Why Was the Sun Worshipped in All Ancient Cultures?

Why Was the Sun Worshipped in All Ancient Cultures?

The sun was universally worshipped in ancient cultures because it was seen as the source of life, light, and energy. Its daily cycle of rising and setting symbolized birth, death, and renewal, making it a powerful metaphor for many aspects of life. 

1. Vital for survival: The sun was essential for agriculture, providing the warmth and light needed for crops to grow, which meant food and sustenance.
2. Predictable cycles: The sun’s movement across the sky marked the passage of time, and its cycles—day and night, seasons—helped ancient people organize their lives and agricultural activities.
3. Symbol of power and authority: The sun was associated with strength, dominance, and divine power, often leading rulers to align themselves with sun gods or symbols to legitimize their authority.
4. Spiritual significance: The sun represented cosmic order and balance, embodying the eternal struggle between light and darkness. Many myths portrayed the sun as a divine being or as controlled by a god or goddess.

Why Is the Sun Important in Bicol Mythology?

In Bicol mythology, as in many other cultures, the sun holds significance because of its life-giving properties and its role in the natural world. The Bicol region, with its volcanic landscapes and lush greenery, relies on sunlight for the fertility of the land, just as its people rely on the cycles of nature for agriculture and survival.

• Agricultural cycles: The Bicolano people, being historically agrarian, would have valued the sun for the growth of crops, such as rice and corn.
• Spiritual symbolism: The sun represents balance, warmth, and life, contrasting with the untamed and mysterious aspects of nature that are embodied by Mount Isarog and other mountains.
• Mythical narratives: The sun’s cycles—rising, setting, and seasonal changes—are often tied to stories of creation, death, and rebirth, echoing the themes found in Bicol’s rich folklore.

Who Is the Sun God in Bicol Mythology?

Si Adlaw ang diyos o diwata ng Araw sa mitolohiya ng mga Bicolano

In Bicolano ancient, Gugurang is often considered the supreme deity, a god associated with light, goodness, and protection. But in Bicolano mythology it is Adlaw.

In Bicolano mythology, Adlaw (or Adlao) is the god of the sun. He plays a crucial role as the source of light, warmth, and life for the people. Adlaw is often depicted as a powerful force that brings order to the world, controlling the cycles of day and night and ensuring the survival of the natural world.

• Adlaw's role in balance: Adlaw’s control over the sun represents the constant struggle between light and dark, life and death. His presence ensures that the world is bathed in light during the day, allowing crops to grow and life to thrive.
• Connection to the supreme god Gugurang: While Gugurang is the supreme deity associated with goodness and the protection of humanity, Adlaw is directly connected to the physical sun, embodying its life-giving powers. Both figures are protectors of the people, representing cosmic order and harmony.
• Adlaw keeps the aswangs at bay in the morning because in myths the aswangs fear he might smite them and burn them to ash

Thus, in Bicol mythology, Adlaw serves as the personification of the sun’s essential role in both the physical and spiritual lives of the Bicolano people, representing a force of life, protection, and balance in the universe.