Sun God myths and legends

Search by title and refine by origin, characters, tags, and sort order.

Isis Refusing to Cure Ra Until He Reveals His Hidden Name to Her

🏺 Egyptian MythologyHeliopolis (Cairo), EgyptRa • Isis • Horus

In this pivotal myth, the goddess Isis crafts a magical serpent to poison the aging sun god Ra. As Ra suffers from the agonizing venom, Isis offers to heal him only if he reveals his secret, true name, which holds the key to his ultimate power. After a long struggle, Ra relents, granting Isis and her son Horus supreme authority and magical dominance over the Egyptian pantheon.

The Birth of Karna: Kunti and the Sun God

🕉️ Hindu MythologyGwalior (Ancient Kuntibhoja Kingdom), Madhya Pradesh, IndiaKunti • Surya • Karna

While still a young princess in the kingdom of Kuntibhoja, Kunti was granted a powerful mantra by the sage Durvasa that allowed her to summon any deity to grant her a child. Driven by youthful curiosity, she tested the mantra by calling upon Surya, the Sun God, who appeared and blessed her with a son born with divine golden armor and earrings. Fearing social stigma as an unwed mother, Kunti...

Ame-no-Tajikarao Throwing the Cave Door Across Japan Using His Immense Strength

⛩️ Japanese MythologyMount Togakushi, Nagano, JapanAme-no-Tajikarao • Amaterasu-Omikami • Ame-no-Uzume

When the sun goddess Amaterasu hid inside the Heavenly Rock Cave, plunging the entire universe into absolute darkness, the heavenly deities devised a plan to lure her out. The physically strongest kami, Ame-no-Tajikarao, stood concealed by the cavern's entrance, waiting for the perfect opportunity to act. When Amaterasu peeked out in curiosity, Tajikarao grabbed her hand, hauled her out, and...

The Gods Gathering at the Quiet Riverbed to Plan Amaterasu's Lure

⛩️ Japanese MythologyAma-no-Yassugawara, Miyazaki, JapanAmaterasu-Omikami • Susanoo-no-Mikoto • Omoikane-no-Kami

When the sun goddess Amaterasu hid herself in the Heavenly Rock Cave out of grief over her brother Susanoo's wild behavior, the world was plunged into complete darkness. Desperate to bring light back to the universe, eight million Shinto deities gathered at the quiet, gravelly riverbed of Ama-no-Yassugawara. Led by the wise god Omoikane, they devised a brilliant, festive plan to pique her...

Amaterasu Sealing Herself Inside the Heavenly Rock Cave, Plunging the World into Darkness

⛩️ Japanese MythologyAmano-Iwato Shrine, Miyazaki, JapanAmaterasu • Susanoo • Ame-no-Uzume

Driven to deep despair and grief by the destructive, reckless actions of her brother Susanoo, the sun goddess Amaterasu seals herself within the Heavenly Rock Cave, Amano-Iwato. Her withdrawal plunges both the heavens and the earth into complete, terrifying darkness and unleashes countless evil spirits. Through a clever, festive plan devised by the assembly of gods, Amaterasu is lured out of...

Susanoo Throwing a Flayed Horse into Amaterasu's Weaving Hall in a Wild Rage

⛩️ Japanese MythologyAma-no-Yassugawara, Miyazaki, JapanSusanoo • Amaterasu • Wakahirume

In Japanese mythology, the storm god Susanoo-no-Mikoto, drunk on pride after a sacred contest, goes on a destructive rampage in heaven. This culminates in him flaying a heavenly horse and throwing it through the roof of the sacred weaving hall of his sister, the sun goddess Amaterasu. Outraged and deeply grieved by the resulting death of a weaving maiden, Amaterasu retreats into the Heavenly...

Amaterasu Born from Izanagi's Left Eye During His Purification Bath

⛩️ Japanese MythologyEda Shrine, Miyazaki, JapanIzanagi-no-Mikoto • Amaterasu Ōmikami • Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto

After returning from the dark underworld of Yomi, the creator god Izanagi-no-Mikoto cleansed himself in a sacred river in Miyazaki. As he washed his left eye, the radiant sun goddess Amaterasu Ōmikami was born, bringing warmth and light to the cosmos. This act established the Shinto ritual of purification and birthed the most revered deities of Japan.