The sun, the source of life and fertility is revered in many cultures. Embodiment of light in the form of the Egyptian god Ra, Apollo and Helios will be among the Greeks. The cult of Mithras, the Persian sun god, is the origin of the Christmas party. ^AA75

 

The influence of this pagan sun worship explains the presence of a ring of light, the halo circle around the heads of saints and icons of Christianity.

The Temptation of Christ

MI 285 H.: 3,45 m. ; L: 2.41 m.

Ary Scheffer   

  

Dordrecht (Netherlands), 1795

 

Sully 2 floor

Chassériau room 63
 

 

Commissioned for the Galerie du Luxembourg
in 1849, started before 1851 and
not yet delivered in 1858, this large canvas
held the last ten years of life Scheffer.
The numerous expansions and show
repentance well incessant changes that
the artist has made to its composition.

Only the face of Christ,
any loan of a metaphysical gentleness
was never touched by the painter.

In the Greek and Roman art the sun-god Helios and Roman emperors are often represented with a radiant crown. It has not been used in early Christian art because of its pagan origin. As of the middle of the IV ^{th century}   Christ is thus represented. It was not until VI ^th century that the halo appeared in most representations of the Virgin Mary and other saints. ^AA77

« Halos that artits of the Middle Age put around the head are a remmant of the worship of the sun. »  ^AA76

 

No Christian text does not specify what day of the year was born Jesus Christ. Christmas is not part of the celebrations followed by the early Christians, and not in the lists published by Irenaeus and Tertullian. Gradually will appear desire to historicize the birth of Jesus.

In the fourth century, the date of December 25th was chosen primarily to replace the pagan festivals.  ^AA66

 

The choice of December 25th is closely related to the existence of pagan Roman festivals held at year end. Include the Saturnalia in honor of Saturn, god of agriculture, and the combined festivals of two sun gods, Sol among the Romans and the Persians Mithra. The Nativity gradually absorbed other solstice ritual. Solar imaging was used to represent the risen Christ and the solar disk became the halo of saints. ^AA78

Disque dédié à

 

 

Sol Invictus (Latin undefeated Sun)
is a solar deity appeared in
the Roman Empire in the third century.
It incorporates aspects of mythology
Apollo and the cult of Mithras,
experiencing great popularity
in the Roman army.
The Emperor Aurelian (270-275) ensures
an official place in Rome in proclaiming
the undefeated Sun is the main boss
of the Roman Empire.

«The choice of 25 December appeared around 330 to cover the pagan festivals celebrated at the winter solstice. This period has been marked in ancient times, during the Saturnalia celebrated in Rome in honor of the old master of Saturn weather or when the 'Sol Invictus' (the invincible sun), come worship the Persian god Mithras. »  ^AA70

 

Panel of Christ and Abbot Mena E 11565

 
wax painting and tempera on

fig wood VIII century AD

  

Denon showcase Mezzanine Room C 6

The church of the monastery Bawit is reconstituted party in this room. On the side
of the altar was suspended one of the oldest images of Christ, the accompanied showing

an abbot. It is also one of the first appearances of a light halo around the
heads of the saints  ^A151

In the Bible the sun is never deified because impersonal force, it is created by God as a great light to illuminate the earth and set the agenda. The existence of a cult of the sun in the kingdom of Judah is recorded by the prophet Ezekiel. "They bowed toward the east, before the sun" (Ezekiel 8:16).

This apostate behavior went against the Law (Deuteronomy 4:19) and the words of the psalmist: "Yes, sun shield, YHWH! [...] He gives grace and glory. "(Psalm 84:11, Chouraqui). Years earlier King Josiah had yet abolished the worship of the sun god. - 2 Kings 23: 5

 

Richelieu Rd-ch

Room 3

Title under the protection of the gods,

these steles

stone, carved

and included in

both sides

are the carrier

acts of donations decided by

the sovereign 

On this point,

it's all great deities symbolized
by their emblem that are collected
in a true symbolic microcosm

tiered bunk registers.
 

On the orb of the stele like the heavens
are held astral deities, Sin, the moon,
Shamash, the sun, and Ishtar,

in the form of the star appearing

the planet Venus.

The gods are represented by
their symbols: tiaras with six rows of horns

for Anu and Enlil, ram head
and fish-goat for Ea / Enki,

and finally the emblem

Earth Goddess, Ninhursag

 

At the time of writing the Bible, many believed that various gods inhabited the world and that they ruled the sun, moon and stars.
 

It is remarkable to note that the Hebrew prophets did not have to deify their universe, to get rid of these mythical gods, for the simple reason that they had never believed in such gods. It is their belief in one true God who preserved them from these superstitions.