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==Constantine== | ==Constantine== | ||
Roman emperors portrayed sol invictus on their official coinage, with a wide range of legends, only a few of which incorporated the epithet invictus, such as the legend ''soli invicto comiti'', claiming the "Unconquered Sun" as a companion to the Emperor, used with particular frequency by Emperor [[Constantine I]]. Statuettes of Sol Invictus, carried by the standard-bearers, appear in three places in reliefs on the Arch of Constantine. Constantine's official coinage continues to bear images of Sol until 325/326. A solidus of Constantine as well as a gold medallion from his reign depict the Emperor's bust in profile twinned (jugate) with Sol Invictus, with the legend invictus constantinus | |||
==Festival== | ==Festival== | ||
The Philocalian calendar of AD 354, part VI, gives a festival of natalis invicti on 25 December. There is limited evidence that this festival was celebrated before the mid-4th century. The same Philocalian calendar, part VIII, claims that the Lord [[Jesus Christ]] was born eight days before the calends of January (that is, on December 25). | The Philocalian calendar of AD 354, part VI, gives a festival of natalis invicti on 25 December. There is limited evidence that this festival was celebrated before the mid-4th century. The same Philocalian calendar, part VIII, claims that the Lord [[Jesus Christ]] was born eight days before the calends of January (that is, on December 25). | ||
Since the 12th century, there have been speculations that the near-solstice date of 25 December for Christmas was selected because it was the date of the festival of dies natalis solis invicti, but historians of late antiquity make no mention of this, and others speculate Aurelian chose December 25 to shadow early Christian celebrations already on the rise. | Since the 12th century, there have been speculations that the near-[[winter solstice]] date of 25 December for Christmas was selected because it was the date of the festival of dies natalis solis invicti, but historians of late antiquity make no mention of this, and others speculate Aurelian chose December 25 to shadow early Christian celebrations already on the rise. | ||
According to some historians, Christmas was set to December 25th because it was the date of the festival of Sol Invictus. This idea became popular especially in the 18th and 19th centuries. Some argue that Christianity assimilated the religion of Sol Invictus and that Jesus himself was Sol Invictus. | According to some historians, Christmas was set to December 25th because it was the date of the festival of Sol Invictus. This idea became popular especially in the 18th and 19th centuries. Some argue that Christianity assimilated the religion of Sol Invictus and that Jesus himself was Sol Invictus. | ||
[[Category:Deities]] | [[Category:Deities]] | ||