Greek Sun God

Solstice marks start of summer

JUNE has the longest daylight hours, making it ideal for all kinds of outdoor activities. Or it would be, if it weren’t for June’s habit of bringing unsettled weather.

At the heart of the month is the summer solstice on the 21st, when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky.

Solstice derives from the Latin for “sun stands”, because the solar disc does appear to stand still for a few days. What the sun is really doing is rising and setting at the same point on the horizon.

After the solstice the days gradually grow shorter, though thankfully we don’t notice.

For a while the sky never becomes really dark and twilight lasts until dawn.

The further north you go the lighter it is, until you reach the lands of the midnight sun.

More than 2,000 years ago a Greek scholar used the solstice to make a remarkable calculation.

In the Egyptian city of Syene, Eratosthenes found a deep well where sunlight shone straight down the shaft at noon on the summer solstice.

This meant that the sun was directly overhead. On the same date to the north, in Alexandria, the midday sun didn’t reach the same point, so there an obelisk cast a short shadow.

Assuming the earth to be a sphere, Eratosthenes realised that the angle made by this shadow gave the curvature of the Earth between the two cities.

He found the distance between them by ordering marching soldiers to count their steps.

Then using simple geometry, he calculated the Earth’s circumference as 24,420 miles. Amazingly, this was 98% accurate.

Hail the sun

With the sun god at the peak of his power, this was a time of great celebration for ancient communities.

From Ireland to remotest Siberia people lit ritual bonfires, held torchlight processions or rolled flaming wheels down hillsides.

By imitating the sun’s light and its path through the sky they honoured the life-giving god and hoped to win his favour.

In the medieval and early modern world June was important for rituals of protection, because crops and livestock were approaching the time when they were most vulnerable to disease.

For people there was a risk of plague, typhoid or malaria and they had none of the medicines we use to combat them.

The smoke produced by burning purifying herbs was considered effective against these terrors.

Lighted torches were carried around the fields to protect the crops, while animals were driven through the smoke from bonfires.

Helios Greek Sun God Sketch ~ art of nik

Is inspired from the critically acclaimed famous PS3 game God of War 3 . The sheer power of the sun emanates out from this Greek God personifying the sun. In the game, Helios comes across as an admirably strong opponent with powers blinding like the sun. Whilst sketching Helios , Ive used no references what so ever. It is also certain that this sketch doesnt much resemble the Greek god of sun! But still, this is an attempt to rejuvenate my lost painting passion and to get back in the league to draw better like world class artists such as Greg Martin and Kiran Kumar .

In Greek mythology, the sun was personified as Helios. Helios was the All-Seeing god of the sun and was called upon witness when needed by the gods. As a son of the Titans Hyperion and Theia, and brother of the goddesses Selene, the moon, and Eos, the dawn. The names of these three were also the common Greek words for sun, dawn and moon. Helios was imagined as a handsome god crowned with the shining aureole of the sun, who drove the Sun Chariot across the sky each day to earth-circling Oceanus and through the world-ocean returned to the East at night. Homer described Helioss chariot as drawn by his Fire Steeds. Still later, the horses were given fiery names: Pyrois, Aeos, Aethon, and Phlegon.

As time passed, Helios was increasingly identified with the god of light, Apollo, but the two remained separate beings. Helios mythological Roman equivalent is Sol.

Helios was kidnapped by Atlas by orders of Persephone, who felt betrayed by the gods for being forced to stay with Hades six months out of every year. His disappearance allowed Morpheus, the god of dreams, to take over the mortal realm and cast the gods into a deep slumber. Helios was taken to the Underworld, where Atlas used his power to destroy the Pillar of the World-and with it, the rest of the planet. Before this plan could be fully achieved, the Sun God was saved by Kratos, who defeated Persephone and chained Atlas to the world in the Pillars place. During the battle with Persephone, Helios was held in Atlas hand, forming of an orb of light. The ray of sunlight he radiated was used by Kratos to weaken Persephone. After his final battle, an unconscious Kratos was stripped of his items by Helios and Athena. Helios, grateful for Kratos rescuing him, and showing pity for his sacrifices, suggests helping him further, only for Athena to disagree, claiming that "Hell live. They must.

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