Posts Tagged With: Akhenaten

The Wicca Book of Days for July 21

Adoring Aten

In ancient Egyptian belief, July 21 marked the birthday of Aten, the divine disk of the sun, and was also considered the date on which the universe came into being, for it was told that after the Sun God – who was worshiped in various places and periods as Re, or Ra, Atum, Amun, and Amun-Re – had manifested himself, he went on to create the other Gods. Aten was once regarded as an aspect of Re (specifically, as the Sun God’s body), but gained temporary absolute primacy when he was elevated by Pharaoh Amenhotep IV (1372 – 54 BC.) to the unique position of sole divinity.

A Golden Egg

To celebrate the Sun, look out for a translation of the ancient Egyptian text called The Hymn to Aten, which Pharaoh Amenhotep is reputed to have composed. Alternatively, boil an egg and savor the sight of its golden yolk, a solar symbol.