward, 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 sites such as the sanctuaries of Alesia, thrown into rivers like the Seine, buried in graves, or worn as amulets.

The wheels likely symbolized the movement of celestial bodies, the cycle of the seasons, or cosmic order, themes closely tied to the divine power of Taranis.

Various Types of Sun Crosses

Within European paganism, there is a rich diversity of sun crosses, ranging from ancient symbols to modern interpretations. One of the most well-known sun crosses from the Slavic tradition is the eight-spoked Kolovrat. While the exact origins of this symbol are 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 date back to the Bronze Age and earlier. This suggests a continuity in the use of solar symbolism, though modern variations often incorporate new interpretations and meanings.

In addition to sun crosses, other motifs potentially representing the sun's journey include:

Spiral Patterns: These have been found since the Neolithic era and may reference the sun's cycle or cosmic energy.
Triquetras: While often linked to solar symbolism, this interpretation largely stems from 19th-century speculations. Evidence for the triquetra's original meaning remains limited.

The swastika is another ancient symbol that may be as old as the tree of life and the sun cross. It is believed to have crossed into the Americas alongside Siberian tribes during the Ice Age.

Although the swastika is strongly associated with the Nazi regime in Europe, giving it a negative connotation, it remains a sacred symbol in other parts of the world. During the Bronze Age, the swastika was particularly popular and frequently used in art, such as Roman and Germanic mosaics. These mosaics reflect the aesthetic and spiritual value the symbol once held, independent of its later political associations.

Sun Cross in Christianity

The sun cross was also adopted into Christianity, where it evolved into the ringed cross or cross with a nimbus. This symbol, which has many variations, originates from both religious and cultural traditions in the early history of Christianity.

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

The cruciform halo, placed behind the head of Jesus in depictions.
The Celtic cross, prominently seen on high stone crosses in Ireland and Britain.
The Coptic cross, a significant symbol within the Egyptian Christian tradition.
Ringed crosses from Western France and Galicia, often found in old churches and monuments.

The nimbus, inspired by the Roman victory wreath, was added to Christian crosses early on. This halo became a distinguishing feature by the late 4th century, with the Chi Rho motif within a circle as a frequently used symbol.

The cruciform halo, specifically designed for representations of the Holy Trinity and especially 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 depicted as a symbol of divine triumph.
The Crux Gemmata in the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe (6th century): This gem-encrusted cross highlights the glory of Christianity and the sanctity of the cross.

Conclusion

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

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