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The subject of the Sun is so universal and affects so many areas of our lives that a study of it easily extends beyond the disciplines of Science and Mathematics. Studying how other cultures view the Sun as well as, how other generations revered it will broaden the students appreciation for their own culture as well expand their knowledge and understanding of other people and times.

Sample Ideas and Topics for Discussion:

1. After studying the Shamash Hymn discuss the hymn and how it reflects the view of their Society toward the Sun at the time it was written.
   • Why is this poem considered beautiful?
   • How does this hun reflect the culture? Why do you think so?
   • Why was the Sun so important in the culture?
   • What did the Sun "do" for these people?
   • Research other poetry/hymns on the Sun?
   • Contrast and compare that view with your own culture and the attitudes now generally held regarding the Sun.
2. Write a poem about the Sun. Experiment with the different genres of poetry that you have studied in English this year. Take a look at one example of a poem done by Holly Bernitt.
3. Compose a song about the Sun. For extra-credit collaborate with a friend to compose the actual music for your song.
4. Consider what everyday life would be like in ancient Egypt. Imagine the importance that the Sun would have on your life. View yourself in different stations of life - from the slave to the Pharaoh. How would your life in each situation be affected by the Sun? Write a newspaper article reporting on everyday life in ancient Egypt. Do an imaginary interview of people from different strata of society to include in your article.
5. In reading about the different cultures consider their scientific achievements. Do you think that how some of them made the Sun part of their religious worship affected their scientific achievements? Why or why not?
6. On this site we studied many cultures and what they believed about the Sun. However some had other gods and other beliefs. Research who those other gods were and how belief in them affected the lives of the people who believed in them.
7. The worship of a Sun deity occurred in many cultures. Do you think that where the people lived on Earth played a part in how they viewed the Sun? Why? Why not? Were some geographic areas more likely to worship the Sun than others? Which ones? Why? Why not?
8. The Sun has had a strong impact on artists over the millenia. Look at the works on this site.
   • What do they "say" to you?
   • How do you "see" the Sun in them? Is it direct or implied?
   • What do you think the artist is trying to convey by choosing to capture the Sun the way he/she did?
   • Research other works by the same artist. Do they also reflect an interest in the Sun?
   • If so, is the treatment of the Sun done in the same way?
   • Does the artist focus primarily on nature scenes or indoor scenes?
   • Write a creative essay on one of the pieces included on this site.
9. Choose one of the Sun gods from our list of Sun gods from around the world and write an essay on it. If your culture has a Sun god that isn't on the list you can write an essay on them as well. After you finish your essay you can send it to us and we will endeavor to put it up on our page.

           
          

©Copyright 1998 Elizabeth Beckett, Holly Bernitt, and Vishwa Chandra.