Christmas

Many traditions of Christmas do not honor Christ. Rather, pagan gods such as Nimrod, Poseidon, and even the Hindu sun god Sûrya are commemorated through seemingly harmless practices.

This gallery highlights the similarity between Santa Claus and pagan gods. Learn more by reading Paganism and Catholicism: Religious Festivals, or Vance Ferrell's Christmas, Easter, and Halloween.

Many images in this album are featured in Amazing Discoveries' Total Onslaught: The Wine of Babylon lecture. Purchase The Wine of Babylon or view the lecture online.

Aruna drives Sûrya's sun chariot. This 12th-century relief is found in the Angkor Wat temple built by 'sun king' Sûrya Varman II. Source: Madanjeet Singh, The Sun in Myth and Art (London: UNESCO, 1993): 42.
Aruna drives Sûrya's sun chariot. This 12th-century relief is found in the Angkor Wat temple built by "sun king" Sûrya Varman II.

Source: Madanjeet Singh, The Sun in Myth and Art (London: UNESCO, 1993): 42.
Aruna drives the five-horse-drawn chariot of the sun god Sûrya. Eighteenth-century Pahari miniature from the Bharat Kala Museum, Varanasi, India. Source: Madanjeet Singh, The Sun in Myth and Art (London: UNESCO, 1993): 43.
Aruna drives the five-horse-drawn chariot of the sun god Sûrya. Eighteenth-century Pahari miniature from the Bharat Kala Museum, Varanasi, India.

Source: Madanjeet Singh, The Sun in Myth and Art (London: UNESCO, 1993): 43.
The sun god with his charioteer, Aruna. Source: The Hare Krisha Temple Portal.
The sun god with his charioteer, Aruna.

Source: The Hare Krisha Temple Portal.
A depiction of Santa Claus being pulled through the sky on his reindeer-drawn sleigh. Source: Santa Clipart Gallery.
A depiction of Santa Claus being pulled through the sky on his reindeer-drawn sleigh.

Source: Santa Clipart Gallery.
The Medallion of Cybele, excavated from Ai Khanum, Afganistan. Alexander the Great created this to remind him of his aspiration to 'rule like the sun.' Notice the star being born out of the moon. Source: Madanjeet Singh, The Sun in Myth and Art (London: UNESCO, 1993): 94.
The Medallion of Cybele, excavated from Ai Khanum, Afganistan. Alexander the Great created this to remind him of his aspiration to "rule like the sun." Notice the star being born out of the moon.

Source: Madanjeet Singh, The Sun in Myth and Art (London: UNESCO, 1993): 94.
Seventeenth-century Indian miniature painting from Rajasthan. Santi Choudhary Collection, Jaipiur. Source: Madanjeet Singh, The Sun in Myth and Art (London: UNESCO, 1993): 95.
Seventeenth-century Indian miniature painting from Rajasthan. Santi Choudhary Collection, Jaipiur.

Source: Madanjeet Singh, The Sun in Myth and Art (London: UNESCO, 1993): 95.
Helios in his sun chariot at Versailles is also said to represent the Sun King of France. Source: Madanjeet Singh, The Sun in Myth and Art (London: UNESCO, 1993): 101.
Helios in his sun chariot at Versailles is also said to represent the Sun King of France.

Source: Madanjeet Singh, The Sun in Myth and Art (London: UNESCO, 1993): 101.
The sun chariot of Sûrya. Indian miniature painting. Mewar school, eighteenth century. Source: Madanjeet Singh, The Sun in Myth and Art (London: UNESCO, 1993): 107.
The sun chariot of Sûrya. Indian miniature painting. Mewar school, eighteenth century.
Source: Madanjeet Singh, The Sun in Myth and Art (London: UNESCO, 1993): 107.
If you liked this article, please share it with others:
© 1993-2013 Amazing Discoveries™