The 2015 Astrotheology serves as a basic introduction
into the world of astrotheology and solar mythology. In addition
to showing lunar phases, this highlights the solstices,
equinoxes and fire festivals with a different color for each of
the eight relevant days. In our quest to inspire an interest in
astrotheology, mythology and archaeoastronomy, we have also
provided fascinating information about the astronomical
alignments and astrotheological meanings of various
archaeological sites and ancient artifacts from around the world.
The further explores the mythology surrounding the sun,
moon and other celestial features, especially the solstices and
equinoxes, to which many archaeological sites have been aligned.
This year's showcases the solstices and equinoxes, which
are celebrated in religious festivals and mythology, as well
as by alignments of fascinating ruins worldwide. On the cover, we
feature an image of the Pyramid complex at Giza, Egypt,
which marks the winter solstice, represented by the akhet or
symbol of the sun between two ains. In the , we
include images and text from the Bible, such as the prophet
Ezekiel's vision of four "creatures," symbols of the fixed signs
following the solstices and equinoxes (January), and Moses's
entry into the Promised Land (September), both of which tales
revolve around not historical persons and events but the
solstices and/or equinoxes.
We journey next to Athens, Greece, where an ancient theater was
built to celebrate the mythical life of the solar wine and vine
god, Dionysus, frequently fêted during the spring. Also in the
spring at the equinox (March), a shadowy snake slithers down the
side of the famous pyramid of the solar serpent god Quetzalcoal
at Chichen Itza, Yucatan. Likewise aligned to the vernal and
autumnal equinoxes is the monument at Stonehenge called the
"Cursus," which appears in April's imagery.
A fabulous Buddhist monument is highlighted as May's
image, which includes a statue of Buddha illuminated by the
sun's rays at the summer solstice. Summer solstice celebrations
also mark the "Nativity of St. John," who in reality is a
solar figure symbolizing the half-year period from the
summer to winter solstices, while his successor, Jesus, is the
presiding deity over the six-month winter-to-summer solstice
time. The sun's passage through the equinoxes and solstices is
marked also within Maori mythology, discussed in July's
image of the Pleiades.
Perhaps not so surprisingly, humanity has been marking these
annual milestones for many thousands of years, as demonstrated by
the 7,000-year-old ruins at Almendres, Portugal, featured in
August. As part of this ancient tradition, for October we revisit
Egypt, exploring the solar alignment of the Great Temple of
Ramesses II at Abu, Simbel.
A relatively unknown but massive Mayan site of Dzibilchaltún in
the Yucatán, México, has a "temple of Seven Dolls" that is
aligned to the equinoxes. Finally, for December we visit the
famous Temple of Zeus at Olympia, Greece, which is aligned to
Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo, myths
about which contributed to our "Christmas" traditions.
The 2015 Astrotheology serves as a basic introduction to
humanity's shared global heritage of nature worship and astral
mythology, and makes a great gift. (Note that this is
printed as a book and does not contain a hole, but a tack/pushpin
or nail can be used.)