Helios and solar worship in Hellenic and Roman culture

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

The student identifies manifestations and aspects of solar worship in the literature and culture of the Greeks and Romans.

The student defines the roles attributed to solar deities by the Greeks and Romans.

The student observes the diversity of influences in the cult of Helios at the end of antiquity.

The student analyses the content of ancient literary works in the context of solar theology.

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

A general knowledge of Latin and Greek.
A sufficient knowledge of Greek religion and mythology.
An introductory orientation in Greek and Roman literature.
A basic orientation in Greek and Roman philosophy.

Syllabus

1. Introduction – Helios and solar deities in ancient Greece and Rome
2. Earliest sources - ancient lyrical and epical poetry
3. Helios in Greek theather
4. Greek philosophy and Helios – Presocratics, Aristotle
5. Plato and his dialogues
6. Helios in the Hellenistic period
7. Egypt of the Ptolemies – Isis, Osiris, Sarapis and the Aretalogies
8. Imperial period: Helios on the Imperial court
9. Imperial period: Helios in folk religion – magic and astrology
10. Late antique mystery cults – Orphism and Mithraism
11. Neoplatonism: Helios in the religion of philosophers
12. Neoplatonism: Proclus and the last breath of the pagan gods
13. Latin Neoplatonism – Macrobius’ Saturnalia and The Commentary to Scipio’s Dream
14. Excourse: The sun, moon and celestial bodies in Manichaeism: Acta Archelai, Alexander of Lycopolis, Manichaean psalms and the Kephalaia.
15. Final test

Reading for the course*:

Lecture 1: -

Lecture 2: Homer, Odyssey, fragments; Homeric Hymn to Helios; Hesiod, Theogony

Lecture 3: Sofocles, Ajax; Aristophanes, Pax

Lecture 4: Aristotle, On the Heavens.

Lecture 5: Plato, The Republic, books VI-VII

Lecture 6: Kleanthes, Hymns

Lecture 7: Isidorus, Hymns

Lecture 8: Mesomedes, Hymns

Lecture 9: The hymns of the Greek magical papyri, Manilius, Astronomica, Cornutus, Compendium of Greek Theology.

Lecture 10: Orphic Hymns

Lecture 11: Julian the Thaumaturgist, Chaldean Oracles, Julian, Hymn to Helios

Lecture 12: Proclus, Hymns; Elements of Theology

Lecture 13: Macrobius, Saturnalia

Lecture 14: Hegemonius, Acta Archelai; The Kephalaia of the Teacher; The Kellis Prayer of Emanations.

 

* Specific pieces of text and essays are also to be announced during the course.

Reading list

Primary literature:

Burkert, W. (1987). Greek Religion. Trans. J. Raffan. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Burkert, W. (1989). Ancient Mystery Cults. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Fauth, W. (1995). Helios Megistos: Zur synkretistischen Theologie der Spätantike. Leiden: Brill.

Furley, W., Bremer, J. (2001). Greek Hymns: Selected Cult Songs from the Archaic to the Hellenistic Period. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck.

Hijmans, S. E. (2024). Sol: Image and Meaning of the Sun in Roman Art and Religion. Vol. I-II. Leiden: Brill.

Job, M. (2022). Problem antycznej teologii solarnej. Katowice: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego.

Nilsson, M. P. (1956). Geschichte der griechischen Religion. Vol. I-II. München: C.H. Beck’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung.

Supplementary literature:

 

Berg, R. M. (2001). Proclus’ Hymns: Essays, Translations, Commentary. Leiden Boston: Brill.

Bortolani, L. M. (2016). Magical Hymns from Roman Egypt: A Study of Greek and Egyptian Traditions of Divinity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Boys-Stones, G. (2018). L. Annaeus Cornutus: Greek Theology, Fragments, and Testimonia. Writings from the Greco-Roman World 42. Atlanta: SBL Press.

Dodds, E. (1963). Proclus: Elementa Theologica. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Goold, G. P. (1977). Manilius: AstronomicaI. LCL 469. Cambridge, MA: Harvard  University Press

Heitsch, E. (1961). Die Griechischen Dichterfragmente der Römischen Kaiserzeit. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.

Kaster, R. A. (2011). Macrobius: Saturnalia, Volume I: Books 1-2. LCL 510. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Kidd, D. (1997). Aratus: Phaenomena. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Lieu, S. N. C. (2011). Greek and Latin Sources on Manichaean Cosmogony and Ethics. Corpus Fontium Manichaeorum, Series Subsidia 6. Turnhout: Brepols.

Majercik, R. (1989). The Chaldean Oracles. Leiden: Brill.

Malamis, D. (2025). The Orphic Hymns. Mnemosyne Supplements, vol. 486. Leiden-Boston: Brill.

 

Vanderlip, V. (1972). The four hymns of Isidorus and the cult of Isis. Toronto: The American Society of Papyrologists.

Wright, W. C. (1913). Julian: Orations 1-5. LCL 13. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.