Sun

::{{otheruses}} For the astrological significance of the Sun, see Solar system in astrology.

Human understanding of the Sun

:see also Sun worship

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Mankind's most fundamental understanding of the Sun is as the luminous disk in the heavens whose presence above the horizon creates day, and whose absence causes night. In many prehistoric and ancient cultures, the Sun was thought to be a deity or other supernatural phenomenon.

Related Topics:
Heavens - Horizon - Day - Night - Deity - Supernatural

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One of the first people in the Western world to offer a scientific explanation for the sun was the Greek philosopher Anaxagoras, who reasoned that it was a giant flaming ball of metal even larger than the Peleponessus, and not the chariot of Apollo. For teaching this heresy he was imprisoned by the authorities and sentenced to death (though later released through the intervention of Pericles).

Related Topics:
Greek - Philosopher - Anaxagoras - Chariot - Apollo - Heresy - Sentenced to death

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With respect to the fixed stars, the Sun appears from Earth to revolve once a year along the ecliptic through the zodiac. Thus, the Sun was considered by Greek astronomers to be one of the seven planets (Greek planetes "wanderer"), after which the seven days of the week are named in some languages.

Related Topics:
Fixed stars - Year - Ecliptic - Zodiac - Planets - Week

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