Sol Invictus

• Sol Invictus was a late attempt to introduce the Sun as a God during the Roman Empire.
• Elagabalus (218-222 CE) introduced a new national holiday to the ‘Unconquered Sun’, just after the 21st December, and Aurelian dedicated a Temple to Sol Invictus on the 25th December 274 CE.

The ‘Unconquered Sun’

• Elagabalus (218-222 CE):
  • He introduced a day of worship to the Sun, Sol Invictus with a national Holiday a few days after the Winter Solstice, which occurs on December the 21st.

• Aurelian (270-275 CE):
  • He positioned Sol Invictus as the chief God in the Roman Pantheon of Gods. Aurelian wanted to absorb all the Roman Empire’s religions under one all encompassing religion.
  • He built a Temple dedicated to Sol Invictus in the Campus Agrippae in Rome, which was accompanied by great festivities, paid for from the booty of the defeated Palmyrene Empire.
  • The Temple was dedicated on 25 December 274 CE.