Sun and wheel symbols widespread around 3000 years ago

European Museums, Swedish History Museum, Stockholm

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Sun and wheel symbols widespread around 3000 years ago

Skåne

Many early metal objects show sun and wheel symbols that seem to have been part of a mystical world-view that was widespread around 3000 years ago. We see these symbols for example on the Balkakra drum, which was not in fact a drum but a cult object, in the wheels of the bronze wagon and in sun crosses and belt-plates. Many razors have decoration which, taken together, can be interpreted as a description of how the sun returned day after day.

A fish takes the sun-ship up out of the sea, a bird takes over in the morning and a horse pulls the sun over its zenith high up in the heavens. In the afternoon the ship itself sails with the sun and is then, at dusk, pulled down to the underworld snake. The fish returns with the ship the next morning and completes the circle of the sun's journey. (See the picture in the case.)

We still have a need for stories that explain the way things are. Why is there life? What is time? Where does the universe end?

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Sun and wheel symbols widespread around 3000 years ago

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Source:  Stockholm, Sweden