Shapash, Ancient Solar Powers
Monday, March 21st, 2011In celestial terms, the sun as the source of light and life has a currency that runs through all times and cultures. Today’s blend of lifestyle and technology have been woven together to make the energy source into something viable for people in their homes. While not all people who consult with California solar companies may know the vast history of the sun throughout the world, it is a similar path, walking in footsteps that are very well-tread. The relation between myth and technology is not at all a tenuous one, if one considers what these myths were for.
Looking at the Phoenician Goddess Shapash is one way of understanding how powerful celestial bodies shift over time, and also stay the same, only in other words and other images. She was revered for her powers in curing snake bites, and other charms, but her primary potential was her obvious qualities and abilities: warming the earth and providing illumination. This is where technology enters into the idea of a myth, and takes it in new directions. She also has profound connections to the underworld, because of the conception of the sun’s position at night. While these mythical connotations may not readily enter into science, they have metaphorical truths that simply don’t wane in time or geography.
