The Worship of the Sun

If we consider the hypothesis that the Atlanteans worshipped the Sun and that one of their central places of worship was a Temple of the Sun, this could provide a fascinating angle in the exploration of Atlantis, particularly when viewed through the lens of biblical prophecy and narratives like those in Ezekiel.

1. Sun Worship in Ancient Cultures

Sun worship was common in many ancient civilizations, including those in the Mediterranean and Near East. The Sun was often revered as a powerful deity associated with life, light, and authority. In some cases, this worship took place in grand temples dedicated to the Sun god, such as the Temple of Ra in ancient Egypt or similar temples in other sun-worshipping cultures.

If the Atlanteans also worshipped the Sun, their religious practices might have involved large, sophisticated temples dedicated to this deity, emphasizing their reverence for the Sun’s power. This could suggest that the Atlanteans, like other sun-worshipping civilizations, might have had a rich religious and architectural tradition centered around solar deities.

2. Yahweh’s Rejection of Idolatry

In Ezekiel 8, the prophet is shown men in the Temple of Jerusalem turning their backs to Yahweh to worship the Sun, which is a direct affront to the monotheistic worship of Yahweh.

This scene symbolizes Israel’s apostasy, as they abandon their covenant with Yahweh to follow foreign gods. In biblical theology, such acts of idolatry were seen as the ultimate betrayal of Yahweh, leading to divine judgment.

If we connect this biblical theme to Atlantis, one could speculate that if the Atlanteans were a powerful civilization engaged in sun worship, and if Yahweh desired their worship and loyalty, their devotion to the Sun rather than to Yahweh could have been seen as a major spiritual transgression.

This might align with the idea that their civilization, despite its greatness, could have faced divine retribution for its idolatry, similar to the biblical narrative of Israel’s judgment.

3. Exploration of Atlantis Through a Biblical Lens

• Archaeological Clues: If exploring potential sites for Atlantis, especially in areas associated with sun worship, archaeologists might look for large temple ruins or structures oriented towards solar phenomena (e.g., solstices). These could be indicators of a culture that held the Sun in high religious regard.
• Comparative Religion: Understanding the religious practices of Atlantis, if it indeed existed, could offer insight into why their civilization might have been judged and ultimately destroyed. This could be compared with the biblical accounts where nations that turned to idolatry faced severe consequences.
• Divine Judgment Parallel: The destruction of Atlantis could be interpreted as a form of divine judgment, similar to the biblical accounts where entire nations or cities were destroyed for their idolatry and moral corruption (e.g., Sodom and Gomorrah). If Atlantis was destroyed because of its devotion to a Sun god rather than to the one true God (Yahweh), this might parallel the theological themes seen in Ezekiel and other prophetic books.

4. Implications for the Search for Atlantis

• Identifying Worship Sites: If sun worship was central to Atlantean religion, the search for Atlantis could focus on finding ancient sites aligned with solar worship, which might have been significant cultural or religious centers.
• Interpreting Myths and Legends: Myths about Atlantis might be reinterpreted in light of biblical narratives. The fall of Atlantis could be seen not just as a natural disaster but as a divine act of judgment against a civilization that strayed from divine truth, similar to the prophetic condemnations of Israel and its neighbors.

Ezekiel verses

Ezekiel 8:5-6 (Idolatry in the Temple)

Verses: “Then he said to me, ‘Son of man, look toward the north.’ So I looked, and in the entrance north of the gate of the altar I saw this idol of jealousy. And he said to me, ‘Son of man, do you see what they are doing—the utterly detestable things the Israelites are doing here, things that will drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see things that are even more detestable.'”

Narrative Support: This passage introduces the vision where Ezekiel is shown the idolatry occurring in the Temple, setting the stage for the other forms of worship that are offensive to God, including the worship of the Sun.

Ezekiel 8:10-11 (Worship of Images)

Verses: “So I went in and looked, and I saw portrayed all over the walls all kinds of crawling things and unclean animals and all the idols of Israel. In front of them stood seventy elders of Israel… each had a censer in his hand, and a fragrant cloud of incense was rising.”

Narrative Support: This verse describes the leaders of Israel worshipping images and idols inside the Temple, a direct violation of their covenant with Yahweh. It highlights the widespread nature of idolatry among the people, including their leaders.

Ezekiel 8:14 (Women Weeping for Tammuz)

Verses: “Then he brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the house of the Lord, and I saw women sitting there, mourning the god Tammuz.”

Narrative Support: This verse depicts the worship of the Mesopotamian god Tammuz, further evidence of the Israelites adopting foreign religious practices, which Yahweh found abhorrent.

Ezekiel 8:16 (Worship of the Sun)

Verses: “He then brought me into the inner court of the house of the Lord, and there at the entrance to the temple, between the portico and the altar, were about twenty-five men. With their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, they were bowing down to the sun in the east.”

Narrative Support: This is the clearest reference to sun worship in the passage. The men are depicted worshipping the sun, turning their backs to the Temple of the Lord, symbolizing their rejection of Yahweh in favor of a foreign deity. This act of turning away from the Temple towards the Sun is a potent symbol of apostasy and highlights the severity of their idolatry.

Conclusion

If we accept that the Atlanteans worshipped the Sun and built grand temples dedicated to this deity, this could indeed provide valuable clues in the exploration of Atlantis.

By drawing parallels with the biblical accounts of idolatry and divine judgment, particularly in Ezekiel, we can hypothesize that Atlantis might have been a civilization that, like many others, fell due to its moral and spiritual failings.

This approach offers a unique and theologically rich perspective for understanding the potential fate of Atlantis within the broader context of ancient religious history.