sun-cult

A family gathers at dawn to observe the sun-cult ceremony.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Worship of the sun: "sun-cult" refers to a system of religious beliefs and practices centered on the veneration of the sun as a deity or a powerful natural force. This often involves rituals, ceremonies, and the construction of temples or monuments aligned with solar events.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The ancient Egyptians practiced a sun-cult centered on the god Ra. (A religious tradition focused on worshipping the sun.)
  • Archaeologists discovered evidence of a sun-cult in the ruins of the Inca city. (Remains indicating sun worship among the Inca people.)
  • Some modern pagan groups have revived a sun-cult as part of their spiritual practices. (Contemporary religious groups that honor the sun.)

Advanced Usage

• "to belong to a sun-cult": to be a member of a religious group that worships the sun.

  • The high priest belonged to a sun-cult that performed daily sunrise ceremonies. (He was a member of a group dedicated to sun worship.)

• "the rise of a sun-cult": the emergence or growing popularity of sun worship in a culture.

  • The rise of the sun-cult in ancient Persia coincided with agricultural prosperity. (The growth of sun worship was linked to farming success.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sun-cultist (n): a person who follows or practices a sun-cult.

  • The sun-cultists gathered at dawn to chant hymns to the rising sun. (Followers of the sun-cult performed a morning ritual.)

• Sun-cultic (adj): relating to or characteristic of a sun-cult.

  • The sun-cultic temple was built with a central opening to capture the sunlight. (The temple's design was specific to sun worship.)

Synonyms

• Solar worship: the veneration of the sun as a god or symbol.
• Heliolatry: the worship of the sun (from Greek "helios," meaning sun).

Related Idioms