sun god travel

Unraveling the Mythical Odyssey of Ra: The Sun God and His Celestial Sun-Barge

The sun god {ra}and his celestial sun-barge, introduction.

Among the ancient pantheon of Egyptian gods, few are as revered and majestic as Ra, the sun god. He is depicted as the celestial embodiment of the sun, bestowing warmth, light, and life upon the earth. According to Egyptian mythology, Ra embarked on a fascinating cosmic journey each day aboard his divine sun-barge, heralding the creation of the world anew. In this article, we delve into the captivating legend of Ra and his magnificent sun-barge, exploring the symbolism and significance behind this awe-inspiring myth.

Egypt Mythology The Sun God (Ra)and His Celestial Sun-Barge

Ra, the Sun God: A Divine Icon of Creation

In Egyptian mythology, Ra, also known as Re, is the foremost deity associated with the sun. He represents creation, fertility, and the cycle of life and death. Often depicted with the head of a falcon crowned by a sun disk, Ra’s brilliance symbolizes the solar rays that nourish the earth and give life to all living beings. As the most powerful god in the pantheon, Ra held a prominent position in the hearts and minds of the ancient Egyptians.

The Mythical Sun-Barge: The Vessel of Divine Majesty

According to ancient Egyptian beliefs, Ra’s sun-barge was an ethereal boat that traversed the sky during the day, carrying the god across the celestial realm. The sun-barge played a pivotal role in the journey of Ra, as he sailed from the eastern horizon at dawn, illuminating the world, and then embarked on a perilous voyage through the underworld at night, facing various challenges before emerging victorious to rise again the next day.

Ra’s Daily Odyssey: The Cosmic Cycle

The myth of Ra’s sun-barge narrates a timeless tale of creation and renewal. Each day, Ra’s journey commenced with the sunrise, signifying the rebirth of the world. As he sailed across the sky, the sun-barge gifted warmth and light to the land, allowing crops to grow and civilizations to thrive. His presence was seen as a symbol of divine protection and benevolence.

Nightfall and the Underworld Passage

As the day drew to a close, Ra’s sun-barge embarked on a treacherous passage through the perilous underworld, where it encountered various adversaries and chaotic forces. This part of the journey symbolized the struggle between light and darkness, life and death. Ra faced challenges from serpent-like creatures and other malevolent forces, which he valiantly overcame, showcasing the triumph of good over evil.

Ra’s Resurrection and Daily Renewal

Despite the adversities faced during the night, Ra triumphed over darkness and emerged victorious, being reborn each morning as the sun rose again. This eternal cycle of death and rebirth symbolized the continuation of life, the promise of renewal, and the reassurance of cosmic order in the ancient Egyptian worldview.

Symbolism and Spiritual Significance

The myth of Ra and his sun-barge carries profound symbolic meanings and spiritual significance. It reflects the Egyptians’ deep connection to nature, the cosmos, and the cyclical nature of existence. Ra’s journey also embodies the concept of the pharaoh’s divine authority, as the ruler was often associated with the sun god, sharing in his power and responsibility to maintain cosmic balance.

What is Ra’s secret name ?

In Egyptian mythology, Ra was believed to have a secret name, which held immense power and was known to only a select few. The secret name of a deity was considered extremely sacred, as it encapsulated the true essence and authority of the god. Knowing a god’s secret name bestowed great influence over that god, potentially giving the possessor control or power over them.

The secret name of Ra is not explicitly mentioned in surviving ancient texts or inscriptions. It was so sacred that it was rarely recorded or shared openly. The ancient Egyptians believed that knowing and uttering a god’s secret name without proper authorization could bring about disastrous consequences or misuse of divine power.

One of the most famous stories regarding secret names in Egyptian mythology is the tale of Isis, who sought to learn Ra’s secret name to gain control over him and obtain his power. In the story, Isis succeeded in learning Ra’s secret name, which she used to persuade Ra to reveal more information and ultimately gain his protection for her son Horus.

While the specific secret name of Ra remains unknown, the concept of a hidden and powerful name was a common belief in ancient Egyptian religion and played a crucial role in their mystical practices and rituals. The idea of the secret name added an aura of mystery and reverence to the already revered figure of Ra, the mighty sun go d.

What is Ra’s ship called ?

Ra’s ship is called the “Barque of Ra” (also spelled as “Barge of Ra” or “Solar Barque”). It refers to the celestial boat or vessel that the sun god Ra was believed to sail across the sky each day during the daytime and through the underworld during the nighttime.

The Barque of Ra played a central role in Egyptian mythology and religious beliefs, as it represented the journey of the sun god and the eternal cycle of the sun’s rising and setting. According to Egyptian cosmology, Ra would travel from the eastern horizon at dawn, bringing light and warmth to the world, and then sail through the perilous underworld during the night, facing various challenges and adversaries before being reborn with each sunrise.

The concept of Ra’s solar barque was an essential aspect of Egyptian religious rituals and beliefs, and it symbolized the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth. The pharaohs, who were considered divine or semi-divine, were often associated with Ra and believed to join him in his celestial voyage after their death, emphasizing their connection to the divine and the afterlife.

What is Ra’s weakness ?

In Egyptian mythology, Ra , the powerful sun god, did not have a commonly known or specific weakness in the traditional sense of vulnerability. As one of the principal deities, Ra was considered invincible and immortal, representing the eternal cycle of the sun’s rise and fall each day.

However, there are some stories and myths where Ra exhibits moments of weakness or vulnerability. For instance, in one myth, it is mentioned that as Ra grew old, he became frail and weak. This led to the belief that the sun’s intensity waned during the night or in the winter season when the sun’s warmth and light were not as strong.

In another myth, it is said that Ra was vulnerable to the power of the serpent god, Apep (also known as Apophis), who represented chaos and darkness. Apep was Ra’s arch-nemesis and would try to thwart Ra’s journey through the underworld each night by attempting to devour him and prevent the sun from rising again. Ra had to be protected by other gods and divine forces during this perilous nightly journey.

Despite these moments of vulnerability in certain myths, it’s essential to understand that Ra’s overall image was that of an all-powerful and enduring deity, and the concept of weakness or defeat did not diminish his significance or divine status in Egyptian mythology.

Who is the sun god in ancient Egypt ?

The sun god in ancient Egypt is Ra (also spelled Re). Ra was one of the most important and revered deities in the Egyptian pantheon. He represented the sun and was associated with creation, light, warmth, and life. Ra was often depicted with the head of a falcon crowned with a sun disk, symbolizing the solar orb.

As the sun god, Ra played a central role in Egyptian mythology and religious beliefs. It was believed that he sailed across the sky during the day in his celestial sun-barge, bringing light and warmth to the world. At night, Ra traveled through the perilous underworld, facing various challenges, only to be reborn again with each sunrise.

Throughout Egyptian history, Ra’s worship was widespread, and he was often syncretized with other deities, forming composite gods like Amun-Ra during the New Kingdom. The pharaohs were believed to be his earthly representatives, and Ra’s cult had immense influence on the religious and cultural practices of ancient Egypt.

who is Ra God Wife?

In ancient Egyptian mythology, Ra, the sun god, had several wives throughout different periods of Egyptian history. One of his most prominent and revered wives was the goddess Hathor. Hathor was a multifaceted deity associated with joy, love, music, dance, fertility, and motherhood. She was often depicted as a cow or as a woman with cow’s horns and a sun disk on her head, symbolizing her close connection to both the sky and the nurturing aspects of nature.

Hathor played a vital role as the wife of Ra and was considered a protective and nurturing figure. She was believed to assist Ra on his solar journey, welcoming him back to the eastern horizon each morning as he rose to bring light and warmth to the world. She also accompanied Ra on his nightly journey through the underworld, providing comfort and protection during the challenging voyage.

As the goddess of love and joy, Hathor was also associated with the rejuvenation of Ra’s spirit. It was believed that her presence and divine love were essential for maintaining the sun god’s vitality and ensuring the continuation of the world’s cyclical order.

It is essential to note that Egyptian mythology evolved over thousands of years, and the relationships between deities, including Ra and his wives, could vary based on different regional and historical contexts. Other goddesses, such as Sekhmet and Bastet, were also associated with Ra in various aspects and played roles in his divine retinue.

Overall, Hathor stood out as one of the most significant and enduring consorts of Ra, representing the cosmic harmony and the vital connection between the sun god and the life-giving forces of the natural world.

Ra and The Sun Boat?

In ancient Egyptian mythology, Ra, the powerful sun god, was believed to journey across the sky each day in his divine vessel known as the “Sun Boat” or “Solar Barque.” This celestial boat played a crucial role in Ra’s daily cycle, representing the sun’s movement and the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

The Sun Boat was considered a sacred and magical vessel that carried Ra on his daily odyssey across the heavens. Each morning, at the break of dawn, Ra would embark on his journey from the eastern horizon, symbolizing the sun rising and illuminating the world. As he sailed through the sky, he brought warmth, light, and life to all living beings, ensuring the prosperity and growth of the land.

As the day progressed, Ra’s Sun Boat would continue its voyage across the celestial sea. The boat was often depicted with a distinct solar disk at its front, representing the sun itself. The boat was also believed to carry other deities and souls of the deceased, who would accompany Ra on his journey through the day and the night.

As evening approached, Ra’s Sun Boat would reach the western horizon, signifying the sun’s setting. During this time, Ra would begin his perilous journey through the underworld, where he would face various challenges and encounters with chaotic forces and malevolent beings. It was believed that Ra’s nightly journey represented the struggle between light and darkness, good and evil, as he traveled through the treacherous underworld.

However, despite the dangers of the underworld, Ra would emerge victorious and be reborn each morning, continuing the eternal cycle of life and reaffirming the cosmic order. This daily resurrection of the sun symbolized hope, renewal, and the promise of a new day for the ancient Egyptians.

The Sun Boat’s symbolism extended beyond the celestial journey of Ra. It was also associated with the pharaoh’s role and the concept of kingship. The pharaoh was often considered the earthly representative of Ra and would join the sun god in the Sun Boat after death, traveling with him through the afterlife.

Overall, the myth of Ra and the Sun Boat was a central aspect of ancient Egyptian religious beliefs, emphasizing the importance of the sun as a life-giving force and the eternal cycle of creation and renewal. It reflected the Egyptians’ deep connection to nature, the cosmos, and the divine, shaping their cultural and religious practices for millennia.

The captivating legend of Ra and his sun-barge remains a testament to the rich and imaginative mythology of ancient Egypt. As the god of the sun and creation, Ra’s daily odyssey symbolized the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth. His celestial journey across the sky in the sun-barge represented the continuous renewal of the world, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural, religious, and spiritual beliefs of the ancient Egyptians. Today, the legacy of Ra and his sun-barge endures, reminding us of the timeless wisdom embedded in this ancient myth.

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Frequently Asked Questions of Ra The Sun God

Ra, also known as Re, is the prominent sun god in ancient Egyptian mythology. He represents creation, fertility, and the cycle of life and death. Depicted with the head of a falcon crowned by a sun disk, Ra’s brilliance symbolizes the solar rays that nourish the earth and give life to all living beings.

Ra’s sun-barge, known as the “Barque of Ra” or “Solar Barque,” was a celestial boat that the sun god sailed in each day. It represented the journey of the sun across the sky and symbolized the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth. The sun-barge played a pivotal role in Ra’s daily odyssey, bringing light and warmth to the world during the day and navigating the perilous underworld during the night.

Ra’s daily journey consists of two significant phases: the sunrise journey across the sky and the nighttime passage through the underworld. During the sunrise, Ra’s sun-barge brings light and warmth to the world, signifying the rebirth of the world each day. At night, Ra faces challenges from adversaries and chaotic forces in the underworld, showcasing the triumph of good over evil as he emerges victorious with each sunrise.

Ra, being a powerful and immortal deity, did not have a commonly known or specific weakness. However, some myths depict Ra as growing old and frail, resulting in the sun’s intensity waning during the night or in the winter season. In certain myths, Ra is also vulnerable to the serpent god Apep, who represents chaos and darkness, and tries to thwart Ra’s nightly journey through the underworld.

Ra’s secret name, also known as his true name, was considered extremely sacred and held immense power. However, the specific secret name of Ra is not explicitly mentioned in surviving ancient texts or inscriptions. The ancient Egyptians believed that knowing and uttering a god’s secret name without proper authorization could bring about disastrous consequences or misuse of divine power.

Ra had several wives throughout different periods of Egyptian history. One of his most prominent wives was the goddess Hathor. Hathor, associated with joy, love, and motherhood, played a vital role as Ra’s wife, accompanying him on his daily journey and providing comfort and protection during his nightly voyage through the underworld.

Ra’s Solar Barque: Origin Story, Meaning, & Importance

by World History Edu · August 29, 2023

Ancient Egyptian god Ra ‘s sun boat, also known as the solar barque or the solar barge, is a central symbol in ancient Egyptian mythology, representing the journey of the sun god Ra across the sky and through the underworld.

The concept of Ra’s daily resurrection emphasized the idea of life after death. Just as Ra was reborn each day, Egyptians believed that individuals could experience a similar rebirth in the afterlife. This belief was central to Egyptian funerary practices, where rituals and preparations were made to ensure a successful journey to the afterlife. Image: Ancient Egyptian solar deity Ra riding in his solar barque

Daily Journey

Every day, Ra would sail across the sky in his sun boat, bringing light to the world. This journey represented the cycle of sunrise to sunset. The boat’s voyage across the sky signified the day, while its journey through the underworld (or the Duat) represented the night.

Enemies in the Underworld

During the night, Ra’s sun boat would navigate through the underworld. In this perilous journey, Ra faced various challenges and adversaries, the most notorious being the serpent-demon Apep (or Apophis).

Every night, Apep tried to devour the sun boat, seeking to plunge the world into eternal darkness. With the help of other deities and spells, Ra managed to fend off Apep and ensure the sun’s rebirth each morning.

Seth protecting Ra from the evil serpent Apophis

Symbolism of Renewal

The daily rebirth of Ra, as he emerged from the underworld at dawn, symbolized renewal, resurrection, and the cyclical nature of life and death. This belief was central to Egyptian religion and cosmology.

It must also be noted that Ra’s daily journey reinforced the Egyptian concept of Ma’at , which represented divine order, harmony, and balance in the world. Ra’s regular return each day signified the maintenance of this cosmic balance, ensuring the world continued to function as it should.

Representation in Tombs and Temples

The image of the sun boat was commonly depicted in various Egyptian artworks, especially in tombs and temples. The boat’s depiction was believed to offer protection and ensure the deceased’s safe passage through the afterlife, akin to Ra’s journey through the underworld.

READ MORE: Ancient Egyptian Symbols and their Meanings

Solar Barques in Archaeology

Actual physical boats, termed “solar barques,” were discovered near the pyramids, notably near the Great Pyramid of Giza. These boats, like the Khufu ship, were believed to be ritualistic vessels to carry the pharaohs in the afterlife, aligning with the sun god’s journey.

Ra’s daily journey symbolized the cyclical nature of existence, where life and death were not viewed as linear but as part of an eternal cycle. The sun’s rising and setting represented the constant cycle of creation, destruction, and rebirth in the universe. Image: Solar deity Ra in his ram-headed form traveling through the underworld in his solar barque on the subterrestrial Nile, from the copy of the Book of Gates in the tomb of Ramses I (KV16)

The concept of the sun boat not only encapsulated the Egyptians’ understanding of the daily solar cycle but also delved deeper into themes of life, death, renewal, and the eternal struggle between order and chaos.

READ MORE: List of Ancient Egyptian Deities and Their Roles in the Pantheon

Tags: Apophis Ra Ra's solar barque Set (Seth)

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isis: Isis: The Queen of the Egyptian Gods

The Egyptian Sun God Ra

Surrounded by desert, the people of ancient Egypt believed that the sun was the most important aspect of the universe. Here’s everything you need to know about Ra, the Egyptian solar god.

According to many Egyptian legends, the sun was the source of all life.

While they depended on the Nile for agriculture and trave, the people of ancient Egypt saw the sun as the main creative force. It was consistent and powerful, while the availability of water varied.

Many gods were associated with the sun. Ra was the foremost of these and was often said to have been the creator of mankind.

Despite his power, however, Ra was often associated with other gods. He shared his domain and even his throne with many other deities, but famous and little-known.

Often shown as a powerful king with the disc of the sun above his head, Ra took many forms and names in his role as Egypt’s father god.

The Origin Myth of Ra

Over the course of thousands of years of their culture’s history, the Egyptians often changed the details of their myths. While the gods remained relatively consistent the stories concerning them did not.

This is in part because the people of ancient Egypt put much less emphasis on the actions of the gods than other cultures often did. The most popular stories of the gods, at least among surviving writings, focus more on their roles in the afterlife than in creation.

Because of this, our understanding of the Egyptian creation myth is often less well-understood than other aspects of their religion.

There are two versions of the story of Ra’s birth, both of which begin with Nun.

Nun was the primordial void that was the only thing in existence before the first gods were created. It was an infinite sea without thought or consciousness.

In one version of the story, a spark of consciousness took form in Nun. This became Ra, who willed himself into existence out of nothingness.

In another version of the story, it was Amun who came into existence. Along with Ptah, the god of crafts, he created an egg that floated in Nun. From this egg, Ra was born.

Like Ra his first children also had no mother. He created twins, Shu and his sister Tefnut.

Shu became the god of dry air while Tefnut represented mists and moisture. The twins also represented the passage of time, with the dry air of Shu preserving things over time and Tefnut’s humidity causing decay.

As air deities, however, Shu and Tefnut did not remain by their father. They quickly floated away and disappeared.

The Creation of Man and the Gods

Ra searched for his children, but because there was no light it was impossible to find them. The aid in his search he pulled out one of his own eyes and cast it upwards to provide light.

Rather than remain with a single eye, Ra created another to replace the one he had pulled out. When his eye returned, it was jealous that it had been replaced.

To appease his eye, Ra made his new one dimmer. His first eye became the sun while the second was the moon.

As Ra searched for his children he began to weep, either from grief or frustration. These tears became the first men.

Ra soon saw that these men had land to walk on and his eyes had a sky to move through. Shut and Tefnut had given birth to two children, the earth god Geb and the sky goddess Nut.

Ra hoped to marry Nut but she had already fallen in love with Geb. Although their father Shu, the air, tried to keep them apart she refused to marry Ra instead.

Ra was infuriated and decreed that Nut would not have a child on any day of any month of the year. This curse was meant to keep her from ever having children, but Ra did not know that it would be ineffective.

Thoth had been playing a board game with Khonsu, the god of the moon. Whenever the moon god lost he gave up a little of his light.

By the time they had finished playing Thoth had enough light to add five days to the lunar year . Because of this, the moon was out of sync with the solar calendar and five days had to be added to the end of the year.

These extra five days did not belong to any month so they fell outside of Ra’s curse. Nut gave birth to Osiris, Isis , Set, Nephthys, and Horus and Ra remained unmarried.

Ra’s Retirement

Although it was said to have come from his body, the sun was called the Eye of Horus in most Egyptian sources. This is because Ra eventually abdicated power.

In some stories the succession of divine kings fell into a natural order. First Geb, then Osiris, took power until it was passed down to the second Horus, Osiris and Isis’s son.

In another, however, Isis conspired to have her son inherit Ra’s eye directly from its source.

A book of spells from the 12th century BC combined mythology, medicine and magic to address daily concerns. The spells were said to come from Isis and the stories recorded explained how they originated.

In one, Isis wanted to learn Ra’s secret name. He went by many names, including Ra which was the word for the sun, but his secret name would give power to anyone who used it.

By this time Ra was old and growing weak, and like many elderly people he kept a very predictable daily routine. Every day he took a walk to survey his lands, so Isis placed a snake at a crossroads she knew he would pass.

Ra was immune to most snakebites, but this snake’s venom had been made from his own essence. He was badly wounded and called all the gods together to find a cure.

None of the gods knew how to cure the snakebite except for Isis. She offered to cure him but demanded knowledge of his secret name as payment.

Ra tried to avoid this by answering with a riddle:

I am the maker of heaven and earth,

I am the establisher of the mountains,

I am the creator of the waters,

I am the maker of the secrets of the two horizons.

I am the light and I am darkness,

I am the maker of the hours, the creator of days.

I am the opener of festivals,

I am the maker of running streams,

I am the creator of living flame.

I am Khepri in the morning, Ra at noontime, and Atum in the evening.

Isis was unmoved, however, and insisted on hearing the name in exchange for a cure. Ra finally relented and whispered the name to Isis.

The incantation Isis recited was included in the story. It was believed that it would be as effective on human patients as it had been on the god.

Once he was cured, however, Isis asked for another payment. Her son Horus would one day be king and she wanted him to have both of Ra’s eyes, the sun and the moon.

Merged Gods

When Horus took the kingship, he became the new sun god.

Horus and Ra were often associated with different aspects of the sun. Horus was the younger king so he was the god of the sunrise, while the venerable Ra was the god of the midday sun.

In some parts of Egypt, Horus and Ra were therefore very closely associated with one another. The sun god sometimes went by the name Ra-Horakhty, or “Ra the Horizon Horus.”

This was not the only god who came to be associated with Ra, however. Some were so closely linked that they became interchangeable.

They included:

Amun – He was a wind deity to created life through breath. By the Fifth Dynasty, the two beings had merged into the widely-venerated Amun-Ra. Amun, or Ammon in Greek, was sometimes named in place of Ra in later sources.
Raet – Also called Raet-Tawy, she was a female aspect of Ra. She is rarely mentioned in Egyptian writings and her relationship to Ra was unclear.
Atum – Another solar god, he often features instead of Ra in the story of Tefnut and Shu’s creation. They were often worshipped together as Atum-Ra or Ra-Atum.
Khepri – The representation of the rising sun was not a god but a giant scarab beetle who rolled the sun disc over the horizon.
Khnum – The opposite of Khefri, Khnum was the god of the setting sun. The ram-headed god was also given as an alternative for the creator of man as the god of pottery and the source of the Nile.
Aten – The cult of Aten was a short-lived attempt by the pharaoh Akhenaten to make the minor deity the principal god of all Egyptians . Akhenaten merged Amun-Ra with his personal god, sometimes calling him Aten-Ra to promote his cult.
Montu – Originating in Thebes, Montu was the chief god of Upper Egypt. While he was originally associated with stars, his position as the counterpart of Amun, the god of Lower Egypt, led to him being called Montu-Ra.
Osiris – When he traveled through the Underworld, Ra was believed to merge with Osiris.

Over time, Ra’s position as the god of the sun was diminished to that of only the midday sun. While he remained prominent and important, other deities shared domain over the sun at various times of the day.

Ra, however, retained the sun in his iconography and imagery. He was shown with the sun disc above his head and cosmology often featured him, or his eye, moving across the daytime sky.

And images of what happened after the sun set featured Ra as well.

Ra In the Underworld

Many of the Egyptian gods had ties to the Underworld.

Egyptian religion was largely focused on what happened to the soul after death. The best-preserved documents from the area are funerary texts and elaborate tomb writings, all of which feature the gods.

There were some gods and beasts said to solely inhabit the Underworld, but virtually all of the gods had dealings with that realm. The gods were capable of death and rebirth just like humans and many also traveled to the Underworld for specific purposes.

As the solar deity, Ra’s link to the Underworld was his disappearance at night.

When the sun went below the horizon in the evening, the Egyptians believed that it traveled to the Underworld. Ra, in essence, died each night and was reborn every morning.

The Egyptians believed that he traveled on two boats, one during the day and one at night. To go through the Underworld he traveled on Mesektet, the boat of the evening.

He merged with Osiris, another former god king who had become the ruler of the Underworld after his own death. The pharaohs also merged with Osiris at death , so Ra’s journey represented the entirety of kingship in the afterlife.

In the Underworld, Ra often took on a ram-headed form. This may be the origin of his identification with Khnum, who also had the head of a ram.

Rams were also identified with strength, which Ra needed for his nightly journey through the land of the dead. Every night, he was attacked by the serpent Apophis.

Apophis, or Apep, embodied chaos and destruction and his goal was to devour Meseket so the sun could not rise again in the morning. Every night Osiris-Ra fought him off, often with help from other gods.

The violent god Set was often said to accompany Ra through the Underworld. He often fought off the monstrous Apophis.

Mehen, a protective snake, was said to fight off other monsters of the Underworld.

Storms that arose at night were sometimes said to be Ra and Set fighting Apophis in the Underworld.

By the time of the New Kingdom, it was believed that Ra could also help the living communicate with the dead. When people gave blessings to the souls of the dead, Ra carried them in his ship each night.

Pharaohs and the Pyramids

As a one-time king, Ra was also closely associated with mortal kingship in Egypt.

It is not known when the kings of Egypt began to refer to themselves as incarnations of Horus. This became a common convention, however, and the pharaohs were eventually revered as gods in human form.

In the Fourth Dynasty, inscriptions referred to the kings as “Sons of Ra.” Fifth Dynasty rulers sometimes said that they were specifically the sons of Ra and the priestess of his temple at Heliopolis.

In the Middle Kingdom the pharaohs became more closely affiliated with Osiris and Horus, but their connection to the original sun deity remained strong.

Throughout most of Egyptian history, the pharaohs including “Son of Ra” as part of their name. This was a title given to them at birth and considered part of their personal name.

Ra’s name was also included in the pharaoh’s throne name, or prenomen. While historians usually refer to the pharaohs by their personal names, without the Son of Ra title, the throne name was what would have been used during the king’s reign in official contexts.

Thus in both their private and public lives, the pharaohs associated themselves with Ra through their names.

They also did so in their building projects. While the state supported many of Egypt’s gods, the solar deity always received special recognition from the pharaohs.

Monumental architecture was one way in which kings in the ancient world ensured their legacies, Rulers in ancient Egypt focused on buildings that venerated the sun.

Because of their connection to Ra and Horus the pharaohs funneled vast resources into temples and monuments to the sun. Egypt’s many obelisks, for example, were designed as monuments to the sun.

According to some Egyptologists, the pyramids also served as enormous symbols of the sun’s power.

Because Ra traveled through the Underworld each night, he was considered to be an important protector of the dead as well as a symbol of pharaonic power. The pyramids rose to the sun to connect the souls of the pharaohs to their ancestor.

One interpretation of the construction of the pyramids was that the soul of the king would be able to ride to Ra on the sun’s rays as they hit the structure’s tip. When they were first built the pyramids were capped with god to catch the light of the sun.

Many people also believe that the pyramid complex at Giza was built with the sun’s movements in mind. Historians have theorized that the Giza complex was designed to align with the sun at various times of the year.

Ra was the principal solar god of Egyptian religion.

He was said to have been one of the first, if not the first, god to emerge from nothingness. He became the ancestor of many of the religion’s other powerful gods including Osiris, Horus, and the earth god Geb.

In these legends he is also a creator god. Many myths say that the first humans were formed from his tears.

The sun and moon were made from his eyes. The most powerful of these, the sun, became a symbol of kingship.

Ra was the first king of the Egyptian gods and ruler of their land. Power eventually passed to other gods, including Horus who took Ra’s place as the keeper of the eye of the sun.

As the ancestor of the gods and the first king, Ra was also seen as an ancestor of the pharaohs. Their names and monuments cite Ra as their father and glorify his power.

Ra was often associated with other Egyptian gods, including those who had also been kings. These deities were often referred to by a shared name and seen as other aspects of the sun’s power.

Ra was also an Underworld god, like many in Egyptian religion. When the sun set at night he traveled through the Underworld, fighting chaos until he was reborn in the morning.

My name is Mike and for as long as I can remember (too long!) I have been in love with all things related to Mythology. I am the owner and chief researcher at this site. My work has also been published on Buzzfeed and most recently in Time magazine. Please like and share this article if you found it useful.

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Ra: Sun God of the Ancient Egyptians

“Amun Ra,” “Atum Ra,” or maybe just “Ra” is the god who made sure the sun was rising, who would travel the underworld by boat, and who ruled over all other Egyptian gods. He is perhaps one of the oldest deities in human history. As the sun god, Ra was powerful and deadly, but he also protected the people of ancient Egypt from great harm.

Table of Contents

Who is Ra? Is Ra the Most Powerful God of Ancient Egypt?

As the creator god and father of all other Egyptian gods , Ra was the chief deity in ancient Egypt . Ra has, at different times, been called “The King of the Gods,” the “sky god,” and the “controller of the sun.” Ra ruled over the sky, earth, and underworld . He was worshipped across Egypt, and when worshippers wanted to raise their own gods to a higher power, they would meld them with Ra.

Is Re or Ra the God of the Sun?

Sometimes it is difficult to remember that the translations of gods’ names can come from different places. The Coptic translation of the Egyptian hieroglyphic is “Re,” while translations from Greek or Phoenician are “Ra.” Even today, some sources use “Amun Re” or “Atum Re” when referring to the merged gods.

What are the Names of Ra?

Ra has many epithets in ancient Egyptian mythology and art. “The Renewer of the Earth,” “The Wind in the Souls,” “The Sacred Ram in the West,” “The Exalted One,” and “The Sole One” all appear in hieroglyphic labels and texts.

Ra is sometimes known as “ Horus of the Two Horizons” or as a composite deity known as “Ra Horakhty.”

Who Was “Atum Ra”?

In Heliopolis (“The City of the Sun,” modern-day Cairo), there was a local god called “ Atum .” He was known as the “King of the Gods” and “The Father of the Nine” (the Ennead). He was said to be a local version of the globally worshipped Ra and was often referred to as “Atum Ra” or “Ra Atum.” There is no evidence that Atum-Ra was worshipped outside of this city. Still, the city’s important connections to the Greek Empire meant that later historians put great significance on the god.

READ MORE: City Gods from Around the World

Who Was “Amun Ra”?

Amun was a god of the winds and part of the “Ogdoad” (eight gods worshipped in the city-state of Hermopolis). He eventually became the patron god of Thebes and, when Ahmose I became pharaoh, was elevated to the king of the gods. As “Amun Ra,” his identity became that of Ra or a combination of Ra and Min.

What is Ra’s Secret Name?

If you knew the secret name of Ra, you could have power over him, and this power is what tempted the Egyptian goddess, Isis . She would go to great lengths to have this name so that her prophesied son could have the power of the sun god himself. However, even though this story was passed on, the name itself has never been known.

Who is Ra’s Wife?

Ra never had a single wife in the story of mythology. However, he did bear a child with Isis, the goddess wife of Osiris . This would be seen similarly to the Christian god having a child with Mary – Ra was so much more powerful and important than Isis, and the child’s birth was seen as a boon or blessing.

Who are the Gods that Ra Created as His Children?

Ra had three known daughters who were important gods in Egyptian religion.

The Cat God Bastet

Also known as Baast, Bast, or Ailuros in Greek, the god Bastet is one of the better-known deities today. Originally worshipped as a lioness goddess, her name was associated with special ointments (and was the etymological root of “alabaster,” the material used for many embalming jars). Bastet is sometimes depicted as fighting the chaos-god Apep, who was in the form of a snake.

READ MORE: Egyptian Cat Gods: Feline Deities of Ancient Egypt

Bastet was later depicted as a smaller, domesticated cat. Ancient Egyptians would use images of the goddess to protect families from disease. Thanks to the Greek historian Herodotus , we have quite a bit of detail about the temple and festival of Bastet in the city of Bubastis. This temple was rediscovered recently, and thousands of mummified cats have been found.

READ MORE: Cat Gods: 7 Feline Deities from Ancient Cultures

Hathor, the Sky Goddess

Hathor holds a strange place in the story of Ra. She is both the wife and mother of Horus and the symbolic mother of all kings. Hathor was portrayed as a sacred cow, though not the one described in the Book of the Celestial Cow. She also appeared in many images as a woman with cow horns. The “mistress of the sky” and “mistress of dance,” Hathor was so beloved by Ra that she was sometimes also called “The Eye of the Sun.” It is said that when she was away, Ra would fall into deep despair.

The Cat God Sekhmet

Not to be confused with Bastet, Sekhmet (or Sakhet) was a lioness warrior goddess who was the protector of pharaohs in battle and the afterlife. A younger goddess than Bastet, she is portrayed wearing the Uraeus (upright cobra) and the sun disk of her father. Sekhmet could breathe fire and embody Hathor to enact the vengeance of Ra.

READ MORE: The Egyptian Afterlife: Mummification, Burial Practices and Beyond

Toward the end of Ra’s earthly life, he sent Sekhmet to destroy mortals who had been his enemies. Unfortunately, Sekhmet could not stop fighting even after the enemies died and nearly killed all humans in her literal blood lust. Ra mixed beer with pomegranate juice so that it looked like blood. Mistaking it as such, Sekhmet drank the beer until she was drunk and finally calmed. Worshipers of Sekhmet would drink the concoction as part of the Tekh Festival (or Festival of Drunkenness).

The Book of the Heavenly Cow

The story of Sekhmet and her blood lust is a significant part of the Book of the Heavenly Cow (or the Book of the Celestial Cow ). This book also contains sections about the creation of the underworld, giving power over earth to Osiris, and offering descriptions of the soul. Copies of this book have been found in the tombs of Seti I, Ramesses II, and Ramesses III. It was likely an important religious text.

READ MORE: 10 Gods of Death and the Underworld From Around the World

Why Does the Family Tree of Ra Make No Sense?

Egyptian mythology and religion have lasted for tens of thousands of years. Because of this, many gods have risen and fallen in popularity, while Ra has always been “The Sun God.” For this reason, worshippers would attempt to join their patron with Ra and give their god a position as a creator god.

READ MORE: 9 Gods of Life and Creation from Ancient Cultures

Sometimes the story hasn’t changed but is simply strange to outside eyes. That Hathor could be the wife, mother, and child of Ra is an accepted story throughout the history of Egyptian mythology. Gods such as Amun and Horus could “become Ra” by taking his power, becoming as important as the sun god, even though their parents and children were not. Then there are gods like “Atum,” which could have been other names for “Ra,” and so were combined in later centuries.

Why Did Isis Poison Ra?

Isis longed for the power of Ra. Not for herself, but for her children. She had dreamed of having a falcon-headed son and believed this prophecy would come true if she could get her hands on the secret name of Ra.

By the time of this story, Ra was many millennia old. He was stooped and slow and was known to dribble! One day, while he was touring the country with his entourage, a drop of saliva fell to the ground. Isis grabbed it up before anyone noticed and took it to a hiding place. There she mixed it with dirt to form an evil serpent. She performed spells to bring it to life and give it poisonous power before dropping it off at the crossroads she knew Ra would often rest near.

Predictably, when Ra passed by, he was bitten by the snake.

“I have been wounded by something deadly,” whispered Ra. “I know that in my heart, though my eyes cannot see it. Whatever it was, I, Lord of Creation, did not make it. I am sure that none of you would have done such a terrible thing to me, but I have never felt such pain! How can this have happened to me? I am the Sole Creator, the child of the watery abyss. l am the god with a thousand names. But my secret name was only spoken once before time began. Then it was hidden in my body so that no one would ever learn it and be able to work spells against me. Yet as I walk through my kingdom, something struck at me, and now my heart is on fire and my limbs shake!”

All the other gods were summoned, including all created by Ra. These included Anubis , Osiris, Wadjet, the crocodile Sobek, the sky goddess Nut, and Thoth. Isis appeared with Nephthys, pretending to be surprised by what was happening.

“Let me, as Mistress of Magic, try to help,” she offered. Ra gratefully accepted. “I think I’m going blind.”

Isis told the sun god that, to heal him, she needed to know his full name. While he gave his name as known by all, Isis insisted. She would need to know his secret name as well. It would be the only way to save him.

“I was given that name so I would be safe,” Ra cried. “If it is a secret, I can fear no man.” However, in fear for his life, he relented. He passed on the name in secret, “from my heart to yours,” warning Isis that only her son should ever know that name and that he should tell no one that secret. When Horus was born, Isis passed on that secret name, giving him the power of Ra.

Are Ra and Horus the Same?

While both are sun deities who protected the people of ancient Egypt, these two gods are not exactly the same. The falcon-headed god had many similarities to Ra because he was given the power of the secret name. For this reason, he was worshipped as the king of the Egyptian gods .

How Was Ra Portrayed?

The sun god of ancient Egypt was most commonly portrayed as a combination of a man and a falcon. However, this was not the only way people would depict the god.

The most common depiction of Ra is as a Falcon-headed man, sometimes with the solar disc on his head. A cobra may surround this sun disk. The “Eye of Ra” symbol shows the eye of a falcon, and sometimes artists would use images of a falcon to represent Ra in murals dedicated to other gods.

The representation of the falcon is primarily connected to Horus, who was sometimes also called “he who is above.” Egyptians believed falcons were powerful hunters with keen sight who would dive out of the sun to kill their prey. Being so powerful and close to the sun makes them an obvious choice for representing the Sun god who ruled all others.

As King of the Underworld, Ra was portrayed either as a ram or a man with the head of a ram. This image was also very commonly connected to Amun Ra and was related to the god’s power over fertility. Archeologists found a statue of Amun Ra as a sphinx from 680 BCE to protect the Shrine of King Taharqa.

The Scarab Beetle

Some depictions of Ra are as a scarab beetle, rolling the sun across the sky as the beetle rolls dung across the ground. Just as worshippers of the Christian god world wear crosses, followers of ancient Egyptian religion would wear a pendant scarab with the name of the sun god inside. These scarabs were delicate and expensive, sometimes made of gold or steatite .

According to the Routledge Dictionary of Egyptian Gods and Goddesses, literature records Ra as an “aging king whose flesh is gold, whose bones are silver and whose hair is lapis lazuli.” However, no other source suggests that Ra ever held a fully human form. This suggestion may come from descriptions of colorful artworks that have been found depicting the Ra with his distinctive hawk head with bright blue plumage. There is no archeological evidence that Ra has ever been described as only a human being.

What Weapon Does Ra Have?

Whenever he must commit an act of violence, Ra never holds his weapon. Instead, he uses “The Eye of Ra.” While portrayed as an eye, sometimes called “The Eye of Horus,” this weapon has changed throughout history. At times, it refers to another god, like Sekhmet or Hathor, while at other times, the image itself is a weapon.

In many depictions of Ra, the sun god is holding something called a “Was Scepter.” A symbol of power and dominion, the scepter held by Ra would sometimes have a snake’s head.

Who is the Goddess of the Sun?

Many Egyptian goddesses are associated closely with the sun, including Ra’s daughters, Wadjet (the wet nurse of Horus), Nut (the goddess of the sky), and Isis. However, the direct feminine counterpart to Ra is not any of these but “The Eye of Ra.” This extension of Ra’s power would become a part of Hathor, Sekhmet, Isis, or other goddesses but was viewed as an independent entity that could be wielded by only the greatest.

Because of the acts of his mother, Horus was one of the few gods to wield this power. The symbol for the more recognizable “eye of Horus,” while not the same as the “eye of Ra,” is sometimes used in its place. In some instances, the “solar” right eye is known as the “eye of Ra,” while the “lunar” left eye is the “eye of Horus,” together becoming the ability to watch over the world at all times. Each is mentioned in the Pyramid Texts, Book of the Dead, and other funeral texts, which means they were considered separate entities.

Is the Eye of Ra Evil?

While ancient Egyptians had no sense of good and evil in the Judeo-Christian understanding of the word, examining the mythology of the eye finds it to be an incredibly destructive force. It was under the power of the eye that Sekhmet fell into blood lust.

According to the “ Book of Going Forth by Day ,” the eye was also a creative force and would help people in the afterlife:

Thoth then asked him, “Who is he whose heaven is fire, whose walls are serpents, and the floor of whose house is a stream of water?” The deceased replied, “Osiris”; and he was then bidden to advance so that he might be introduced to Osiris. As a reward for his righteous life sacred food, which proceeded from the Eye of Rā, was allotted to him, and, living on the food of the god, he became a counterpart of the god.

These examples highlight how much the “eye of Ra” represented the sun. Ancient Egyptians believed the sun contained great power, from the scorching heat it offered to an Egyptian land to its necessary rays to grow food.

The Evil Eye of Apopis

There IS an “ evil eye ” in Egyptian religion belonging to the snake god of chaos, Apophis. Apophis and Ra were said to have fought many times, each blinding the other as a symbol of victory. A common festival “game” (recorded in seventeen different cities) would involve hitting “the eye of Apophis,” which was a ball, with a large stick said to have come from the eye of Ra. Apophis’ name was often used in spells to represent all evil, and it was noted that only “the eye of Ra” could turn away the “eye of Apophis.” This is why many of the talismans, “scarabs,” and symbols etched onto houses would include the eye of Ra.

How Was Ra Worshiped?

Ra is one of the oldest gods in the Egyptian pantheon, with evidence of his worship dating back to the second dynasty (2890 – 2686 BCE). By 2500 BCE, Pharaohs claimed to be “sons of Ra,” and sun temples were built in his honor. By the first century BCE, cities would worship Ra or “the eye of Ra” in temples and festivals all over Egypt.

The Ouraeus (that serpent symbol of royalty) would often accompany the solar disc on the headdresses of queens during the New Kingdom, and clay models of Ra wearing these were popular statues to have around the home for protection. A “ spell against night terrors ” included figures said to “breathe fire.” While the spell may have been speaking metaphorically, it could be just as likely these were lanterns and made the first “night lights,” with a candle placed inside a polished metal sun disk.

READ MORE: The Queens of Egypt: Ancient Egyptian Queens in Order

The center of the cult of Ra was Iunu, “the Place of Pillars.” Known in Greece as Heliopolis, Ra (and his local counterpart, Atum) were worshipped at sun temples and in festivals. The Greek historian, Herodotus, wrote an entire book on Egypt that included many details about Heliopolis.

“The men of Heliopolis are said to be the most learned in records of the Egyptians,” Herodotus wrote. “The Egyptians hold their solemn assemblies […] with the greatest zeal and devotion[…] The Egyptians are excessively careful in their observances […] which concern the sacred rites.”

The historian wrote that sacrifices would include drinking and celebrations but that the other violent rituals found elsewhere would not be present at Heliopolis.

The Egyptian Book of the Dead contains a Hymn to Ra . In it, the writer calls Ra “heir of eternity, self-begotten and self-born, king of the earth, prince of the Tuat (the afterlife).” He praises that Ra lives by the law of truth (Ma’at), and the Sektek boat would advance through the night and ensure he rose the next morning into the day.

Ra in Modern Culture

For the Egyptian “King of the Gods,” Ra does not appear as much in modern culture and entertainment compared to the Greek god Zeus . However, there are some examples where the ancient Egyptian god of the sun became a main character in fiction or art.

READ MORE: 41 Greek Gods and Goddesses: Family Tree and Fun Facts

Does Ra Appear in Stargate ?

Roland Emmerich’s 1994 science fiction film Stargate sees the sun god Ra as the primary antagonist. The movie’s conceit is that ancient Egyptian was the language of aliens, with Ra being their leader. The Egyptian god is depicted as someone enslaving humans to extend his life, and other gods appear as lieutenants to the “alien general.”

Does Ra Appear in Moon Knight ?

While the sun god of ancient Egyptian mythology does not appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series, many of his children are mentioned. Avatars representing Isis and Hathor do appear in episodes of the show.

The Egyptian god with the falcon head in “ Moon Knight ” is Khonshu, the god of the moon. In some ways, Khonshu (or Conshu) could be considered a mirror to Ra, though he was never worshipped to the same length during the time of the ancient Egyptians. The sun god Ra does appear in the “ Moon Knight ” comic series , in a run by Max Bemis and Jacen Burrows. In it, the creator god is the father of Khonshu and creates a “Sun King” who battles the superhero.

Is “The Eye of Ra” Part of the Illuminati?

A common visual trope in conspiracy theories, as well as the history of freemasonry and Christian symbols, the “Eye of Providence” or “All-Seeing Eye” is sometimes mistakenly called “The Eye of Ra.” While the sun god Ra was never represented by an eye inside of a triangle, he may be the first deity to be represented by an eye. However, this is difficult to determine, as both an eye and a sun disk were represented by a single round shape.

READ MORE: Secret Societies: Eleusinian Cult, The Knights Templar, and More!

How to Cite this Article

There are three different ways you can cite this article.

1. To cite this article in an academic-style article or paper , use:

<a href=" https://historycooperative.org/ra-god/ ">Ra: Sun God of the Ancient Egyptians</a>

Family Tree

Deciphering Ancient Egyptian mythology has been described as “trying to piece together a jigsaw puzzle when the majority of the pieces are missing and someone has thrown away the box.” [6]

Egyptian religion endured for nearly 3,000 years. As various elements rose and fell during this time, many important myths were merged, edited, and replaced.

While Ra became a pivotal figure in the Egyptian pantheon early on, over time his mythology began to merge with those of other gods, such as Atun, Amun, and Horus.

Origin Myth

In the beginning, the universe was an infinite body of water called Nun (alternatively “Nu”). Nun was unconscious, unthinking, motionless, and eternal. [7]

Amidst this eternal nothingness, Ra willed himself into existence. In what is best understood as an anatomically implausible sequence of events, Ra then created the twins Shu and Tefnut via masturbation. The Book of the Dead described this event:

1248a. To say: Atum [Ra] created by his masturbation in Heliopolis. 1248b. He put his phallus in his fist, 1248c. to excite desire thereby. 1248d. The twins were born, Shu and Tefnut. [8]

In another version of the story, Amun created himself from the primordial void of Nun. With Ptah, the god who “represented the transformative force that turns a creative thought into action and material reality,” Amun created an egg which floated through Nun. Before long, Ra emerged from the egg. [9]

While the stories vary, the basic process of creation in Egyptian mythology was one of differentiation. From a single homogenous state, the universe divided itself into individuals who continued this pattern of division without diminishing themselves in the process. [10]

Creating the Sun, Moon, and Humanity

When Ra created the gods Shu and Tefnut, the world consisted only of infinite ocean and there was no light to see them by. To solve this dilemma, Ra created an eye and sent it out to find his children.

The twin deities Shu and Tefnut adorn this bronze menat (664-380 BCE), an instrument used in religious rit

Upon returning, the eye discovered that Ra had created a second eye for himself in its absence. The first eye became angry, and in order to pacify it, Ra gave it more power than the second. Thus, the first eye became the sun and the second eye became the moon. [11]

Some tales said that after creating the gods and celestial bodies, Ra wept and his tears became humanity. [12] Other versions held that humanity sprung from the tears of the first eye as it wept during its search for Shu and Tefnut. The reason for its weeping was never specified—though it could have been from loneliness or rage upon discovering it had been replaced. A third explanation was that upon his birth, Ra wept because he was alone and could not see his mother, Neith. [13]

The common thread linking these explanations was that humanity always emerged as the “imperfect product of rage and misery,” a classic Egyptian interpretation of the human condition. [14]

Ra’s Curse on Nut and the Egyptian Calendar

Ra’s children, Shu and Tefnut, gave birth to Geb and Nut . Contrary to most mythologies, the male Geb ruled the earth while the goddess Nut ruled of the sky.

Ra expected Nut to be his wife, but she fell in love with Geb and spurned Ra. Furious at this turn of events, Ra placed a curse on her, declaring “that she should not give birth to a child in any month or year.” [15] Meanwhile, the god Thoth had been gambling with the moon over games of draughts (checkers) and had won several times. He took his winnings in the form of the moon’s light, totalling 1/72nd of her illumination. Altogether, he had accumulated an additional 5 days.

hieroglyphic calendar at Kom Ombo temple

The Egyptian hieroglyphic calendar as depicted on the walls of the Temple of Kom Ombo.

The Egyptian calendar year only consisted of 360 days and the additional five days were simply added to the end of the year to bring the Egyptian calendar and the solar calendar into agreement. As a result, the extra five days that Thoth had won did not fall under the auspices of Ra’s curse. When the intercalated days finally arrived, Nut gave birth to Osiris , Horus , Set , Isis , and Nephthys . [16]

Ra’s secret name

The Egyptians believed that names held power, so much so that gods went by pseudonyms to keep their power safe. It was for this reason the goddess Isis embarked on a mission to discover Ra’s secret name.

By this time, Ra had grown old and feeble; he napped and drooled as he sat upon his throne. Surreptitiously, Isis collected some of this drool and combined it with a handful of earth. Using her magic, she shaped this mixture into a venomous snake. [17]

Ra was a creature of habit, and strolled the same route each day to survey his creation. [18] Isis set the snake loose at a crossroads and waited. The snake struck as soon as Ra had arrived at the crossroads. While Ra was normally immune to such attacks, this poison had come from his own being, and as such he had no immunity to it and was beset by great pain. [19]

Now in great agony, Ra called his followers and told them he had been grievously wounded. He asked if any of them could offer a cure, but none could give him what he sought.

After all of the others had tried and failed, Isis told Ra she could help him, provided that he told her his true name. Sensing there was trickery at play, Ra answered:

I am the maker of heaven and earth, I am the establisher of the mountains, I am the creator of the waters, I am the maker of the secrets of the two horizons. I am the light and I am darkness, I am the maker of the hours, the creator of days. I am the opener of festivals, I am the maker of running streams, I am the creator of living flame. I am Khepri in the morning, Ra at noontime, and Atum in the evening. [20]

Unimpressed with his prevarications, Isis insisted that without his true name she could not cure him.

Wracked with pain, Ra eventually conceded and told Isis his true name. Reciting a magical incantation, Isis dispelled the poison from Ra’s body. In exchange for her ‘help,’ she demanded that Ra give her yet-to-be-born son Horus both of his eyes: the sun and the moon.

When Horus was old enough, he took over Ra’s position as sun god, allowing the elderly deity to retire from his tiresome daily responsibilities. [21]

This story was recorded on a papyri (a document written on papyrus) from the 20th Dynasty (circa 1200-1085BCE), and was purported to be a spell used to cure snake bites. Egyptian priests believed the spell Isis used to cure Ra would also cure a human victim. [22]

Ra, the Composite God

The Egyptian religion was extremely long lived, and over the span of thousands of years changes were made to it as different groups rose to or fell from power. From the religion’s foundation onward, Ra had always been an important deity; this central status made him a popular candidate for combining with emergent deities.

Ra has been merged so many different times that mentions of a singular Ra are now relatively uncommon. [23]

Ra-Horakhty / Ra-Herakhty

Horus and Ra were conflated early on in the development of the Egyptian religion. The name Ra-Horakhty meant “Ra-Horus of the Double Horizon” and signified the sun conquering its enemies during the night so that it could rise again. [24]

Horus was a complicated god, and had no fewer than 15 forms associated with him. Of these forms, the most consistent (and popular) was the falcon. Ra-Horakhty blended the imagery of Ra and Horus, taking the form of a falcon crowned by a solar disk or, alternatively, a winged solar disk. [25]

Around 2020BCE, the Theban ruler Mentuhotep II overthrew the Heracleopolitan dynasty and unified Egypt under his rule. This marked the beginning of what is now known as the Middle Kingdom (2066-1780BCE).

statue of Amun-Ra with crown of tall plumes

Here, Amun-Ra (760-656 BCE) is identified by a crown of tall plumes above a solar disk.

Amun was one of Thebes’ most significant gods, and it was during this period of Theban control that Amun transitioned from being a relatively obscure local god to one of great prominence. By the 18th Dynasty (1550-1292) Amun had grown to national significance and fully merged with Ra. [26]

When the two gods merged, most of the myths associated with Ra were rebranded as the mythology of Amun-Ra.

Atum was a creator deity similar to Amun. In fact, the legends associated with Amun and Atum often overlapped, and the two deities essentially served as mirrors of one another.

Like Ra, Atum was a solar god, though his role was more specific. Atum represented the elderly component of Ra and personified the setting sun. [27] As the setting sun, he was often juxtaposed with Khepri, the god of the rising sun.

Atum-Ra was regarded as the god of Lower Egypt, while his counterpart Montu-Ra was regarded as the god of Upper Egypt. [28]

When King Amenhotep IV took power (Either 1351BCE or 1353BCE), Amun or Amun-Ra was the central deity of the Egyptians. This could be seen in Amenhotep’s name, which meant “Amun is Satisfied.” Five years into his reign, however, Amenhotep changed his name to Akhenaten. His new name meant “One effective on behalf of Aten,” and reflected his efforts to increase the centrality of Aten over Amun. [29]

Prior to Akhenaten’s efforts to promote him as Egypt’s ultimate deity, Aten had been worshipped primarily as god of the solar disk. With Akhenaten in power, Aten was merged with Ra-Horakhty. At the same time, Akhenaten banned the worship of Amun-Ra and discouraged the worship of the other members of the Egyptian pantheon.

limestone fragment (c. 1350 BCE) with Aten-Ra

This limestone fragment (c. 1350 BCE) describes Aten as "the living Ra Horakhty." The solar disk upon the faclon's head is a commonly used to represent Ra in his myriad forms.

The changes Akhenaten made did not have popular support, and were gradually reversed following his death. Aten would resume his position as an aspect of the sun god, and Amun would likewise return to his role as chief deity of the state religion. [30]

Yet another sun god, Khepri was specifically associated with the morning sun. In the legend of Ra’s hidden name, Ra said that he was Khepri in the morning.

Khepri was at times connected with Atum, and in the guise of Atum-Khepri was regarded as the god of personal transformations. These transformations, called kheperu , included the passages from childhood to adulthood and from life to death. [31]

The god Khnum was associated with the regular flooding of the Nile River, as well as the First Cataract of the Nile. He was also connected with pottery wheels, hence his epithet: “lord of the wheel.” [32]

Though Khnum’s origins were unclear, it is known that he was only recognized as a creator deity relatively late in Egyptian history. However, his cult persisted until the second or third century CE. [33] Khnum became connected to Ra once he became regarded as a creator deity.

Montu was another Theban god who was ultimately blended with Ra. A falcon-headed star god, Montu served as the chief deity of Thebes, and was considered an aspect of Ra from the twentieth century BCE onward. [34]

Montu-Ra was regarded as the god of Upper Egypt, while his counterpart Atum-Ra was regarded as the god of Lower Egypt. [35]

Raet-Tawy was the female aspect of Ra. In classical depictions, she was often adorned with a sun disk and Hathor’s cow-horned headdress. [36] .

Pop Culture

The 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark featured Indiana Jones using the Staff of Ra to locate the ark of the covenant.

Jaye Davidson played Ra in the 1994 movie Stargate. The film depicted Ra as an alien who had enslaved humanity.

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Ra: Illuminating the Legacy of the Egyptian Sun God

Ra: The Radiant Deity of the Sky

The Egyptian sun god Ra holds a prominent position in ancient Egyptian religion. His worship dates back to the predynastic period, and over the centuries, he became one of the most essential and complex deities of the Egyptian pantheon. Ra was commonly depicted as a man with the head of a falcon, crowned with a solar disk encircled by a sacred cobra known as Uraeus. This representation encapsulates the sun's might and majesty, mirroring its radiant light and transformative power.

Ra's Role in Egyptian Mythology

The mythology surrounding Ra is vast and diverse, with stories that touch upon creation, resurrection, and the eternal struggle against chaos. According to one popular creation myth, Ra emerged from the primeval waters of Nun, creating himself and, subsequently, all life forms. He was the father of gods, humans, and all creatures, bestowing his life-giving light and warmth upon the Earth. Ra journeyed across the sky in his sun bark in the perpetual cycle of day and night. During the day, he appeared as the radiant sun god. But as the sun set, Ra was believed to descend into the underworld, battling the forces of chaos and ensuring the sun's rebirth each morning. This cosmic voyage represented the constant cycle of death and resurrection, darkness and light, encapsulating the core regeneration belief in ancient Egyptian ideology.

The Solar Cult: Worship of the Egyptian Sun God

The worship of Ra was widespread in ancient Egypt. As the state deity during the Fourth and Fifth Dynasties, the pharaoh was seen as Ra's son and his direct representative on Earth. Consequently, Ra profoundly influenced the religious and political fabric of ancient Egypt. Pyramid texts, some of the oldest religious texts in the world, contain numerous hymns, spells, and prayers devoted to Ra. In addition, temples dedicated to the sun god, known as sun temples, were constructed in his honor. Among the most notable is the Sun Temple of Niuserre at Abu Ghurob, with its characteristic open-air altar designed for solar worship.

The Legacy of Ra

Ra, the radiant sun god of ancient Egypt, illuminates this fascinating civilization's cultural, spiritual, and societal structures. His influence reached far beyond the religious sphere, touching on politics, art, and the daily lives of the Egyptian people. As we delve deeper into the understanding of Ra, we gain knowledge about this enigmatic deity and the remarkable civilization that revered him. Ra's enduring legacy continues to shed light on the intricate tapestry of ancient Egyptian culture and belief.

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Nut The Sky Goddess

Seth The God Of Chaos

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Ancient Egyptian God Khnum

Crocodile God Sobek

Ancient Egyptian Goddess Sekhmet

Ancient Egyptian God Ptah

Egyptian God Aten

Khonsu: The Egyptian God of the Moon

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Egyptian Sun-god: Who Is Ra?

The sun god Ra was ancient Egypt’s most revered and sacred deity, who they worshipped as king of the gods and father of creation.

The almighty sun god Ra (or Re) was an enduring deity in the pantheon of ancient Egypt , who remains a subject of fascination amongst scholars today. King of the deities and father of creation, he was the most sacred of all the gods, a solar deity who embodied the sheer power of the sun and gave life to the universe. As such, he symbolized the great reverence ancient Egyptians had for the sun as an agricultural society in the desert whose lives revolved around growth and regeneration.

One of oldest deities in the Egyptian pantheon, Ra’s human form typically had the head of a falcon, on which the sun disc rested, sometimes encircled by a sacred cobra named Uraeus. However, the sun god Ra took a variety of other forms including a scarab beetle, a ram, a man, and even the sun itself, throughout the evolution of ancient Egyptian civilization .

Ra Spawned All Life

ra isis horus painting solar disc barque

According to many Egyptian myths, sun god Ra was responsible for the creation of all life. Out of eternal darkness, an entity called Atum called forth the beginning of creation. An island slowly emerged out of the Primeval Ocean, which turned into Ra, the sun god. Ra spawned the first gods, Shu, god of the air, Tefnut, god of humidity, along with Geb, the earth god, and Nut, the sky goddess. Geb and Nut birthed Osiris, the Perfect Being, who became ruler of the world. Ra created the elements, and produced humans from the tears of his eyes. As creator of the universe, Ra became father and king to all gods, humans and living creatures.

Ra Journeyed Through the Sky

Egyptians believed that it was Ra’s duty to travel across the sky every day, bringing light and life to the world. As the sun set, Ra would descend into the underworld, where he battled against forces of darkness, including the evil serpent Apopis, in order to ensure the sun could rise again in the morning. Egyptians likened this daily pattern of light and darkness to the entire cycle of life, in which humans live, die and rise again in the afterlife.

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In one of Ra’s originary myths, he discovered that mankind was plotting to overthrow him. When Ra saw how destructive and disobedient mankind had become, he sent his eye in the form of Hathor, (or Sekhmet) , to dish out a harsh punishment. She took the form of a lioness and raged across the earth on a killing spree, almost wiping out the entire human race. Ra was forced to intervene, tricking the goddess into getting drunk so she could no longer inflict harm. In this way Ra first introduced death to the world, asserting his almighty power over the people.

The Eye of Ra

Not to be confused with Ra himself, the eye of Ra was the god’s feminine counterpart, sometimes described as his daughter, wife, or mother. The eye was a potent extension of Ra’s power which was associated with several different goddesses including Bastet , Ma’at, and Sekhmet , each of whom had a protective role in keeping Ra safe from external evil forces. It was their role to preserve his royal authority, sometimes through violent means.

He Had a Secret Name

papyrus new kingdom god ra horakhty djed

Legend had it Ra held a secret name within him that held the key to his power. In one myth, Isis , goddess of magic, healing and motherhood, tricked Ra into revealing his name by making him so ill from a venomous snake bite, that he had no choice but to surrender it. He thus giving away a core part of himself to her. Isis used Ra’s power to protect her son Horus , and eventually transferred the power to Horus so he could take up the throne following Ra’s retirement. While Isis ensured her son’s future, she also made enemies out of Ra’s most devoted followers.

He Later Merged with Other Gods

In later mythologies Ra was merged with several other deities to assume different forms and attributes. When merged with Amun, an unknowable creator deity, Ra became Amun-Ra, radiating the primal power of the sun. In his associations with Horus, the god of the sky, Ra became Ra-Horakhty, sometimes known as “Ra Horus in the horizon.”

Popular Religion in Ancient Egypt: Everything You Need to Know

By Rosie Lesso MA Contemporary Art Theory, BA Fine Art Rosie is a contributing writer and artist based in Scotland. She has produced writing for a wide range of arts organizations including Tate Modern, The National Galleries of Scotland, Art Monthly, and Scottish Art News, with a focus on modern and contemporary art. She holds an MA in Contemporary Art Theory from the University of Edinburgh and a BA in Fine Art from Edinburgh College of Art. Previously she has worked in both curatorial and educational roles, discovering how stories and history can really enrich our experience of art.

mad hatter symbolize alice in wonderland

Frequently Read Together

Timeline of Ancient Egypt: From the Old Kingdom to Ptolemaic Egypt

How Isis Influenced Ra to Reveal His Secret Name

ancient egyptian medicine canopic jar with imhotep asclepius

The Surprisingly Advanced Medicine of Ancient Egypt

Companions: Hathor Isis Sekhmet Bastet

Children: Shu Tefnut Bastet Ma'at

Symbols: Sun Disk

Cult center: Heliopolis

Ra | The Sun God of Egypt

The ancient Egyptians revered Ra as the god who created everything. Also known as the Sun God, Ra was a powerful deity and a central god of the Egyptian pantheon. The ancient Egyptians worshiped Ra more than any other god and pharaohs often connected themselves with Ra in their efforts to be seen as the earthly embodiment of the Sun God.

Ra (pronounced ray) represents sunlight, warmth and growth . It was only natural that the ancient Egyptians would believe him to be the creator of the world, as well as part of him being represented in every other god. The ancient Egyptians believed that every god should illustrate some aspect of him, while Ra himself should also represent every god .

Ra’s Appearance

Ra was usually depicted in human form. He had a falcon head which is crowned with a sun disc . This sun disc was encircled by a sacred cobra named Uraeus. Ra has also been depicted as a man with the head of a beetle and also a human man with the head of a ram. The ancients also depicted Ra in full species form such as a serpent, heron, bull, lion, cat, ram, hawk, beetle, phoenix and others. His main symbol, however, is the sun disk.

Ra Mythology

The ancient Egyptians believed that as the sun god , Ra’s role was to sail across the heavens during the day in his boat called the “Barque of Millions of Years.” In the morning when Ra emerged from the east, his boat was named, “Madjet” which meant “becoming strong.” By the end of the day the boat was called, “Semektet” which meant “becoming weak.” At the end of the day, it was believed that Ra died (swallowed by Nut) and sailed on to the underworld, leaving the moon in his place to light up the world. Ra was reborn at dawn the very next day. During his journey across the heavens during the day, he fought with his main enemy, an evil serpent named Apep, or also, The Lord of Chaos. In some stories, Ra, in the form of a cat named Mau, defeats the evil serpent, Apep. This is part of the reason why cats are so highly-revered in Egypt.

Ra created himself from the primordial chaos. He is also known as Re and Atum . His children are Shu, the God of Dry Air and Father of the Sky, and his twin sister Tefnut, the Goddess of Moisture and Wetness. As a lion-headed goddess, Tefnut is responsible for dew and freshness. Humans were created from Ra’s tears.

Although Ra was highly revered and devoutly worshiped by the ancient Egyptians, there is a story to suggest he eventually grew weak. In the Legend of Ra, Isis and the Snake , as Ra grew old, he dribbled saliva. Isis knew that Ra’s power was hidden in his secret name. Isis gathered Ra’s saliva and created a snake out of it. She set the snake in Ra’s path and it bit him. Isis wanted the power Ra had always enjoyed, but she knew she had to get him to tell her his secret name. Eventually, because of the pain he was in, Ra allowed Isis to “search through him” and in so doing, she healed him and Ra’s power was transferred over to her.

The Tree of Life is an important religious symbol to the Egyptians. The Tree of Life was located within Ra’s sun temple in Heliopolis and was considered sacred. The fruit that sprang from this tree was not available to humans, but only in aging-rituals reserved for pharaohs. The Tree of Life is also referred to as the mythical, sacred Ished tree. Eternal life came to those who ate the fruit from the Tree of Life.

Another important ancient Egyptian symbol connected to Ra is the “Bennu” . Bennu is the name of the bird that represented Ra’s soul. This bird is a phoenix and it was seated at the Tree of Life in Ra’s Sun Temple in Heliopolis. Inside the temple, on top of an obelisk , sat the Benben Stone. This pyramid-shaped stone served as a beacon to Bennu and is also an important ancient Egyptian religious symbol.

Worship of the Sun God

Solar temples were built for Ra but did not contain a statue of the god. Instead, they were created to be open to the sunlight that Ra represented. The earliest known temple built in honor of Ra exists in Heliopolis (what is now a Cairo suburb). This solar temple is known as “Benu-Phoenix” and is believed to have been erected in the exact spot where Ra emerged into creation.

Although Ra dates back to the second dynasty, he is not the oldest of the Egyptian gods. It wasn’t until the fifth dynasty that Ra became closely associated with the pharaoh. As the king and leader of Egypt, the pharaoh was seen as the human manifestation of Horus , so the two gods became connected. This new deity fusion was then referred to as “Ra-Horakhty” meaning Ra is Horus of the Horizon. Ra’s relationship with other gods did not stop there. As the powerful creator of mankind and the sun god, he also became associated with Atum to make “Atum-Ra.”

Fifth Dynasty and subsequent pharaohs were all known as “The son of Ra” and Ra became incorporated into every pharaoh’s name from then onward. During the Middle Kingdom, the new deity, Amun-Ra was formed. Amun was one of the gods who formed the Ogdoad (the assembly of eight gods who represented eight elements of creation).

Ramses II making an offering to Ra and Nekhbet

The New Kingdom brought new heights of worship to Ra. Many tombs in the Valley of the Kings portray depictions of Ra and his journey through the underworld. During this time, many solar temples were built.

Present in the ancient Egyptian mythology is the Eye of Ra , shown as the sun disk with two 'uraeus' cobras coiled around it, next to the white and red crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt. Initially associated with Horus (similarly to the wadjet, the Eye of Horus), the Eye of Ra shifted positions in the myths, becoming both an extension of Ra's power and a separate entity altogether.

Click here to learn more about The Eye of Ra

Ra God Facts

The ancient Egyptians worshiped Ra to such an extent above other gods that some historians have argued that ancient Egyptian religion was indeed a monotheistic one with Ra as the singular god.
Historians believe that the pyramids might represent rays of sunlight, further connecting the pharaohs with Ra, the sun god.
During Ra’s journey through the heavens he was accompanied by several other gods including Thoth , Horus , Hathor , Maat , Abtu, and Anet.
Nut, goddess of the sky and heavens, is sometimes referred to as Ra’s mother, because he emerges from her and is reborn every morning.
The morning manifestation of Ra is known as “Khepri the scarab God.”
The evening manifestation of Ra is known as the ram-headed god, Khnum.
The sacred cobra that encircled Ra’s crown symbolized royalty, sovereignty and divine authority.
The right eye of Ra represented the Sun; while the left eye of Ra represented the moon.
Ra is also closely associated with the Tree of Life myth, the Ben-Ben Stone and the Bennu Bird myths.
Ra’s glory came to an end during the time when the Roman’s conquered Egypt in 30BC.
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Deciphering the Role of Helios, the Sun God of Greek Mythology

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An unpunished second-generation Titan of Greek mythology, Helios was a deity who was important, but not always recognized for his powers. Until his role was usurped by a newer god, Helios was the deity of the life-giving, season-changing sun. He appeared in artwork riding his horse-drawn chariot across the sky and was a firsthand witness to several major events in the lives of other gods and goddesses. Nevertheless, Helios the sun god was generally depicted as existing in the background, bearing witness to everything going on both on Earth and in the heavens as he made sure to follow his daily routine.

Detail from card 44 of the Mantegna Tarocchi, depicting Helios the sun god of Greek mythology and his chariot, from the Uffizi gallery in Florence. ( Public domain )

Titans, Nymphs, Kings, and Oceanids: Helios’ Extensive Family

Helios’ parents were the Titans Hyperion, god of light, and Theia, goddess of sight. His sisters were Selene (the Moon) and Eos (Dawn). Born, or created, in what is called the Golden Age of Greek Mythology, Helios was responsible for bringing light to the world as the god of the sun . That role would gradually be usurped over time.

Within the legends of Greek mythology, the lovers of the god Helios include Perse, an Oceanid water-nymph whom some sources call his wife, and Clymene, as well as the nymphs Crete and Rhodes. His daughters with Perse include the famed sorceresses Circe , a lover to Odysseus, and Pasiphae , King Minos of Crete’s wife.

Pasiphae: Daughter of the Sun, Wife of a King, and Mother of the Minotaur
The Colossus of Rhodes: Ancient Greek Mega Statue

His two sons with Perse were King Aietes (Aeete) of Kolchis (Colchis) and King Perses of Persia. Phaethon was his son born from Helios’ relationship with Clymene and he had three (or five) daughters with her, known collectively as the Heliades . The sun god also had seven sons with Rhode, and a daughter named Electryone.

These sons were said to have been smarter and stronger than any other men and soon became the rulers of Rhodes. Three of the main cities, Ialysos, Cameiros, and Lindos, are said to be named for three of his sons. Meanwhile, two of his nymph daughters, Lampetia and Phaethusa, were in charge of overseeing his cattle on Thrinacia.

Helios the sun god of Greek mythology on a red-figure calyx-krater from circa 430 BC. (British Museum / CC BY-SA 4.0 )

Helios in Art – How Did the Ancients Depict the Greek Sun God?

Helios appeared in all kinds of Greek art. Generally depicted as a young man wearing a crown of the sun’s rays, or with bright, curly hair, his piercing eyes reflect the legends of his all-seeing gaze. Within ancient Greek depiction the sun god Helios is usually clothed in a garment fit for a god. A simpler Greek symbol for Helios is a large, haloed eye.

The poet who authored the 31st Homeric Hymn presents a beautiful description of the sun deity’s appearance in artwork:

“As he rides in his chariot, he shines upon men and deathless gods, and piercingly he gazes with his eyes from his golden helmet. Bright rays beam dazzlingly from him, and his bright locks streaming from the temples of his head gracefully enclose his far-seen face: a rich, fine-spun garment glows upon his body and flutters in the wind: and stallions carry him.”

Usually the sun god is shown riding his golden chariot at the edge or in the background of someone else’s scene. His chariot is drawn by four-winged horses, or sometimes dragons, and he is sometimes accompanied by one or both of his sisters.

The image of the sun god Helios has been identified in several examples of Greek pottery dating to the 5th and 6th centuries BC. For example, Helios is depicted on a red-figure calyx-krater from about 430 BC, in which boys symbolizing the stars fall towards the ocean as he approaches. He’s also represented in some Heracles scenes on 6th century BC black-figure and 5th century BC red-figure pottery.

The Colossus of Rhodes straddling over the harbor, the 1886 painting by Ferdinand Knab. ( Public domain )

The most famous example of Helios in art, however, was the Colossus of Rhodes . This massive standing figure was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World . It was constructed between 304 and 280 BC, but toppled over during an Earthquake in either 228 or 226 BC. Coins from Rhodes also presented their patron deity for centuries. Some notable historic figures also took on the likeness of the Greek sun god in their portraits. Alexander the Great and the Roman emperors Vespasian and Nero all desired to be seen as incarnations of a sun god.

Alexander the Great depicted as Helios, the ancient Greek sun god. Roman copy after a Hellenistic original dating back to between the 3rd and 2nd century BC. (Capitoline Museums / CC BY-SA 3.0 )

Helios and his Daily Journey Across the Sky

The most important ancient Greek myth of Helios is his daily journey. The ancient Greeks believed that there was a golden chariot of the sun that was so bright that human eyes could not bear to gaze upon it. For them, that chariot was driven from the east (Ethiopia) to the west (Hesperides) across the sky every day by the sun god Helios.

The journey was difficult, and it was believed that Helios was a skilled charioteer to be able to not fly too close or distant from the Earth. Helios’ daily trip across the sky began when his sister Eos (as dawn) threw open the gates of his beautiful eastern palace. He set off with his four-winged horses, known as Aethon, Aeos, Pyrois, and Phlegon. The long travel had a steep ascent, peaked around midday, and then steeply descended towards his western palace, where his nephew, Hesperus (evening) awaited him.

To return to the eastern palace, Helios was believed to have sailed under the world via the northerly stream of the realm of Oceanus with his horses and chariot in a golden boat (or large cup/goblet, or bed) created by the master smith and deity, Hephaestus . While Helios was hidden in Oceanus, Selene, the moon goddess , took her turn to cross the sky.

Three paintings by Anton Raphael Mengs showing three deities of Greek mythology as personifications of the times of the day. From left to right: Helios (or sun god Apollo) personifying Day, Hesperus embodying Evening, and Selene (or Diana, Luna) personifying Night or the Moon. ( Public domain )

Minor Roles for Helios in Greek Myths

Another well-known myth involving Helios was when his son almost destroyed the Earth. A popular version of the Greek myth of Phaethon says that the young man wanted proof that the sun was his father, so he went east to test the deity and ask him for a gift. Helios agreed to give his son whatever the youth wanted, but was distressed to discover Phaethon wanted to take a turn driving the golden sun chariot across the sky. He reluctantly consented and that favor turned into a disaster.

Phaethon could not control the winged horses and spun out of control, hurtling too far and too close to the Earth. Some of the world froze and other parts were set on fire as Phaethon struggled to control the chariot. But it was too much for him and as the gods watched the chaos unfold it was decided that something must be done before the Earth was destroyed.

Celestial Goddess Selene: The Star of the Night
The Arrows and Ardor of Apollo, The Sun God

Zeus saw no other option than to strike Phaethon down with a thunderbolt. The gods had to beg Helios to return to his work following the death of his son, but the sun god eventually agreed. And Phaethon’s sisters, the Heliades, were in such despair due to their brother’s death that their tears turned into amber and they became poplar trees.

Cancer from Jacob Jordaens’ allegorical paintings of the Signs of the Zodiac depicts the fall of Phaethon after his father, Helios the sun god, lets him ride his chariot. ( Public domain )

Helios played a minor role in many Greek myths . For example, his power to see everything on Earth and in the heavens made him an eyewitness to the abduction of Persephone by Hades and the affair between Aphrodite and Ares .

He sometimes offered his assistance to other characters in Greek myth, such as when he allowed his granddaughter Medea to flee on his chariot after she murdered her children . The sun god also lent his golden ship/cup to Heracles when the Greek hero had to cross Oceanus and capture the cattle of Geryon. Helios rescued his friend Hephaestus from the battlefield during the Gigantomachy and restored Orion’s eyesight after he was blinded by Oenipion as well. The Earth mother goddess, Gaia, also sought his aid in warming and drying her when the land had been frozen by the remains of Typhon.

But Helios also showed his vengeful side when he appeared in the epic Greek tale, the Odyssey . After Odysseus’ men fed upon Helios’ sacred cattle, he was so angered he had Zeus strike Odysseus’ ship with a thunderbolt. Odysseus was the only survivor of the attack.

The Cult of the Sun God Helios

In Classical Greece, Helios was openly worshipped in Rhodes, where he was considered their patron deity from at least the early 5th century BC. Legends said that Helios was the first to see the island emerge from the waters and claimed it as his own. The island’s name came from Helios’ nymph lover, Rhodos. Every five years the island held Panhellenic games , called the Halieia, and a chariot and four horses were thrown into the sea as an offering to Helios.

While he was worshiped on Rhodes, it seems that Helios was not a major cult deity in the rest of ancient Greece. Temples of worship have not been mentioned to any extent, perhaps due to a belief that barbarians had built temples of worship to the sun. Nonetheless, his name was invoked in serious oaths and Plato wrote that Socrates and others would greet and pray to the sun every day.

Apollo and the Sun Chariot, by Pinckney Marcius-Simons. ( Public domain )

Helios vs Apollo and Sol – Who was the Real Sun God of Greek Mythology?

The Greek Titans fell, and the Olympians arose. Helios was not punished after the Titanomachy , but ancient Greeks pushed his role as the sun god towards someone else – Apollo. It seems that the radiant and pure god Apollo began to gradually take over the role of sun god beginning around the 5th century BC. By the Hellenistic period the transition was almost complete, and Apollo and Helios had become almost synonymous.

Top image: Detail from Helios on His Chariot, a 17th century depiction of Helios the sun god of Greek mythology, by Hans Adam Weissenkircher. Source: Public domain

By Alicia McDermott

Greek Legends and Myths. (n.d.) “Helios in Greek Mythology” in Greek Legends and Myths. Available at: https://www.greeklegendsandmyths.com/helios.html

Harding, C. H. and Harding S. B. 2010 “Helios, The Sun God” in Stories of Greek Gods, Heroes, and Men. A. J. Cornell Publications.

Hatzitsinidou, E. 20 March 2021. “Helios, the God of the Sun.” in Greek-Gods.Info. Available at: http://www.greek-gods.info/ancient-greek-gods/helios/

Simon, B. No date. “Helios, god of the sun and sunlight” in greek-gods.org. Available at: https://www.greek-gods.org/titans/helios.php

The Editors of GreekMythology.com. No date. “Helios” in GreekMythology.com. Available at: https://www.greekmythology.com/Other_Gods/Helios/helios.html

Theoi Project. No date. “Helios” in Theoi Greek Mythology. Available at: http://www.theoi.com/Titan/Helios.html

The relatively low status of Helios draws into question many things. The proverbial father, Uranus, way out there, spawing Crotus/Saturn, spawning Zues/Jupiter, all along overshadowing the sun?

Nobody gets paid to tell the truth.

Alicia McDermott holds degrees in Anthropology, Psychology, and International Development Studies and has worked in various fields such as education, anthropology, and tourism. She is the Chief Editor of Ancient Origins Magazine. Traveling throughout Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador, Alicia... Read More

An ancestral celebration in honor of the Sun God

Inti Raymi, Cusco, Perú Credit: Heinz Plenge Pardo / PromPerú

peru.travel

Every June 24, the Sun God is the protagonist of one of the most important and traditional festivities celebrated in Peru: The Inti Raymi or "Sun Festival". During this date, thousands of national and foreign tourists walk the streets of the historic center of Cusco and congregate on the esplanades of its main sites to experience a special day of cultural activities whose purpose is to revalue the Inca legacy.

There are more than 800 people, including actors, dancers, and musicians who - dressed in typical clothing - star in a series of scenes that include dances, performances and praises performed outside the temple of Qorikancha and the Sacsayhuamán Archaeological Park , as well as in the Main Square of the city.

The beginning of a new Inca year

The Inti Raymi was established by the Inca Pachacutec in the decade of 1430 AD. and was celebrated every year during the winter solstice of the southern hemisphere -the day when the Sun was farthest from the Earth-. It was the most important ancestral festivity of the Tahuantinsuyo, which the inhabitants of the four suyos used to attend. The celebration was last attended by the Inca in 1535 .

Today, the tradition is maintained as a theatrical performance charged with mysticism and spirituality. The celebration route begins at Qorikancha , the ancient religious center of the Inca capital , where with dances and songs an offering is made to the Apu Inti or Sun God.

More than 800 people are part of the cast that perform the Inti Raymi every year. Credit: Heinz Plenge Pardo / PromPerú

Once the first act is finished in the esplanade of the Qorikancha or Temple of the Sun, the attendees go to the Main Square to witness the continuation of the ceremony. It is said that in this place, known as Haukaypata in the Inca times, where the most important people of the empire used to gather during the night before the celebration to await the appearance of Apu Inti. With silence and with great respect they awaited the dawn, and when the star ascended between the mountains, the villagers gave thanks for the prosperous harvests of the year.

The extensive field of the esplanade of Sacsayhuamán is the site of the third and last act: the most important of the day, which lasts approximately two hours. Here, the Inca and his entourage arrive to pay their respects and admiration to the Sun. The Inca recites a prayer in the Quechua language and simulates the sacrifice of a camelid so that a shaman can predict the prosperity and well-being of the coming year.

In 1572, the Inti Raymi was prohibited by the Spanish viceroy Francisco de Toledo for considering it a pagan ceremony and contrary to the Catholic faith, although it continued to be celebrated clandestinely. In 1944, Faustino Espinoza Navarro promoted the recovery of this traditional event and carried out a historical reconstruction. Since that date, the festival has become public again and attracts thousands of tourists every year.

The triumphant return of the Sun in the shortest day and in the longest night renews nature and is a cause for rejoicing and celebration. The Inti Raymi is not an exclusive celebration of Cusco , as most Andean populations continue to present their offerings every June 24 in countries such as Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, northern Argentina and Colombia. On this date is also celebrated the anniversary of Cusco, in which the city is wrapped in an atmosphere of celebration and fun that you should attend.

On March 3, 2001, the Inti Raymi was declared Cultural Patrimony of the Nation. Its organization and production is now in charge of the Municipal Company of Celebrations of Cusco (EMUFEC).

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DIGITAL NOMAD

Edzna: Sun God

12.19.19.2.17; 5 Kayab 13 Caban; 302 days left . . .

For a minute I felt very special and rather lucky.

The sign at the entrance insisted that I not miss the spectacular laser light show playing that night, illuminating the ruins of Ednza into a Star Wars -like spectacle of colored light beams, flashing bulbs, and electric energy. An English-language billboard said that it cost 170 pesos for foreigners, that it began at 7 p.m., and that it was both “impressive” and worthwhile.”

Boy did I come on the right night! I was so proud of myself for stumbling upon this rare sight in the northeast corner of Campeche until I checked some details online and discovered the light show’s been happening every night rain or shine since the mid-Eighties.

Not so special.

I arrived at Edzna in the afternoon, around 2 p.m. when the white ball of sun hovers at a miserable angle and burns either the back of your neck or the back of your retinas. The light was so extreme that even with sunglasses and wide-brimmed hat, I found myself seeking the shade for periodic relief.

The heat beat down from above and rose up from the stones beneath my feet. I thought of the Maya sun god Kinich Ahau (aka K’inich Ajaw) who in the Maya calendar rules “Sun-Day” and the month of Yaxk’in in the dry season. Neither of those dates coincided with my visit, but we are in the dry season and I surely felt his presence in the overwhelming 95 ° F heat (35° C). If I was to live with this heat every day, I would also heed the sun’s power in a religious fashion—we tend to worship whatever we fear. (Notice how there is no sun god in England.)

Cowering in a corner of shade, I took in the grand sight of Edzna, a unique and geometric ruin that almost mimics the sun rising from the horizon. The largest pyramid complex is built atop a perfect square platform—8 meters high by 160 meters square. My first thought was for the ancient laborers who moved that much earth and fit all of those thousands upon thousands of square stones into place—all under a treacherous sun. I imagine one of the masons, after years of sweaty work and chronic back problems, grinning from ear to ear as he fit the last rock into one of the corners, as if completing the world’s largest Rubik cube.

In my sunstroked vision of the past, the crowd of laborers are jubilant—cheering and clinking glasses of ice water until some ruler-god bellows down from above and ruins their party.

“You’re not finished!” he cries. “That was just the foundation!” The workers hang their heads in disappointment and get back to work, building the pyramids on top of their immense square stone base.

Of course, Edzna was actually built in many phases that span more than a thousand years. That is a very long time, even in the Maya calendar with its 52-year cycles. I imagine laborers had rather short lives—perhaps shorter than a full calendar cycle. Staring at the stone puzzle of platforms and steps that rise and fall around Ednza, I wondered how many human lifetimes were invested in each structure. All civilizations can be defined by the way they spend their people.

The mighty ruins of Edzna date back to the Late Pre-Classic period (300 B.C. to A.D. 300), but the city only reached its peak at the Terminal Classic period of ancient Maya civilization. This was an era defined by a century of early decline (800 to A.D. 900) and known political strife throughout the rest of El Mundo Maya—a time when the Maya population shifted northward. Edzna grew to some 25,000 inhabitants. five hundred years later, the great city of Edzna was abandoned.

Among the many mystery of the Maya lies one great question, specifically, “What happened?” How did a society of brilliant mathematicians and architects just disappear? Current academic theories focus on three key factors, namely war, overpopulation, and drought. Chronic war caused long-term instability, growing populations imbalanced a fragile rain forest ecology, and sustained drought caused famine.

The Terminal Classic period is a punctuation mark for these changes, announcing the beginning of the end of the good times. Major political changes took place in the Post-Classic period—rather than mere lineage, rulers claimed their power was divine right bestowed by the sun god, Kinich Ahau .

According to Maya myth, at the end of the world, the sun god will descend with an army of jaguars that will eat up all mankind. How this scenario coincides with the 2012 Maya “doomsday” prophecy and coming of Bolom Yokté, I do not know, but it was at the ruins Ednza that I learned of this very specific prediction for the end of the world . Genocide by jaguar is rather terrifying, and I’m sure it was extremely terrifying for the ancient Maya who probably dealt with actual jaguar attacks. (Again, we worship what we fear.)

The jaguar is the animal avatar of the sun god, and among the ruins of Edzna are two very distinct carvings depicting the sun god along with a half-human/half-jaguar creature. Staring into the piercing eyes of this sharp-edged sculpture was a bit unsettling.

By four o’clock, I was the only tourist still traipsing up and down the ruins of Edzna. The sun god had lessened his power down to a comfortable afternoon warmth, and I was grateful for the passing of time. In Mexico, the hours of the day are marked by an omnipresent sun—just as the Maya long count calendar counted a 24-hour period as one kin —one sun.

Like the ruins of Pomona , Edzna gets fewer visitors than nearby Uxmal or Chichén Itzá. Yet even as a ruin, Edzna is a magnificent city of towering pyramids, vast temples, palaces, observatories, a ball court, an acropolis, and evidence of an intricate water and road system. Unlike other ruins that are scattered and lost in the jungle overgrowth, Edzna feels like an actual city.

In the falling sun, Edzna was ablaze with golden light, creating a spectacle that forced me to linger until closing. I sat quietly on the steps and watched the light turn down, as if someone were dimming the sky with a dial. Fidgety iguanas posed in the buttery glow of the sun, then disappeared into cracks and holes in the ruins, suddenly afraid.

One kin was coming to an end, just like the sun has set 1,871,694 times since the beginning of the Maya calendar.

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Once again, a ruin had made me pensive about time passing, concerned with the up and down cycles of creation and destruction—civilization versus chaos.

And what of our civilization? Are we in our Classic or Terminal Classic period—or worse, are we Post-Classic? Are the good times gone forever? Do we not find ourselves in decline? Are not war and overconsumption real threats to the balance of our global civilization today? Traveling through Mexico’s world of the Maya forces a kind of soul-searching and deep reflection that I have not experienced in other countries. If anything, Edzna is one more reminder that even the mighty can fall. No society is invincible.

I left the ruins before it got dark—before the time when the jaguars awake in the jungle and begin their nightly hunt. The animals are extremely rare, but they are still quite real.

I failed to attend the laser light show that was advertised, but I will still repeat the billboard’s admonition: Do not miss the light show at Edzna. It is entirely free. It rises in the morning and sets in the evening, just as it has for millions and millions of years.

It is impressive and worthwhile.

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April 8, 2024, Solar Eclipse Will Pass Over All 7 US Cities Named Nineveh?

Some christian groups have preached that the eclipse is a bad omen., published march 31, 2024.

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On April 8, 2024 , a total solar eclipse will blot out the sun for a couple of minutes in a small band across the United States. The eclipse's totality is the only time humans can look directly at the sun without damaging their eyeballs, and so millions of people from around the world will flock to cities in the path of totality, such as Dallas and Indianapolis.

Eclipses do not discriminate, so anyone in the path of totality will be able to see the sun fully obstructed by the moon. However, some people have claimed online that there's one interesting coincidence about the eclipse's path of totality: It will pass through every city in the United States named Nineveh. That name is shared by an ancient city in modern-day Iraq that was described in the bible as "evil."

Snopes received an email from a reader who requested that we check the claim about cities named Nineveh in the eclipse path. In our research, we discovered that many of the people making the claim were Christians who were interpreting the eclipse as a bad omen .

Contrary to the claims, Snopes discovered that the path of totality in the eclipse does not pass through seven cities in the United States named Nineveh — it passes through just two. But before counting places named Nineveh, we must first briefly clarify how eclipses work.

How Eclipses Work

A total solar eclipse is caused by the moon and the sun being in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. The moon fully blocks the light from the sun, casting a really large shadow on the earth. Those inside the moon's shadow, called the umbra, are the only ones who will be able to look directly at the sun without eye protection, and it's the small path of the umbra that people travel to in order to see the total solar eclipse. The website GreatAmericanEclipse.com created a visualization of the shadow's path across North America.

Outside the umbra, where the moon blocks only some of the sun, is called a partial solar eclipse, and the sun looks like it has a giant bite taken out of it. You cannot view a partial solar eclipse without special eclipse glasses, and this area is much, much larger than the umbra. The entirety of the continental United States will be able to see a partial solar eclipse on April 8, just as the entirety of the United States (even Alaska and Hawaii) was able to see a partial solar eclipse in 2017 .

The cool part (partial) of an eclipse can be seen from a very large area, as long as you wear eclipse glasses. The really cool part (total) of an eclipse can be seen only in a small area. It is the total eclipse that people have thought held religious significance since practically as long as humans have had eyes to see and religions to follow.

To quote the essayist Annie Dillard :

A partial eclipse is very interesting. It bears almost no relation to a total eclipse. Seeing a partial eclipse bears the same relation to seeing a total eclipse as kissing a man does to marrying him, or as flying in an airplane does to falling out of an airplane. Although the one experience precedes the other, it in no way prepares you for it.

Places Named Nineveh

We started with Wikipedia's list of places named Nineveh to get a general idea of where to look. Of course, we cross checked those results with more-reliable sources of knowledge, including Google Maps and data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Wikipedia listed just six places in the U.S. named Nineveh, which made our claim of seven dubious to begin with. Checking the locations of those places on Google Maps, we found that three were actually townships, a term used for county subdivisons in some states.

The first was the largest, Indiana's Nineveh Township (south of Indianapolis), which contains a small hamlet of the same name. Both the township and the hamlet will indeed fall in the path of the total eclipse.

Next, Wikipedia listed two townships in Missouri — one in Adair County (about halfway between Kansas City and Davenport, Iowa) and one in Lincoln County (about an hour northwest of St. Louis). But neither of the two townships contained a village named Nineveh on any of the maps we looked at. Furthermore, neither of the townships fell in the path of the total eclipse.

The fourth place on Wikipedia's list, Nineveh, New York, is about 30 minutes east of Binghamton. We found it marked on maps but, again, it did not lie in the path of totality.

Fifth: Nineveh, Pennsylvania, roughly halfway between Pittsburgh and Morgantown, West Virginia. This Nineveh was marked on maps, but it was also outside of the total eclipse. It was also the last Nineveh listed by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sixth, we found Nineveh, Virginia, an hour and a half west of Washington, D.C. This was the easiest to check: Nobody in the state of Virginia will be able to see full totality during the eclipse. We did not find a label for Nineveh on maps, and buildings located in the area had their postal addresses listed as White Post, Virginia.

That completed the Wikipedia list, but various posts about the supposed line-up listed two more Ninevehs located in the U.S.: one in Texas and one in Ohio.

Nineveh, Texas, was not marked on maps, nor did it have a post office. It was located not far off of Interstate 45 halfway between Houston and Dallas. This one was close, but we eventually confirmed that it would be outside of the zone of totality by referencing nearby cities that also were outside of totality.

Nineveh, Ohio, was a similar story: not found on maps, no post office, no Census data. But this Nineveh, 30 minutes northwest of Dayton, was finally our second hit.

In total, we counted two places named Nineveh in the United States that could be found in the path of totality.

2024 Total Eclipse . https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

"A Total Eclipse Is near. For Some, It's Evidence of Higher Power. For Others It's a Warning." USA TODAY , https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/03/23/2024-total-solar-exclipse-religious-implications/72869724007/. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

April 8, 2024 Eclipse Will Pass Over 7 United States Cities Named Nineveh . www.youtube.com , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n6dp85XynY. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

April 8 Eclipse and Third-Day Events in Scripture . https://www.biblejournalclasses.com/blog/april-8-eclipse-and-third-day-events-in-scripture-2. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Dawson, Brandon. "THE JONAH ECLIPSE - 40 DAYS - GODS URGENT WARNING TO AMERICA!" Tribe of Christians , 2 Mar. 2024, https://www.tribeofchristians.com/single-post/the-jonah-eclipse-god-s-great-warning-to-america-april-8th-2024.

Dillard, Annie. "Total Eclipse." The Atlantic , 8 Aug. 2017, https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/08/annie-dillards-total-eclipse/536148/.

Eclipse 2017 . https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Mark, Joshua J. "Nineveh." World History Encyclopedia , https://www.worldhistory.org/nineveh/. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

"Nineveh (Disambiguation)." Wikipedia , 29 Oct. 2023. Wikipedia , https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nineveh_(disambiguation)&oldid=1182408744.

Noah. "The Upcoming U.S. Eclipse Just Got Even Stranger!" WLT Report , 4 Mar. 2024, https://wltreport.com/2024/03/04/upcoming-u-s-eclipse-just-got-even-stranger/.

The APRIL 8, 2024 ECLIPSE & The 7 Cities Named Nineveh | The APRIL 8, 2024 ECLIPSE & The 7 Cities Named Nineveh | By Messiah GuguFacebook . www.facebook.com , https://www.facebook.com/100067092253715/videos/the-april-8-2024-eclipse-the-7-cities-named-nineveh/397509926249711/. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

The April 8 2024 Eclipse and the 7 Cities Named Nineveh . www.youtube.com , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLkxKT65IFc. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

"Total Solar Eclipse 2024 US." Great American Eclipse , https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/april-8-2024. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

By Jack Izzo

Jack Izzo is a Chicago-based journalist and two-time "Jeopardy!" alumnus.

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15 reasons you must visit Moscow

Home / Russia Travel Experiences / 15 reasons you must visit Moscow

Home to almost over 12 million souls, Moscow is many things to many people, and everyone finds their own reasons to visit Moscow. There is an infinite number of reasons to visit Moscow and its attractions. To make it easier for travellers, we created a list of the crowd’s top fifteen reasons and attractions everyone should visit when in Moscow.

Table of Contents

1. Indulge in countless historical and modern artworks

Whether you are just dipping your toes into the art world or you know everything about arts, Moscow is a must-visit for every self-proclaimed or certified art connoisseur and historian. The city has numerous historical and contemporary museums and art galleries and they are essential in the list when you visit Moscow. Among the plethora of galleries and museums is The State Tretyakov Gallery holding the world’s foremost collection of Russian fine art. Another is the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts which showcases artworks from the ancient times to this day such as the paintings of Rembrandt, Botticelli, Van Gogh, and Picasso. The Moscow Museum of Modern Art , on the other hand, displays artworks created in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Moscow is not only home to famous historical paintings, the city also showcases modern, educational, and multimedia arts. The Moscow Planetarium is one of the biggest planetariums in the world. It is an interactive museum that educates everyone with their scientific resources. The openness of Russia to new forms of arts can be seen in the Multimedia Art Museum, Winzavod (Wine Factory), Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Lumiere Brothers Photography Center . These art galleries unite all forms of media, arts, and modern culture.

For the love of art, moreover, they have converted former industrial areas to unique art spaces. ARTPLAY Center of Design and Flacon Design Factory are two of the known art spaces for local organisations and artists to express their creativity, host their own workshops, lectures, design festivals, concerts, performances, and exhibits.

TIP: Open Museum Day in Moscow offers free day-time admission in most city museums every third Sunday of the month. Forty museums and art galleries are participating including the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow Museum of Modern Art, Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics , and State Museum of Ceramics and Kuskovo Estate of the 18th Century.

If you’re craving for more museum adventures, we have created a list of the best museum to visit in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

2. Step onto the mighty Red Square

Walk onto the uneven cobblestones alongside the throngs of bustling citizens and you’ll see centuries of Russian (and world) history reflected in the architecture of Red Square. It is the epicentre of Russia. The country’s major highways and Moscow’s main streets all originate from the Red Square. However, it is not only the heart of Russian streets but is also the heart of Russian history and culture where most of the biggest Russian events and changes unfolded such as high-profile executions and military parades. The city square also served as the main marketplace and site for national public ceremonies and festive processions. Being considered as a sacred place, it is absolutely a must-see when you visit Moscow.

Official commemorations and parades today are still mostly held in the square. The surrounding buildings of the Red Square also add great significance to why you should include the beautiful square on your bucket list when you visit Moscow. Some of these famous attractions are iconic:

St. Basil’s Cathedral
Lenin’s Mausoleum
The Kremlin
Kazan Cathedral
The historical GUM Department Store
State Historical Museum
The Iberian Gate (also known as the Resurrection Gate and Chapel

3. Visit the Moscow Kremlin

The Kremlin , together with Red Square was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990. UNESCO included this architectural ensemble not just because of its outstanding design but also because of its rich historical and political linkage. That is why you should not miss this when you visit Moscow. It is located on Borovitsky Hill just above the Moskva River, on the west side of the magnificent Red Square. It serves as the Russian President’s residence and treasure houses such as the Armory Chamber Museum and the Russian Diamond Fund . Two Royal Cathedrals, the Secret Garden, and Ivan the Great Bell Tower are some of the attractions you can visit inside the Kremlin. Also, along the Kremlin wall is where you can see the gravestones of most Soviet leaders -including Stalin’s.

TIP: The Kremlin is open every day except on Thursdays and tickets for each establishment inside the Kremlin are sold separately. They also limit the number of daily visitors. May to September of every year is considered as the peak season.

4. Awaken your senses in the Bolshoi theatre

The Bolshoi Ballet Company is one of the most enduring symbols of Russia’s esteemed cultural traditions, and Moscow’s Bolshoi (Big) Theatre is the association’s fittingly elegant headquarters. Moscow’s oldest theatre has been painstakingly restored and renovated in recent years. It is a must-see day or night with their world-famous opera and ballet performances when you visit Moscow. Taking in an evening performance of a classic Russian ballet like Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker is one of the city’s most captivating cultural experiences.

Aside from the Bolshoi Theatre, there are around 170 theatres in the city; each of which features unique performances. It is the sole reason why Moscow is coined as the “City of Theatres”. No matter what genre, as long as it is in Moscow it will be surreal. No wonder the city attracts all theatregoers around the globe. To name a few, here are the must-visit theatres around the city: (1) Maly Theatre which showcases classic traditions of Russian Theatre, (2) Moscow Art Theatre combines classical and modern drama traditions, and (4) Theatre of Nations and (5) Gogol Centre further popularized modern arts such as post-drama and comedy production.

TIP: Most people have been planning to witness a performance (especially in Bolshoi Theatre) for years. Remember to check and purchase tickets ahead of time before getting excited to watch the spectacular performance. Also, wearing your best evening dress won’t hurt.

5. Enjoy the ambiance of Moscow parks

While Moscow’s attractions are usually known as a mixture of extravagant Tsarist architecture and stern Soviet buildings, much of Moscow is actually surprisingly green and the city’s parks have grown into its pride and joy over the years. Take a break from walking around historical establishments and rest in these well-groomed green areas. These parks provide some of Moscow’s best people-watching spots and offer various activities you can do with your group or with the locals from playing sports and board games on the pavement to simply enjoying the outdoor cafes.

Slow down from the hectic pace of the city life by having a stop-over in the most popular green spaces when you visit Moscow. Gorky Park has its own telegraph and clinic, Park of Arts Museum often hosts music festivals, art fairs and exhibits, and lastly, Sokolniki Park and Izmailovsky Park have bike rentals and small amusement parks that are perfect for family day-outs.

6. Experience the magnificent Moscow Metro

Apart from being an extremely handy way to get around the city, Moscow’s metro system is a striking feat of engineering. Opened in 1935, it is one of the largest and oldest underground railway systems in the world. Its grand stations are remarkably beautiful. With their grandiose architecture, intricate mosaics, and dramatic sculptures, it has turned many metro stations into picturesque tourist attractions. There are 12 lines and a total of 200 stations. Elektrozavodskaya, Arbatskaya, Kievskaya, Komsomolskaya, and Mayakovskaya are just a few of the magical stations that seems to be like an underground palace.

Visit Moscow grand stations during “dead hours” —11 am to 2 pm or after 10 pm in order get the most out of the spectacular metro stations. And for the sake of courtesy and respect, always give your seat to Babushkas or the beautiful Russian grannies on the train. Train tickets can be shared and you can buy them for 1, 2, 20, 40, and 60 trips. Unlimited Metro travel for 1, 3, and 7 full days are also available from 210 to 800 rubles. Alternatively, you can purchase a Troika Card which costs 50 rubles and allows you to travel on all public transportation in Moscow.

7. Be amazed by the beauty & grace of Moscow’s churches

In Moscow, the majority of religion belongs to the Russian Orthodox Church which has 320 of total parishes in Moscow alone. Thus, it is not surprising that Orthodox churches and its unique architecture are one of the must-sees when you visit Moscow. Onion domes had long been known as the classic design of Orthodox churches in Russia. Below, we will mention some of the iconic churches you shouldn’t miss seeing in the city.

The Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed or St. Basil Cathedral is perhaps the most popular and most unusual church in the country. It is located at the Southern end of the Red Square. Built in 1555, it is originally called the Intercession Cathedral to commemorate Ivan the Terrible’s victory over the Tatars. The bonfire-flame-shaped-cathedral has nine towers full of colours, shapes, and patterns. It was designed like a maze as a whole while each way leads to nine chapels with creatively decorated interiors. The magnificent cathedral is open every day except for the first Wednesday of every month.

With its golden onion domes, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is the largest cathedral of all Russian Orthodox Church and has the capacity of over a thousand devotees. However, there is another known cathedral with golden domes —the Cathedral of the Assumption. What makes this cathedral different is that its domes are not just gold, but they are also light-reflecting sitting inside the Kremlin. Lastly, we would like to feature a church with neo-gothic architecture –the Moscow Immaculate Conception Catholic Cathedral. It is the largest Catholic building in the country. To this day, masses and Catholic religious services are still being conducted in different languages in the cathedral.

8. Visit Moscow streets and the monumental architecture

The beautiful architecture of museums and churches, makes each city street a sight to behold. For sure you’ll have a jaw-dropping moment at least once when you visit Moscow. The streets around the Red Square are a good start for you to stroll and have them as background for your OOTD photos.

Tverskaya Stree t is known as Moscow’s fashion street and main street. This street is also one of the most expensive streets in the world, basing from the commercial rental fees. Another fashion district, Kuznetsky Most (literally translates to Blacksmith’s bridge)is where popular shops such as “Kuznetsky Most 20” – a famous concept store and “House of Foreign Books” (which is the best foreign-language bookshop) are located. Ulitsa Varvaka claims to be the oldest street and has the most churches in the city; it also shows the more medieval side of Moscow. If you are looking for high-end souvenirs, take a look at the shops on Arbat Street . Just do not forget to negotiate with the vendors and ask for discounts! Also, you get a chance to taste local vodkas as they offer free samples on the street.

9. Enjoy Moscow street food and fine dining restaurants

Moscow can surprise even the most demanding gourmands with the variety of foods , flavours and dining scenes the city has to offer. Russian cuisine is famous for exotic soups and rustic, hearty dishes like pelmeni (meat dumplings), pancakes with different fillings, and last but not the least, caviar. Sweets are also a big thing in the Russian kitchen and they are incomparable with other confectioneries that can be bought outside the country. “RotFront” soya bars , Chak-Chak Sticks and Kozinaki are just a few of the most popular sweet snacks in Moscow.

Great food is everywhere, 24 hours a day in the city. Yar , one of the oldest restaurants in Russia has been serving local Russian cuisines for nearly a century now in Moscow. Another restaurant, Praga , which opened 150 years ago is known for its European and Russian dishes in addition to their pastry shop on the ground floor. Cafe Pushkin , a three-storey restaurant is open 24 hours a day. Each floor has its own menu and theme: the Pharmacy, Library, and the Fireplace Room. The Library floor is said to have the best view of the Tverskoy Boulevard during breakfast. However, if you want to time travel, find the secret door of Mari Vanna and experience what it is like to live in a Soviet home 50 years ago. Watch old Soviet channels and look through old bookcases and photos while having traditional Russian stews and pies. And oh, do not forget to book for tables!

But there’s so much more to Moscow’s modern gastronomic landscape. From sophisticated new takes on old-school cooking to cosmopolitan eateries offering refined cuisine from around the world, Moscow is also boasting with street foods. Chebureki or cheburechnaya, as what some cafes call them, are fried triangle-shaped thin dough stuffed with minced meat and spices. On the other hand, Blini is a better option for those who have a sweet tooth. They are crepes that can be filled with, cheese, jam, honey, ham, condensed milk, or red caviar. Today, Blini are famously made and sold in Teremok — a popular fast-food chain. Another fast-food chain has popularised a Russian local snack: Kroshka-Kartoshka . Although the name translates to “tiny potato”, they serve enormous baked potatoes with cheese, pickled mushrooms, butter, and other fillings. And lastly, pirozhki, which means pie seems to be the symbol of Russian street foods. Just look around the streets and try the four local snacks that we’ve mentioned and you’ll realise that every food is stuffed and/or filled with something. Now it is your turn to stuff your belly with Moscow street food!

10. Shop till you drop in Moscow boutiques

Muscovites are mad-shoppers and once you see the brands and collectives in each shopping centre, you might become one of them. From the most glamorous high-end fashion brands, art and design pieces, to antiques and traditional handicrafts, the opportunities for a hardcore spree are endless. Make sure to drop by the two most famous shopping centres, GUM and TSUM when you visit Moscow. They are must-visits even if you are only there to admire (or baulk at) their stupendous swankiness.

GUM is on the east side of Red Square. It is a former State Department Store. The building’s architecture will instantly give you an extravagant feeling. However, along with its luxurious interior, comes the most luxurious brands and prices. It is open for twelve hours each day from 10 am to 10 pm. On the other hand, TSUM , a six-story historical gothic building is the largest high-end department store in Eastern Europe. There is a luxury supermarket which is open for twenty-four hours on the ground floor.

More affordable options are in the city’s many bustling flea markets, or in beautiful old boutique stores. Tsvetnoy Central Market and Kuznetsky Most 20 are just two of the known markets in the city where both hot and hippy street brands can be found. Local creative contemporary designers and high-end creatives are also housed in both markets.

11. Earn bragging rights with the perfect Instagram snap

Up your Instagram and Facebook feed with these views and different angles of the city. Shamelessly share your food and shoes with the streets and floors you’re walking into with your virtual friends. Or take a snap of the random streets of Moscow depicting their rich cultures. Also, do not forget the big picture! Which literally means photos of the whole city.

Did you really visit Moscow if you don’t have any photo of the Red Square and Moscow Kremlin? Stand at the centre of Red Square and Kremlin, take the most iconic shot and show the world that you were actually in Moscow. We’ve listed three buildings that have the best top views of the city. The (1) Federation Tower which also has the highest restaurant in Moscow, (2) The Moscow State University has a panoramic view of the city inside The Museum of Geography on its top floor and (3) Cathedral of Christ ’s observation deck have the most breathtaking top views of the city.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Garage Museum of Contemporary Art , GUM, ARTPlay , and Moscow Metro stations are just some of Moscow infrastructures perfect for your channel your inner artsy persona. While walking around the Moscow CBD, do not forget to look up and take photos of the skyscrapers as far as your eyes and camera can reach. However, if you want to take a break from all the spectacular man-made architecture, take a stroll in Patriarch’s Pond , where you can feel like a real Muscovite and nature-lover.

12. Moscow never sleeps

>Let it be known: Russians love to party! And Moscow is undoubtedly the party capital of Russia. The capital city has an incredible array of nightlife options and a scene for everyone. Whether you’re keen to catch a live Russian rock band or slink into a smoky jazz club, Moscow is there for you. Go clubbing till the break of dawn or just lounge around with a beer and an endless array of fine local vodka. We have listed our top five bars and clubs to help you decide which one to go to. Go ahead and get your body moving along the music while drinking with Muscovites. In that way, you can actually experience Moscow.

Propaganda , or Probka as what regulars call it, is opened in 1997 and has about the same age as the Moscow club culture. Aside from local drinks and world-class DJs, the club is also boasting with cheap sandwiches and steaks. On Thursdays, they hold dance parties and gay parties on Sundays. Nauka i Iskusstvo (Science and Art) is for you if music is the sole reason for your night out. The club is said to host the best electronic and hip parties. Noor Bar, nonetheless, is known for their classic cocktails which can be best enjoyed on Fridays and Saturdays while listening to their DJ sets. Just make sure to go there early to secure a spot. Another two famous nightclubs are located in Artplay: Pluton and Rodnya . Pluton promotes all kinds of music and art-performances while Rodnya is a rooftop club where you can enjoy dancing while waiting for the sun to rise in Summer. Squad 3/4 is one of the most bizarre nightclubs in Moscow. It is located at the basement of the former Central Baths building and often hosts bohemian raves.

13. Take a Moscow River Cruise

Cruising along the Moskva River is one of the best ways to see and visit Moscow. Ticket pricing of the cruise depends on the size of the boat; the bigger the boat, the more expensive and smoother its sailing will be. For 800 rubles, you can board the most famous tour boat in Moscow: the yellow Lay’s boat. It plays loud Russian pop music as you sail the river. Bigger boats cost 1,100 to 2,000 rubles per person. These cruises on bigger boats often offer cozy lunch and dinner on top of the cruise itself.

TIP : There are two main boarding piers: Hotel Ukraine and Park Kultury. If you want to save money, buy your tickets online and make sure to arrive earlier as it is hard to find the pier where your boat is at. However, if you do not mind spending more for tickets, you can purchase from street hawkers. They will personally guide you on where to find your boat and where to get off. Also, make sure to bring extra clothes even in the summer season.

14. White Christmas in Moscow

Visit Moscow and bring all your thick but light-weight clothes and experience Moscow’s white winter. The average weather in December is around -10 to 0 degrees Celsius with an average of 17-30 days of snowfall. Witness snowfall on the Red Square which transforms into a Christmas market and the biggest ice skating rink in December. Celebrate with Muscovites during the Russian Winter Festival and watch live performances, eat street foods, and play games from mid-December to mid-January in Manezh Square.

15. Explore the Medieval towns of Golden Ring

There is always more to see beyond the capital city of a country. And in Russia’s case, outside Moscow is the ancient region called the Golden Ring . The region’s name is derived from the golden onion-shaped domes of the churches around the towns and from the ring-like route in which 1967 art historian and journalist Yuri Bychkov travelled.

The Golden Ring is comprised of eight main cities:

Yaroslavl is where the Transfiguration Monastery (now a museum) and Ioann Vasiliyevich — a Soviet-themed hotel and restaurant.
Vladimir boasts its Golden Gate and the Cathedral of the Dormition of the Mother of God.
Suzdal is a thirty-minute drive from Vladimir, it has five monasteries, thirty churches, and a market square (Torgovaya Ploshchad) where you can local berries and honey.
Sergiev Posad is known to be the location of the Trinity Lavra of St Sergius — one of the largest monasteries in the world.
Pereselavl-Zalessky is where you can enjoy windsurfing and ride hot air balloons.
Rostov Velikiy or Rostov the Great is boasting its colourful churches and unchanged kremlin architecture.
Ivanovo is known for its huge textile industry, it is also known as the city of brides since there more women than men in the area.
Kostroma is where the town of Bui — a town of cultural heritage, and Trinity-Ipatiev Monastery can be explored.

Visit Moscow and experience and see in the Golden Ring afterwards. We have carefully crafted tours for every traveller like you.

Just as a cherry on top, here is an awesome video clip of this magnificent city, Moscow:

The Russian smile: a mysterious facet of Russian culture

Russians are stereotyped have a reputation for being stern and unsmiling people, but actually, Russians do smile often, and their smiles mean different things in 10 different situations.

15 reasons to visit St. Petersburg - Russia's cultural capital

If the great cities of Europe competed for the title of ‘Most Beautiful’, St Petersburg would be right up there. The mix of history, culture and, contemporary life — those elements that make visit St Petersburg so compelling. In the midst of a new era of cultural expression, majestic historical buildings and classical artistic traditions are still preserved and valued by the locals.

10 Russian Festivals Every Traveller Should Experience

Most tourists come to Russia for a fleeting taste of its rich traditions and age-old culture. But to truly immerse yourself in the spirit of Russian culture, consider visiting the country during one of the Russian festivals or holidays.

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25 Questions (and Answers!) About the Great North American Eclipse

The McDonald Observatory’s guide to one of nature’s most beautiful and astounding events: What you might see, how to view it safely, how astronomers will study it, how animals might react, and some of the mythology and superstitions about the Sun’s great disappearing act.

1. What’s happening?

The Moon will cross directly between Earth and the Sun, temporarily blocking the Sun from view along a narrow path across Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Viewers across the rest of the United States will see a partial eclipse, with the Moon covering only part of the Sun’s disk.

2. When will it happen?

The eclipse takes place on April 8. It will get underway at 10:42 a.m. CDT, when the Moon’s shadow first touches Earth’s surface, creating a partial eclipse. The Big Show—totality—begins at about 11:39 a.m., over the south-central Pacific Ocean. The shadow will first touch North America an hour and a half later, on the Pacific coast of Mexico. Moving at more than 1,600 miles (2,575 km) per hour, the path of totality will enter the United States at Eagle Pass, Texas, at 1:27 p.m. CDT. The lunar shadow will exit the United States and enter the Canadian province of New Brunswick near Houlton, Maine, at 2:35 p.m. (3:35 p.m. EDT).

3. How long will totality last?

The exact timing depends on your location. The maximum length is 4 minutes, 27 seconds near Torreon, Mexico. In the United States, several towns in southwestern Texas will see 4 minutes, 24 seconds of totality. The closer a location is to the centerline of the path of totality, the longer the eclipse will last.

4. What will it look like?

Eclipse veterans say there’s nothing quite like a total solar eclipse. In the last moments before the Sun disappears behind the Moon, bits of sunlight filter through the lunar mountains and canyons, forming bright points of light known as Baily’s beads. The last of the beads provides a brief blaze known as a diamond ring effect. When it fades away, the sky turns dark and the corona comes into view— million-degree plasma expelled from the Sun’s surface. It forms silvery filaments that radiate away from the Sun. Solar prominences, which are fountains of gas from the surface, form smaller, redder streamers on the rim of the Sun’s disk.

5. What safety precautions do I need to take?

It’s perfectly safe to look at the total phase of the eclipse with your eyes alone. In fact, experts say it’s the best way to enjoy the spectacle. The corona, which surrounds the intervening Moon with silvery tendrils of light, is only about as bright as a full Moon.

During the partial phases of the eclipse, however, including the final moments before and first moments after totality, your eyes need protection from the Sun’s blinding light. Even a 99-percent-eclipsed Sun is thousands of times brighter than a full Moon, so even a tiny sliver of direct sunlight can be dangerous!

To stay safe, use commercially available eclipse viewers, which can look like eyeglasses or can be embedded in a flat sheet that you hold in front of your face. Make sure your viewer meets the proper safety standards, and inspect it before you use it to make sure there are no scratches to let in unfiltered sunlight.

You also can view the eclipse through a piece of welder’s glass (No. 14 or darker), or stand under a leafy tree and look at the ground; the gaps between leaves act as lenses, projecting a view of the eclipse on the ground. With an especially leafy tree you can see hundreds of images of the eclipse at once. (You can also use a colander or similar piece of gear to create the same effect.)

One final mode of eclipse watching is with a pinhole camera. You can make one by poking a small hole in an index card, file folder, or piece of stiff cardboard. Let the Sun shine through the hole onto the ground or a piece of paper, but don’t look at the Sun through the hole! The hole projects an image of the eclipsed Sun, allowing you to follow the entire sequence, from the moment of first contact through the Moon’s disappearance hours later.

6. Where can I see the eclipse?

In the United States, the path of totality will extend from Eagle Pass, Texas, to Houlton, Maine. It will cross 15 states: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Tennessee, and Michigan (although it barely nicks the last two).

In Texas, the eclipse will darken the sky over Austin, Waco, and Dallas—the most populous city in the path, where totality (the period when the Sun is totally eclipsed) will last 3 minutes, 51 seconds.

Other large cities along the path include Little Rock; Indianapolis; Dayton, Toledo, and Cleveland, Ohio; Erie, Pennsylvania; Buffalo and Rochester, New York; and Burlington, Vermont.

Outside the path of totality, American skywatchers will see a partial eclipse, in which the Sun covers only part of the Sun’s disk. The sky will grow dusky and the air will get cooler, but the partially eclipsed Sun is still too bright to look at without proper eye protection. The closer to the path of totality, the greater the extent of the eclipse. From Memphis and Nashville, for example, the Moon will cover more than 95 percent of the Sun’s disk. From Denver and Phoenix, it’s about 65 percent. And for the unlucky skywatchers in Seattle, far to the northwest of the eclipse centerline, it’s a meager 20 percent.

The total eclipse path also crosses Mexico, from the Pacific coast, at Mazatlán, to the Texas border. It also crosses a small portion of Canada, barely including Hamilton, Ontario. Eclipse Details for Locations Around the United States • aa.usno.navy.mil/data/Eclipse2024 • eclipse.aas.org • GreatAmericanEclipse.com

7. What causes solar eclipses?

These awe-inspiring spectacles are the result of a pleasant celestial coincidence: The Sun and Moon appear almost exactly the same size in Earth’s sky. The Sun is actually about 400 times wider than the Moon but it’s also about 400 times farther, so when the new Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun—an alignment known as syzygy—it can cover the Sun’s disk, blocking it from view.

8. Why don’t we see an eclipse at every new Moon?

The Moon’s orbit around Earth is tilted a bit with respect to the Sun’s path across the sky, known as the ecliptic. Because of that angle, the Moon passes north or south of the Sun most months, so there’s no eclipse. When the geometry is just right, however, the Moon casts its shadow on Earth’s surface, creating a solar eclipse. Not all eclipses are total. The Moon’s distance from Earth varies a bit, as does Earth’s distance from the Sun. If the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun when the Moon is at its farthest, we see an annular eclipse, in which a ring of sunlight encircles the Moon. Regardless of the distance, if the SunMoon-Earth alignment is off by a small amount, the Moon can cover only a portion of the Sun’s disk, creating a partial eclipse.

9. How often do solar eclipses happen?

Earth sees as least two solar eclipses per year, and, rarely, as many as five. Only three eclipses per two years are total. In addition, total eclipses are visible only along narrow paths. According to Belgian astronomer Jean Meuss, who specializes in calculating such things, any given place on Earth will see a total solar eclipse, on average, once every 375 years. That number is averaged over many centuries, so the exact gap varies. It might be centuries between succeeding eclipses, or it might be only a few years. A small region of Illinois, Missouri, and Kentucky, close to the southeast of St. Louis, for example, saw the total eclipse of 2017 and will experience this year’s eclipse as well. Overall, though, you don’t want to wait for a total eclipse to come to you. If you have a chance to travel to an eclipse path, take it!

10. What is the limit for the length of totality?

Astronomers have calculated the length of totality for eclipses thousands of years into the future. Their calculations show that the greatest extent of totality will come during the eclipse of July 16, 2186, at 7 minutes, 29 seconds, in the Atlantic Ocean, near the coast of South America. The eclipse will occur when the Moon is near its closest point to Earth, so it appears largest in the sky, and Earth is near its farthest point from the Sun, so the Sun appears smaller than average. That eclipse, by the way, belongs to the same Saros cycle as this year’s.

11. When will the next total eclipse be seen from the United States?

The next total eclipse visible from anywhere in the United States will take place on March 30, 2033, across Alaska. On August 22, 2044, a total eclipse will be visible across parts of Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The next eclipse to cross the entire country will take place on August 12, 2045, streaking from northern California to southern Florida. Here are the other total solar eclipses visible from the contiguous U.S. this century:

March 30, 2052 Florida, Georgia, tip of South Carolina May 11, 2078 From Louisiana to North Carolina May 1, 2079 From Philadelphia up the Atlantic coast to Maine September 14, 2099 From North Dakota to the Virginia-North Carolina border

12. What is the origin of the word ‘eclipse?’

The word first appeared in English writings in the late 13th century. It traces its roots, however, to the Greek words “ecleipsis” or “ekleipein.” According to various sources, the meaning was “to leave out, fail to appear,” “a failing, forsaking,” or “abandon, cease, die.”

13. Do solar eclipses follow any kind of pattern?

The Moon goes through several cycles. The best known is its 29.5-day cycle of phases, from new through full and back again. Other cycles include its distance from Earth (which varies by about 30,000 miles (50,000 km) over 27.5 days) and its relationship to the Sun’s path across the sky, known as the ecliptic (27.2 days), among others. These three cycles overlap every 6,585.3 days, which is 18 years, 11 days, and 8 hours.

This cycle of cycles is known as a Saros (a word created by Babylonians). The circumstances for each succeeding eclipse in a Saros are similar—the Moon is about the same distance from Earth, for example, and they occur at the same time of year. Each eclipse occurs one-third of the way around Earth from the previous one, however; the next eclipse in this Saros, for example, will be visible from parts of the Pacific Ocean.

Each Saros begins with a partial eclipse. A portion of the Moon just nips the northern edge of the Sun, for example, blocking only a fraction of the Sun’s light. With each succeeding eclipse in the cycle, the Moon covers a larger fraction of the solar disk, eventually creating dozens of total eclipses. The Moon then slides out of alignment again, this time in the opposite direction, creating more partial eclipses. The series ends with a grazing partial eclipse on the opposite hemisphere (the southern tip, for example).

Several Saros cycles churn along simultaneously (40 are active now), so Earth doesn’t have to wait 18 years between eclipses. They can occur at intervals of one, five, six, or seven months.

The April 8 eclipse is the 30th of Saros 139, a series of 71 events that began with a partial eclipse, in the far north, and will end with another partial eclipse, this time in the far southern hemisphere. The next eclipse in this Saros, also total, will take place on April 20, 2042.

First eclipse May 17, 1501

First total eclipse December 21, 1843

Final total eclipse March 26, 2601

Longest total eclipse July 16, 2186, 7 minutes, 29 seconds

Final partial eclipse July 3, 2763

All eclipses 71 (43 total, 16 partial, 12 hybrid)

Source: NASA Catalog of Solar Eclipses: eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEsaros/SEsaros139.html

14. What about eclipse seasons?

Eclipses occur in “seasons,” with two or three eclipses (lunar and solar) in a period of about five weeks. Individual eclipses are separated by two weeks: a lunar eclipse at full Moon, a solar eclipse at new Moon (the sequence can occur in either order). If the first eclipse in a season occurs during the first few days of the window, then the season will have three eclipses. When one eclipse in the season is poor, the other usually is much better.

That’s certainly the case with the season that includes the April 8 eclipse. It begins with a penumbral lunar eclipse on the night of March 24, in which the Moon will pass through Earth’s outer shadow. The eclipse will cover the Americas, although the shadow is so faint that most skywatchers won’t notice it.

This article was previously published in the March/April 2024 issue of StarDate magazine, a publication of The University of Texas at Austin’s McDonald Observatory. Catch StarDate’s daily radio program on more than 300 stations nationwide or subscribe online at stardate.org .

15. How can astronomers forecast eclipses so accurately?

They’ve been recording eclipses and the motions of the Moon for millennia. And over the past half century they’ve been bouncing laser beams off of special reflectors carried to the Moon by Apollo astronauts and Soviet rovers. Those observations reveal the Moon’s position to within a fraction of an inch. Using a combination of the Earth-Moon distance, the Moon’s precise shape, Earth’s rotation and its distance from the Sun, and other factors, astronomers can predict the timing of an eclipse to within a fraction of a second many centuries into the future.

Edmond Halley made the first confirmed solar eclipse prediction, using the laws of gravity devised only a few decades earlier by Isaac Newton. Halley forecast that an eclipse would cross England on May 3, 1715. He missed the timing by just four minutes and the path by 20 miles, so the eclipse is known as Halley’s Eclipse.

16. What are the types of solar eclipses?

Total : the Moon completely covers the Sun.

Annular : the Moon is too far away to completely cover the Sun, leaving a bright ring of sunlight around it.

Partial : the Moon covers only part of the Sun’s disk.

Hybrid : an eclipse that is annular at its beginning and end, but total at its peak.

17. What are Baily’s beads?

During the minute or two before or after totality, bits of the Sun shine through canyons and other features on the limb of the Moon, producing “beads” of sunlight. They were first recorded and explained by Edmond Halley, in 1715. During a presentation to the Royal Academy of Sciences more than a century later, however, astronomer Frances Baily first described them as “a string of beads,” so they’ve been known as Baily’s beads ever since. Please note that Baily’s beads are too bright to look at without eye protection!

18. Will Earth always see total solar eclipses?

No, it will not. The Moon is moving away from Earth at about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) per year. Based on that rate of recession, in about 600 million years the Moon would have moved so far from Earth that it would no longer appear large enough to cover the Sun. The speed at which the Moon separates from Earth changes over the eons, however, so scientists aren’t sure just when Earth will see its final total solar eclipse.

19. How will the eclipse affect solar power?

If your solar-powered house is in or near the path of totality, the lights truly will go out, as they do at night. For large power grids, the eclipse will temporarily reduce the total amount of electricity contributed by solar generation. During the October 14, 2023, annular eclipse, available solar power plummeted in California and Texas. At the same time, demand increased as individual Sun-powered homes and other buildings began drawing electricity from the power grid. Both networks were able to compensate with stations powered by natural gas and other sources.

The power drop during this year’s eclipse could be more dramatic because there will be less sunlight at the peak of the eclipse.

20. What are some of the myths and superstitions associated with solar eclipses?

Most ancient cultures created stories to explain the Sun’s mysterious and terrifying disappearances.

In China and elsewhere, it was thought the Sun was being devoured by a dragon. Other cultures blamed a hungry frog (Vietnam), a giant wolf loosed by the god Loki (Scandinavia), or the severed head of a monster (India). Still others saw an eclipse as a quarrel (or a reunion) between Sun and Moon. Some peoples shot flaming arrows into the sky to scare away the monster or to rekindle the solar fire. One especially intriguing story, from Transylvania, said that an eclipse occurred when the Sun covered her face in disgust at bad human behavior.

Eclipses have been seen as omens of evil deeds to come. In August 1133, King Henry I left England for Normandy one day before a lengthy solar eclipse, bringing prophesies of doom. The country later was plunged into civil war, and Henry died before he could return home, strengthening the impression that solar eclipses were bad mojo.

Ancient superstitions claimed that eclipses could cause plague and other maladies. Modern superstitions say that food prepared during an eclipse is poison and that an eclipse will damage the babies of pregnant women who look at it. None of that is true, of course. There’s nothing at all to fear from this beautiful natural event.

21. How do animals react to solar eclipses?

Scientists haven’t studied the topic very thoroughly, but they do have some general conclusions. Many daytime animals start their evening rituals, while many nighttime animals wake up when the eclipse is over, perhaps cursing their alarm clocks for letting them sleep so late!

During the 2017 total eclipse, scientists observed 17 species at Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, South Carolina. About three-quarters of the species showed some response as the sky darkened. Some animals acted nervous, while others simply headed for bed. A species of gibbon had the most unusual reaction, moving excitedly and chattering in ways the zookeepers hadn’t seen before.

Other studies have reported that bats and owls sometimes come out during totality, hippos move toward their nighttime feeding grounds, and spiders tear down their webs, only to rebuild them when the Sun returns. Bees have been seen to return to their hives during totality and not budge until the next day, crickets begin their evening chorus, and, unfortunately, mosquitoes emerge, ready to dine on unsuspecting eclipse watchers.

A NASA project, Eclipse Soundscapes, is using volunteers around the country to learn more about how animals react to the changes. The project collected audio recordings and observations by participants during the annular eclipse last year, and will repeat the observations this year. Volunteers can sign up at eclipsesoundscapes.org

22. How will scientists study this year’s eclipse?

Astronomers don’t pay quite as much professional attention to solar eclipses as they did in decades and centuries past. However, they still schedule special observations to add to their knowledge of the Sun and especially the inner edge of the corona.

Sun-watching satellites create artificial eclipses by placing a small disk across the face of the Sun, blocking the Sun’s disk and revealing the corona, solar prominences, and big explosions of charged particles known as coronal mass ejections.

Because of the way light travels around the edges of an eclipsing disk, however, it’s difficult to observe the region just above the Sun’s visible surface, which is where much of the action takes place. The corona is heated to millions of degrees there, and the constant flow of particles known as the solar wind is accelerated to a million miles per hour or faster, so solar astronomers really want to see that region in detail. The eclipsing Moon doesn’t create the same effects around the limb of the Sun, so a solar eclipse still provides the best way to look close to the Sun’s surface.

For this year’s eclipse, some scientists will repeat a series of experiments they conducted in 2017 using a pair of highaltitude WB-57 aircraft to “tag team” through the lunar shadow, providing several extra minutes of observations.

Other scientists will use the eclipse to study Earth’s ionosphere, an electrically charged layer of the atmosphere that “bends” radio waves, allowing them to travel thousands of miles around the planet. Sunlight rips apart atoms and molecules during the day, intensifying the charge. At night, the atoms and molecules recombine, reducing the charge.

Physicists want to understand how the ionosphere reacts to the temporary loss of sunlight during an eclipse. They will do so with the help of thousands of volunteer ham radio operators, who will exchange messages with others around the planet. During last October’s annular eclipse, when the Moon covered most but not all of the Sun, the experiment showed a large and immediate change in the ionosphere as the sunlight dimmed.

NASA also will launch three small “sounding” rockets, which loft instruments into space for a few minutes, to probe the ionosphere shortly before, during, and shortly after the eclipse.

Another project will use radar to study changes in the interactions between the solar wind and Earth’s atmosphere, while yet another will use a radio telescope to map sunspots and surrounding regions as the Moon passes across them.

One project will piece together images of the eclipse snapped through more than 40 identical telescopes spaced along the path of totality to create a one-hour movie of the eclipse. The telescopes will be equipped with instruments that see the three-dimensional structure of the corona, allowing solar scientists to plot how the corona changes.

23. What have astronomers learned from eclipses?

Solar eclipses have been powerful tools for studying the Sun, the layout of the solar system, and the physics of the universe.

Until the Space Age, astronomers could see the Sun’s corona only during eclipses, so they traveled around the world to catch these brief glimpses of it.

Eclipses also offered a chance to refine the scale of the solar system. Watching an eclipse from different spots on Earth and comparing the angles of the Moon and Sun helped reveal the relative sizes and distances of both bodies, which were important steps in understanding their true distances.

During an eclipse in 1868, two astronomers discovered a new element in the corona. It was named helium, after Helios, a Greek name for the Sun. The element wasn’t discovered on Earth until a quarter of a century later.

An eclipse in 1919 helped confirm General Relativity, which was Albert Einstein’s theory of gravity. The theory predicted that the gravity of a massive body should deflect the path of light rays flying near its surface. During the eclipse, astronomers found that the positions of background stars that appeared near the Sun were shifted by a tiny amount, which was in perfect agreement with Einstein’s equations.

Today, astronomers are using records of eclipses dating back thousands of years to measure changes in Earth’s rotation rate and the distance to the Moon.

24. How did astronomers study eclipses in the past?

With great effort! From the time they could accurately predict when and where solar eclipses would be visible, they organized expeditions that took them to every continent except Antarctica, on trips that lasted months and that sometimes were spoiled by clouds or problems both technical and human.

During the American Revolution, for example, a group of Harvard scientists led by Samuel Williams received safe passage from the British army to view an eclipse from Penobscot Bay, Maine, on October 21, 1780. Williams slightly miscalculated the eclipse path, though, so the group missed totality by a few miles. (The expedition did make some useful observations, however.)

In 1860, an expedition headed by Simon Newcomb, one of America’s top astronomers, journeyed up the Saskatchewan River, hundreds of miles from the nearest city, braving rapids, mosquitoes, and bad weather. After five grueling weeks, they had to stop short of their planned viewing site, although at a location still inside the eclipse path. Clouds covered the Sun until almost the end of totality, however, so the expedition came up empty.

King Mongkut of Siam invited a French expedition and hundreds of other dignitaries to view an eclipse from present-day Thailand in 1868. He built an observatory and a large compound to house his guests at a site Mongkut himself had selected as the best viewing spot. The eclipse came off perfectly, but many visitors contracted malaria. So did Mongkut, who died a few weeks later.

An expedition in 1914, to Russia, was plagued by both clouds and the start of World War I. The team abandoned its instruments at a Russian observatory and escaped through Scandinavia.

The eclipse of July 29, 1878, offered fewer impediments. In fact, it was a scientific and social extravaganza. The eclipse path stretched from Montana Territory to Texas. Teams of astronomers from the United States and Europe spread out along the path. Thomas Edison stationed his group in Wyoming, where he used a tasimeter, a device of his own creation, to try to measure the temperature of the corona. Samuel Pierpoint Langley, a future secretary of the Smithsonian, was atop Pikes Peak in Colorado. Maria Mitchell, perhaps America’s leading female scientist, decamped to Denver. And Asaph Hall, who had discovered the moons of Mars just the year before, journeyed to the flatlands of eastern Colorado.

Thousands of average Americans joined the festivities, paying outrageous prices for some of the best viewing spots. Some things, it seems, never change.

25. What about lunar eclipses?

While solar eclipses happen during new Moon, lunar eclipses occur when the Moon is full, so it aligns opposite the Sun in our sky. The Moon passes through Earth’s shadow. In a total eclipse, the entire lunar disk turns orange or red. In a partial eclipse, Earth’s inner shadow covers only a portion of the Moon. And during a penumbral eclipse, the Moon passes through the outer portion of Earth’s shadow, darkening the Moon so little that most people don’t even notice it.

Lunar eclipses happen as often as solar eclipses—at least twice per year. This is a poor year for lunar eclipses, however. There is a penumbral eclipse on the night of March 24, with the Moon slipping through Earth’s faint outer shadow, and a partial eclipse on the night of September 17, in which the Moon barely dips into the darker inner shadow. Both eclipses will be visible from most of the United States.

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Moscow Itinerary for 8 Days : Ultimate Moscow Travel Guide

by Trip.com

December 16, 2022

Moscow 8-Days Itinerary: Cheap Flights to Moscow

Sort by: Lowest Price
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Crossed out prices are calculated based on the average price of the corresponding route on Trip.com.

Day 1 | Morning

Grand kremlin palace.

Opening Hours: Fri - Wed 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Ticket Price: 350 RUB

Recommended Length of Stay: 3-5 Hours

Location: Grand Kremlin Palace, Moskva, Russia, 103132

The Kremlin is located in the heart of Moscow and serves as the presidential residence. The word Kremlin means “fortress inside a city” in Russian. It is the heart of the country’s capital and was once the site of the Imperial Palace of Russia. Inside the thick palace walls lies the magnificent architectural complex that was once the palace of the Tsars, as well as the Cathedral of the Archangel where the remains of many past Tsars rest, where members of the royal family were married and baptized and which was the site of each Tsar’s coronation ceremony. Dormition Cathedral is home to the ancient clock tower of Ivan the Terrible, the State Armory, as well as the Presidential Palace and the Grand Auditorium built in the Soviet era.

Reviews from Real Guests:

Trip.com User: The most famous place of interest in Moscow. If you walk around you have a chance to see most of other attractions like museums, cathedrals and parks. Everything is located in walking distance.

Trip.com User: There was a Kremlin event, so I went around, but I took a car to go, but there is also an underground parking lot around and it tastes like a must-see ice cream

Day 1 | Afternoon

Now we come to another great highlight in the city: St. Basil's Cathedral.

Day 1 | Evening

Don’t forget to book Moss Boutique Hotel in advance, because all the tourists head to St. Basil's Cathedral love staying at it.

Moss Boutique Hotel

Featuring free WiFi, a restaurant and a terrace, Moss Boutique Hotel offers pet-friendly accommodation in Moscow . Guests can enjoy the on-site bar. Each room at this hotel is air conditioned and is fitted with a flat-screen TV. Rooms come with a private bathroom. For your comfort, you will find bathrobes and slippers. There is a 24-hour front desk at the property. The hotel also offers bike hire. Bolshoi Theatre is 1.1 km from Moss Boutique Hotel, while GUM Department Store is 1.2 km from the property. The nearest airport is Sheremetyevo International Airport, 27 km from the property.

Airport pickup service

Pets allowed

Check Availability

Day 2 | Morning

State historical museum.

Opening Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday: 10:00-18:00, ticket office closes at 17:00; Thursday, Sunday: 11:00-20:00, ticket office closes at 19:00; new showroom: 11 :00-19:00, the ticket office is closed at 18:00; rest day: Tuesday, the first Monday of each month

Ticket Price: 500 RUB

Recommended Length of Stay: 2-4 Hours

Location: Krasnaya Sq., 1, Moscow Russia

As a standout amongst the most famous and socially arranged places in all of Russia, the State Historical Museum in Moscow is a scene that inhales the Russian soul into every one of it's guests. Established in 1872, the exhibition hall is situated between the celebrated around the world Red and Manege Squares of the city. The presentations in the scene go from inestimable works of art to relics from ancient clans that possessed Russia and number in the millions. The exhibition hall's attention on local and social history and articulation gives you a genuine vibe of the city and country, making the State Historic Museum a really Russian affair.

Trip.com User: Very impressive building located in the city center, next to the Red Square and Kremlin, with a monument of famous Russian officer, Marshal Zhukov in front. Inside you can see an exhibition of most important artifacts from rich Russian history ranging from prehistoric to modern times.

Trip.com User: Very people from different tourists around the world will come to the museum! It displays a variety of exhibits, murals, etc. It can take several hours to enjoy the visit slowly, but it is worth it.

Day 2 | Afternoon

Now we come to another great highlight in the city: Novodevichy Cemetery.

Novodevichy Cemetery

Opening Hours: Open from 7:00am-7:00pm

Ticket Price: 300 RUB

Recommended Length of Stay: 1-2 Hours

Location: Luzhnetskiy Proyezd, 2, Moscow, Russia, 119048

Since 1923, the Nova Virgin Cemetery has been a cemetery of celebrities. More than 26,000 celebrities of various Russian historical periods are buried here. Writers Gogol, Chekhov, Fadeev and Ostrovsky, painter Isaac Levitan, film actor Shukshin, ballet artist Ulanova, famous politician Khrushchev, Mikoyan, Gromyko, the wife of Brezhnov, the world's first astronaut Gagarin, military strategists, artists and scientists are buried here, and almost every tombstone is a piece of sculpture. Visiting Celebrity Mausoleums These great men who once played a huge role in promoting the development of Russian history tell the world their different life stories through their unique tombstones. Khrushchev's tombstone is composed of three black and white marbles intersecting each other, with a stone head in the middle; the image of the heroine Zoya's tombstone is very touching: her hands are tied behind her back, her clothes are broken, her bare chest is erect, and her double Legs slightly bent, head held high back. Wang Ming's tomb is also here, a bust statue wearing a Chinese tunic suit, looking straight ahead. The tombstone of the famous ballet dancer Ulanova is a piece of pure white marble. Her graceful dance will always be left on the inscription like a curtain, so that the world cannot forget it. The founder of the circus, Yuri Nikulin, sits in a pine forest and looks at his faithful friend lying in front of him, the wise dog, who is said to have died on the same day as his dog, this is the soul The result of blending is more sincere and moving than human emotions. These various shapes express the identity and characteristics of the deceased. Feel the Russian cemetery culture In the hearts of Russians, the New Virgin Cemetery is not a place to bid farewell to life, but a sacred place to reinterpret life and purify the soul. The New Virgen Cemetery is full of strong cultural charm. The art of the tomb owner's soul and the tombstone are skillfully combined to form a unique Russian cemetery culture. The New Virgin Cemetery displays the entire history of Russia, each tombstone seems to be a page in history, and the sculptures in the cemetery have their own characteristics, which is the epitome of the development of the entire Russian sculpture art. Next to the Novo Virgin Cemetery is the Novo Virgin Monastery, including the Smolensk Church built in 1524. This church has 5 domes and is golden in the sun, which contrasts with the monastery's brown walls and lush ancient wood. .

Day 2 | Evening

Don’t forget to book Hotel Diamond Apartments in advance, because all the tourists head to Novodevichy Cemetery love staying at it.

Hotel Diamond Apartments

The Diamond apart-hotel is today the only five-star apart-hotel in Moscow City, located in the south tower of the OKO. The room fund consists of 51 designer apartments ranging from 45 to 110 sq.m. Each apartment is a complete apartment designed for both short and long term stays. The apartments are located on the 10-16th floors of the OKO tower. The apart-hotel has its own round-the-clock Six floor restaurant and the City voice karaoke club, venues for conferences and entertainment events. All these objects are located on the 6th floor of the OKO tower, which ensures the isolation of the rooms from the sounds of events. The guests of the apart-hotel have access to laundry and dry cleaning services, room-service, transfer, round-the-clock hotel service (reception and cleaning). The Encore Fitness and Spa is located on the 3rd floor of the OKO Tower.

Day 3 | Morning

The state tretyakov gallery.

Opening Hours: Open on Mon-Tue,Sun,10:00am-6:00pm;Open on Wed-Fri,10:00am-9:00pm

Location: Lavrushinskiy ln 10, Moscow Russia

Absorb Russian history, learn more about famous Russian and European artists as you explore the State Tretyakov Gallery. Built in 1856 and expanded by brothers Pavel and Sergei Tretyakov to include Dutch and French works, the popular gallery has been maintained by the city of Moscow since 1892. The art collections contain the works of master craftsmen from the Renaissance to the present, including Ivan Kramskoi, Illia Repin and Vasilii Perov. Not a stuffy, commercialized establishment, the museum is refreshing and delightful with interesting exhibitions by artists little known in the western world.

Day 3 | Afternoon

When time permits after visiting The State Tretyakov Gallery, don’t forget pay a visit to The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts.

The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts

Opening Hours: Open on Mon-Tue,Thu-Fri,Sun,11:00am-8:00pm;Open on Wed,11:00am-9:00pm

Ticket Price: 400 RUB

Location: ulitsa Volkhonka, 12, Moskva, Russia, 119019

The State Pushkin Museum of Art is the leading art museum in Moscow and even in Russia. Most of the collections here are collected from private collections, and many selected mainstream European paintings are unique treasures. The building of the museum itself is worth seeing, with a modern glass structure inside and a classical architectural style on the outside. The exhibits are divided into fine art gallery, archaeological collection hall and coin exhibition hall. Among them, there are imitations of well-known works such as Van Gogh and Monet in the fine art museum. Among these paintings, the most fascinating ones are several portraits of the 17th-century Dutch master Rembrandt. Although most of Rembrandt's representative works are collected in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, visitors can still appreciate Rembrandt here. Blanc's superb painting skills. In other exhibition halls, there are some surprising collections, including some ancient Egyptian daily necessities, two mummies, and unique Trojan treasures. In addition to this museum, there are several independent branches, including 19th and 20th century European and American art galleries, private collection museums, etc., which are also hugely attractive to art lovers.

Day 3 | Evening

Looking for a bed nearby after finishing your journey at The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts? Mövenpick Moscow Taganskaya is one of your top choices.

Mövenpick Moscow Taganskaya

Movenpick Moscow Taganskaya is located in the heart of Moscow business and cultural life, just 10-minute drive from the Kremlin, the Bolshoi Theatre, the Park of the Charge and the Moscow International House of Music. Taganka is an amazing place to walk. The hotel is a short walk from Taganskaya belt-line metro station.

Swimming pool

Day 4 | Morning

Bolshoi theatre.

Opening Hours: The ticket office is open from 11:00 to 20:00 and there is a lunch break at noon, which may vary depending on the show. In addition, there are several ticket offices in the Grand Theatre. See the official website for the opening hours.

Ticket Price: 100 RUB

Location: Theatre Square, 1, Moskva, Russia, 125009

The National Model Theater of Russia, also known as the Bolshoi Theater, was built in 1776 and is a theater with a long history in Russia. The theater is a milky white classicism building, with 8 ancient Greek Ionian columns erected in front of the door, each 15 meters, above the porch is decorated with four horses and the carriage of the sun god Apollo, which is one of the symbols of Moscow. . The performance hall is splendid, with gold as the main color. There are 6-storey boxes, 21 meters high, 25 meters long and 26.3 meters wide. The sound effects in the theater are well-equipped. The Bolshoi Theatre has a world-class opera company, ballet company, symphony orchestra and chorus. It is a representative Russian theatre. Tchaikovsky and Anton Rubinstein have all served as conductors in the theatre. In the history of more than 200 years, the Grand Theater has not only witnessed every step of the development of Russian ballet art, but also cultivated a large number of famous dance and opera artists. There have been many ballet superstars here, such as Safransky, Nezhdanova, Ogerov, Belinshinskaya and, of course, Galina Ulanova, the "beautiful swan" of the 20th century ballet, very familiar to Chinese audiences. As the world's high art palace of ballet, the Grand Theatre has preserved and developed the essence of classical ballet unparalleled, and has become the "business card" of Moscow and even the whole of Russia.

지노: I was sorry I didn't see the performance at the Bolshoi Theater

Day 4 | Afternoon

Pushkin Memorial Apartments nearby is the top choice before you leave Bolshoi Theatre and hit the road.

Pushkin Memorial Apartments

Ticket Price: 250 RUB

Location: Arbat St, 53, Moskva, Russia, 119002

Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin (1799-1837) was a great poet and founder of modern literature. The Pushkin House Museum is located on the famous Arbat Street in Moscow. Pushkin, who was newly married from February to May 1831, lived in this light blue two-story building. The bronze plaque at the door is engraved with the words "Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin lived here from early February to mid-May 1831". On the windowsill next to the bronze medal, someone often presents a bouquet of flowers. To enter the former residence museum, you must put on felt slippers to protect cultural relics. The first floor of the former residence museum holds an exhibition entitled "Pushkin and Moscow" throughout the year, with a large number of paintings, portraits, maps, manuscripts, books and other exhibits. Moscow, Pushkin's activities in Moscow, and his relatives and friends. From a wooden staircase to the second floor, you will arrive at the place where Pushkin lived in the past. There are some portraits on the wall, and some manuscripts, pictures, etc. are displayed; in addition, there are individual furniture, such as the desk used by Pushkin and Mrs. Pushkin The dresser is an original from elsewhere.

Day 4 | Evening

For convenient access to more popular attractions, Seasons Boutique Hotel is the best places.

Seasons Boutique Hotel

Property Location With a stay at Russian Seasons Boutique Hotel, you'll be centrally located in Moscow, a 5-minute drive from Bolshoi Theatre and 12 minutes from St. Basil's Cathedral. This 5-star hotel is 3.3 mi (5.4 km) from Red Square and 1.1 mi (1.8 km) from State Historical Museum. Rooms Make yourself at home in one of the 16 air-conditioned rooms featuring minibars and flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and satellite programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms have designer toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include phones, as well as safes and desks. Amenities Make use of convenient amenities, which include complimentary wireless Internet access and concierge services. Dining Take advantage of the hotel's room service (during limited hours). Wrap up your day with a drink at the bar/lounge. Buffet breakfasts are available daily for a fee. Business, Other Amenities Featured amenities include dry cleaning/laundry services, a 24-hour front desk, and luggage storage. A roundtrip airport shuttle is provided for a surcharge (available 24 hours), and free self parking is available onsite.

Day 5 | Morning

Novodevichy convent.

Opening Hours: Open from 9:00am-5:00pm

Location: Novodevichy Passage, 1, Moskva, Russia, 119435

The monastery was built by Vasily III in 1524 to commemorate the liberation of the ancient Russian city of Smolinsk from Lithuanian rule. Until the beginning of the 18th century, the Nova Convent had been enjoying the protection of the royal family, and for this reason, its splendor was extraordinary, and it was the most elegant and beautiful in Moscow. The cemetery in the monastery is the burial place of the upper echelons of the church and the royal family. Writers Gogol and Chekhov are buried here.

Day 5 | Afternoon

When time permits after visiting Novodevichy Convent, don’t forget pay a visit to Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve.

Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve

Ticket Price: 890 RUB

Location: Dolskaya st., 1, Moscow Russia

Tsaritsynno Manor is located in the south of downtown Moscow. It was built by the then Empress Catherine II of the Russian Empire in 1776 to celebrate the victory in the First Russo-Turkish War. But then the queen was very dissatisfied with the completed palace, and ordered rebuilding. When the queen died, the palace was not fully completed, and it declined. Now it has become a park, with lush vegetation, elegant palaces, and a very beautiful overall environment. It is a good place for Moscow citizens to go out and have an outdoor picnic.

송사자이: It's so big that it takes a day to look around, but it's a place worth visiting.

Day 5 | Evening

If you want to explore other popular attractions later, Intourist Kolomenskoe is a suitable place for you to stay and refresh.

Intourist Kolomenskoe

Ideally located in the prime touristic area of Southern Suburbs, Intourist Kolomenskoye Hotel promises a relaxing and wonderful visit. The hotel offers guests a range of services and amenities designed to provide comfort and convenience. Service-minded staff will welcome and guide you at the Intourist Kolomenskoye Hotel. Guestrooms are fitted with all the amenities you need for a good night's sleep. In some of the rooms, guests can find television LCD/plasma screen, internet access – wireless (complimentary), non smoking rooms, air conditioning, heating. The hotel offers various recreational opportunities. Intourist Kolomenskoye Hotel is an excellent choice from which to explore Moscow or to simply relax and rejuvenate.

Day 6 | Morning

Great moscow state circus.

Ticket Price: 600 RUB

Location: prospekti Vernadskogo, 7, Moskva, Russia, 119296

The Russian National Moscow Theatre Troupe was established on April 30, 1971 in the last century. As a member of the "Russian Circus", which represents the high level of the world circus, the Moscow Circus is not only one of the world's largest circus-circus theaters, but also has world-renowned circus artists and good circus program directors. , as well as outstanding circus performers who have won numerous awards in various circus art festivals and circus competitions around the world.

Trip.com User: awesome experience, you will see things that you might not see in other circus, its a place that you shoul go when in Russia

Day 6 | Afternoon

Gosudarstvennyy Muzey Vostoka nearby is the top choice before you leave Great Moscow State Circus and hit the road.

Gosudarstvennyy Muzey Vostoka

Opening Hours: Open on Sun,10:00am-1:00pm;Open on Mon-Thu,8:00am-4:00pm;Open on Fri,9:00am-4:00pm

Location: Nikitskiy Blvd., 12A | Metro Pushkinskaya, Moscow 119019, Russia

The National Museum of Oriental Art is also a scientific research institute. It is a relatively complete cultural institution in Russia that displays art from Central Asia, Caucasus, Transcaucasus, Kazakhstan, Buryatia, Far East, Middle East and Africa. The collections of the museum are mainly private collections of famous Russian collectors, collections transferred to the museum by the Russian State Foundation and various institutions. There are paintings, sculptures, applied artworks and ornaments from more than 100 countries in the world, as well as archaeological artifacts discovered by museum staff during scientific expeditions to North Caucasus, Central Asia, Chukchi and other places. The museum also has a rich collection of art from Japan, China, Iran, India, Southeast Asia and Central Asian countries.

Day 6 | Evening

Looking for a bed nearby after finishing your journey at Gosudarstvennyy Muzey Vostoka? Petroff Palace Boutique Hotel is one of your top choices.

Petroff Palace Boutique Hotel

This 18th-century palace hotel is a direct metro ride from the Moscow Kremlin. It features a museum, an elegant restaurant and grand, antique-style rooms with free internet. Every air-conditioned room and apartment at the Petroff Palace has classic decor with rich fabrics and wooden furniture. All accommodation comes with a work desk and a cable LCD TV. Bathrobes and slippers are provided in bathrooms. A continental buffet breakfast is offered at the Petroff Palace’s à la carte restaurant, which also serves Russian and European cuisine. Fine drinks are offered at the bar. Guests can visit the Palace’s museum or walk around the Petrovskiy Park behind the hotel. Reception works 24 hours and a concierge service is also available. Free underground parking is also available. Petroff Palace is just 500 metres from the Dinamo Metro Station, connecting you to the Bolshoi Theatre and Red Square in Moscow city centre. The Megasport Ice Arena is about 1 km away from the hotel.

Day 7 | Morning

Central armed forces museum.

Opening Hours: Open on Mon-Thu,Sun,10:00am-5:00pm

Location: Ulitsa Sovetskoy Armii, 2, Moskva, Russia, 129272

The Russian Central History Museum, also known as the Museum of the Russian Armed Forces, was opened to the public to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the October Revolution, with unique exhibits and personal belongings of Soviet leaders. Passing through the hall, you can see the formation and development of the Soviet Union. Famous Soviet films and music were performed live, interacting with Lenin and Stalin. The museum has more than 20 exhibition halls, which tell the history of the Russian army, various military weapons created from the reform of the army of Peter the Great to the present, and the life and education of the officers of the Russian army. During the revolution of 1917-1918, many Russian officers became units of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army. The museum was established in 1919.

Day 7 | Afternoon

Circus Nikulin nearby is the top choice before you leave Central Armed Forces Museum and hit the road.

Circus Nikulin

Opening Hours: 11:00-19:00

Location: Russia, 127051, Moscow, Tsvetnoy Boulevard 13

The Nikulin Circus, also known as the Old Circus or the Garden Street Circus, was once hosted by the famous circus master Nikulin for a long time. This circus venue is relatively smaller than the Moscow State Circus. Although the venue is relatively old and can only accommodate more than 2,000 spectators per show, its programs are updated quickly, and there are also wonderful ice acrobatics from time to time, which can make people feast for the eyes. Tickets may not be available during holidays, so it is recommended to purchase tickets in advance. Details can be found on the official website.

Day 7 | Evening

Looking for a bed nearby after finishing your journey at Circus Nikulin? Parradosso is one of your top choices.

The Parradosso is an ideal spot for travelers wanting to discover the city. Visitors to Moscow will find that the Parradosso is a fantastic accommodation choice.

With Belorussky Train Station just 2km away and Sheremetyevo Airport only 31km away, transportation is very convenient. Transportation around the city is also convenient, with Pushkinskaya Metro Station within walking distance. With Russian Loan Treasury Building, Memorial Stone of the Holy Monastery and Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin in Putinki all within a short distance, there is no shortage of things to do in the area.

When guests have some time on their hands they can make use of the onsite facilities.

There's never a dull moment at this hotel, our guests indicate that the facilities are excellent.

Day 8 | Morning

Armoury chamber.

Opening Hours: Open on Mon-Fri,Sun,10:00am-5:30pm

Recommended Length of Stay: 2.0-3.0 Hours

Location: Moscow, Russia, 103132

Although the Kremlin Armory Museum is located within the walls of the Kremlin, the entrance is on the other side of the palace wall. The armory here dates back to 1511, when it was established by Vasily III for the manufacture and storage of weapons and later for the production of handicrafts. During Peter's reign, all silversmiths, blacksmiths and craftsmen were sent to St. Petersburg, and the armory gradually became a museum of royal treasures. The collections here are dazzling, such as the diamond-studded crowns, scepters and thrones of the tsars of the Russian Empire, as well as gold and silver utensils donated by governments or made in their own countries. Even military armor, shields, and muskets are beautifully engraved with ornaments that are more appropriately called works of art rather than weapons. Speaking of interesting collections, it's the Royal Easter Eggs. Until the early 1920s, the Armory Museum kept 24 Royal Easter eggs, but for various reasons, only 10 remain today. These special easter eggs are inlaid with jewels, each of which has a mechanism to open, and it is full of exquisite jewelry objects, which can be described as priceless.

Day 8 | Afternoon

Having the chance to enjoy the charming Armoury Chamber, Museum of Cosmonautics next to it is another great place that you will never want to miss!

Museum of Cosmonautics

Location: ave. Mira ， 111 ， Moscow ， Russia

The Space Memorial Museum is a space-related museum. Many space-related exhibits and various models are displayed in the museum. Both adults and children can explore the history of flight, space technology and more here. There are many traces left by this country in the history of spaceflight on display here. In addition to various mechanical equipment and space suits, there is also the specimen of the first dog sent to space.

Moscow 8-Days Itinerary: Cheap Flights from Moscow

* All reviews in the blog are machine-translated.

Table of Content

Day 1: Grand Kremlin Palace, St. Basil's Cathedral
Day 2: State Historical Museum, Novodevichy Cemetery
Day 3: The State Tretyakov Gallery, The Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts
Day 4: Bolshoi Theatre, Pushkin Memorial Apartments
Day 5: Novodevichy Convent, Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve
Day 6: Great Moscow State Circus, Gosudarstvennyy Muzey Vostoka
Day 7: Central Armed Forces Museum, Circus Nikulin
Day 8: Armoury Chamber, Museum of Cosmonautics

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Moscow Travel Guide: Best Things to Do + More [2023]

· everything to know about visiting moscow, including the best things to do and how to get around. ·.

the red st basils church in moscow on a white winters day

Moscow is Russia’s vibrant capital city, and it also happens to be the largest city in all of Europe. The city’s long and infamous history makes it one of the most unique places we have ever visited.

The architecture ranges from centuries-old palaces to uniform, gray concrete buildings. The people range from cold and private to warm and welcoming. Moscow is a city is strong juxtapositions, and we learned a lot during our time there.

This post will break down all you need to know about visiting Moscow, including the best things to do, how to get there, how to get around, and more.

man and woman standing in front of main church in moscow

The Best Things to Do in Moscow

1. explore the red square.

The Red Square is the heart of Moscow. Most of the city’s top attractions can be found here, including just about everything on this list. The Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, and Lenin’s Mausoleum are all located here, and the State Historical Museum and GUM are not far from here, either.

The Red Square is a common home for parades, protests, and seasonal celebrations. There are massive Christmas celebrations here, with food vendors and carnival rides set up in numbers.

red orthodox church in moscow russia red square on a winter day

2. Check Out the Ziferblat

The Ziferblat is a café in Moscow that is unlike any café we have ever been to. While most cafes charge you for your drinks and food, the Ziferblat charges you for your time.

Upon arrival, you are given a clock. When you leave, the barista calculates how much time you spent in the café and charges you accordingly. This concept was created to help visitors to be more intentional with their time, and the cafe itself is incredibly charming.

For a detailed look at everything you need to know before you visit, make sure you read my post about visiting the Ziferblat Cafe in Moscow .

3. Marvel at St. Basil’s Cathedral

St. Basil’s Cathedral is one of the most iconic churches in the world, and it was the single thing we were most excited to see while in Moscow. Built almost 500 years ago, St. Basil’s Cathedral is recognized by its colorful domes and whimsical style. The church is of the Russian Orthodox faith, and the inside is just as wondrous as the outside.

St. Basil’s Cathedral is located on the edge of the Red Square, making it incredibly convenient to visit. Entrance for non-worshippers costs 800 rubles, and tickets can be bought at the church

woman in winter jacket standing in front of St Basils Russian Orthodox in moscow on a winter day

4. Explore the Kremlin

The Kremlin is the largest active fortress in Europe, and it is the site of most of Russia’s government affairs. In addition to government buildings, the Kremlin Complex is filled with courtyards, towers, and museums that are open to the public. If you have the time, you could spend a couple of days fully exploring all that there is to see in the Kremlin.

selfie of man and woman pointing to the Kremlin in Moscow

5. Walk Through Lenin’s Mausoleum

Vladimir Lenin is one of the most important figures in Russian history, and his body is located perfectly embalmed in a mausoleum in the Red Square. The Mausoleum is open to the public to visit, and as long as you are willing to go through a few security checks, it is easily one of the best things to do in Moscow. Its convenient location in the Red Square makes it a can’t miss attraction.

There is absolutely no photography allowed inside the Mausoleum. Do not test this rule.

red exterior of lenins mausoleum in moscow russia

6. Wander Along Arbat Street

The Arbat is a very popular street in Moscow that is lined with stores, cafes, and other touristy attractions. It is one of the oldest streets in the city, dating back to the 1400s. This street is both quaint and trendy, and there are many walking tours that introduce tourists to the neighborhood’s wonders and highlights.

man in sinter jacket standing in arbat street moscow at night with glistening white lights strung from the buildings

7. Catch a Show at the Bolshoi Theatre

As a lover of the arts, it is hard to think of Moscow and not think of ballet. Russia has always been a top dog in the world of fine arts, and Bolshoi Theater is one of the best places to catch a performance. We were lucky enough to attend an Opera here, and it is a venue that you don’t want to miss out on if you enjoy opera, ballet, or orchestral performances.

8. Visit the State Historical Museum

The State Historical Museum is one of the most respected museums in Moscow. Despite its name, it is not really focused on the history of Russia as a nation. Rather, it contains a collection of artifacts from all throughout Russia’s history.

The museum’s collection is very broad in nature. It houses some items from indigenous tribes that used to occupy the region, pieces collected by the Romanov family, and more.

9. Wander Around GUM

GUM is an absolutely massive mall within walking distance of the Red Square. It isn’t just the size that draws visitors here; it’s the sense of luxury. The mall is so beautiful inside, much like the metro stations.

While visiting a mall might not sound like it belongs on a bucket list, this mall does. You will not want to miss out on visiting GUM while in Moscow.

people walking inside GUM mall in russia with christmas lights

10. Admire the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

While St. Basil’s Cathedral is the most iconic church in Moscow, it isn’t the only one. The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is absolutely stunning, with massive golden domes. It is the tallest Orthodox church in the world, and it is the seat of the Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow.

It is located just about a mile from the Red Square, just south of the Kremlin Complex. You can walk to it from the Red Square in about 20 minutes.

How to Get to Moscow

Flying to moscow.

Moscow has three major international airports: Sheremetyevo (SVO) , Domodedovo (DMO) , and Vnukovo (VKO) . All three of them are directly connected to downtown Moscow by the Aeroexpress trains, which leave every 30 minutes throughout the day. By Aeroexpress train, you can expect to get to the city center in 25-45 minutes depending on the airport that you fly into.

Sheremetyevo is the biggest and busiest of the three airports, and it is the one you are most likely to fly into – especially if you are coming from outside of Europe or the Caucus region. We flew into Sheremetyevo on a direct flight from New York City.

I usually provide backup airport options, because flying right into the city isn’t always the cheapest way to get where you’re going. Unfortunately, when it comes to Moscow, don’t really have a choice other than to fly right into Moscow. It is a very remote city, and it is usually the cheapest place to fly into in Russia as a whole.

Since Sheremetyevo is so busy, you will probably find a great flight option anyway. I wrote in my post about finding cheap flights that using hub airports will lead to more affordable airfare, and the same logic applies here. Even though Russia’s national airline, Aeroflot, is no longer a member of the SkyTeam Alliance, Moscow is still a major hub connecting passengers from all over the world.

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Train or Bus to Moscow

Trains and buses are one of the most popular ways to get around Europe. However, they’re of very little use when you’re trying to get to Moscow.

Moscow is hundreds of miles from the nearest major cities. The only major European city that can even be reached within 8 hours on the ground is St. Petersburg, and even the Baltic capitals of Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn are over 12 hours away.

If you want to get to Moscow, the best option is almost always to fly. While the train routes to Moscow are scenic, they simply take forever.

How to Get Around Moscow

METRO | TROLLEYS | TRAMS | BUSES

Moscow has one of the most memorable metro systems in the world. Its metro lines are very deep underground, and the stations are absolutely stunning. Each station has its own unique style, but all of them contain escalators that seem to go on forever.

turned-on chandelier on ceiling of moscow metro

The system was built in an effort to showcase the power of the Soviet Union and its bright future. The plans were a form of propaganda, but they resulted in what is still one of the most visually appealing subway systems on earth.

Moscow’s metro system isn’t just pretty. It is also very useful and accessible. The system has 17 lines that connect the city and its surrounding area.

But wait; there’s more!

The Moscow metro system is also incredibly affordable, with each ride costing less than a dollar. The metro is by far the best way to get around Moscow, as it is almost impossible to beat the connection times and the low cost to ride.

Tickets can be bought at electronic, English-speaking kiosks in stations, or directly from ticket counters at certain larger stations. There are also day passes available, which are a very solid option if you plan on riding the metro several times per day.

The metro is by far the best way to get around Moscow.

In addition to the metro system, Moscow also has a network of buses, trams, and trolleys. This system is nowhere near as convenient or well-connected as the metro, though, and is likely of little use to you during your trip. There is no Uber in Moscow, but a similar app named Yandex is available if you need a ride in a pinch.

How Many Days Do You Need in Moscow?

Moscow is the biggest city in all of Europe, and it is absolutely loaded with things to do. You could spend weeks in Moscow and still find new things to do. Of course, most travelers don’t have that kind of time to spend in one place!

I recommend spending no less than three full days in Moscow, and ideally closer to five or seven.

Moscow is very spread out, and it can take some time to get from one major point to another. There are also so many places that are nice to just sit back and relax, which is hard to do when you’re in a hurry trying to cram activities into just a few days.

If you only have a week to visit Russia, I’d advise spending all of the time in one city. If you decide to split your time between Moscow and St. Petersburg, I recommend not trying to squeeze in any day trips beyond those two cities.

When Is the Best Time of the Year to Visit Moscow?

There are two different ways to approach this question. Personally, I think the best time to visit Moscow is around Christmas and New Year’s Day. While the weather will be absolutely freezing, Moscow is a surreal winter wonderland in December and January.

We were in Moscow right before Christmas. While it was very cold, you can always bundle up. Exploring the Christmas markets and pop-up ice skating rinks throughout Moscow is one of my favorite memories from anywhere I’ve traveled, and I dream of going back to do it again.

If you aren’t fond of the cold, Moscow is beautiful in the summer. It tends to get pretty cold in the shoulder seasons, so if you want warm weather, you should plan to visit in the summer. Moscow actually gets pretty warm in July and August, and there are a bunch of fantastic places to soak up the sun within the city.

The best time to visit Moscow is either around Christmas or from late May to August.

group of people walking in moscow red square at night with christmas lights everywhere

Is Moscow Safe to Visit?

While Moscow is a truly wonderful city, there’s no denying that visiting Russia comes with risks. As the country is run by an infamous communist dictator, concerns about visiting are valid. While we didn’t experience any sort of threat or negative treatment during our time in Moscow, we visited in a peaceful time.

In our experience, Russia doesn’t seem to detain normal Americans or Westerners to use as pawns. As a regular person, as long as you don’t commit any crimes, there is a slim chance you will run into any issues. However, Russia will not hesitate to enforce its laws against foreigners, and illegal behaviors will likely land you in a very compromising position.

Russia will not hesitate to enforce its laws against foreigners, and illegal behaviors will likely land you in a very compromising position.

To make matters worse, Russia has a bad reputation for gang violence. While the Russian mafia has very little interest in normal Western tourists, they won’t hesitate to pick a fight with anyone who ventures into their sphere of influence. If you seek out illegal substances or activities, you could be a target of the mafia.

If you seek out illegal substances or activities, you could be a target of the mafia.

Finally, since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, things are all very different. Russia is currently at war, and there are battles raging within 8 hours of Moscow. While it is still relatively safe to visit, that could change at any time as the war with Ukraine continues.

Is Moscow Worth Visiting?

Without a doubt, Moscow is worth visiting. It is one of the most unique major cities we have ever visited, and we hope to make it back one day. The Russian Orthodox churches are stunning, the city’s history is unlike any other, and the food is to die for.

While many visitors prefer St. Petersburg to Moscow, I think Moscow deserves a lot of hype of its own. Moscow is the beating heart of Russian culture and history, and it’s a place I highly recommend checking out if you have the chance.

woman in head scarf hugging bronze statue of angry bear

That’s all we have for you about Moscow! I hope this post was helpful as you plan your trip to Russia’s capital.

Have you been to Moscow? Or is this your first time visiting? Comment below if you have anything to add to our travel guide!

Hi, I'm Greg. I'm an avid traveler who has traveled to over 50 countries all around the world with my wife and kids. I've lived in Italy, Mexico, China, and the United States, and I dream of moving abroad again in the future. With this blog, I provide my audience with detailed destination guides to my favorite places and pro-tips to make travel as stress-free as possible.

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Fact Check: About the Rumor 2024 Solar Eclipse Will Pass Over Every US City Named Nineveh

The United States has seven towns named Nineveh and all of them will fall in the path of totality during the April 8, 2024, solar eclipse.

False ( About this rating? )

For a couple of minutes on April 8, 2024 , in a narrow, curved band across North America, one of the greatest spectacles in nature will occur: a total solar eclipse. Being in that path at exactly the right time is the only way people on the continent will be able to look directly at the sun without damaging their eyeballs until the next North American eclipse in 2044, and so millions of people from around the world will flock to cities in the path of totality, including Dallas and Indianapolis.

How Eclipses Work

A total solar eclipse is caused by the moon and the sun being in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. The moon fully blocks the light from the sun, casting a large shadow on the earth.

Those completely inside the moon's shadow, called the umbra, are the only ones who will be able to look directly at the sun without eye protection. It's the small path of the umbra that people travel to in order to see the total solar eclipse. The website GreatAmericanEclipse.com created a visualization of the shadow's path across North America.

Outside the umbra, in a much larger area where the moon blocks only some of the sun, viewers will experience a partial solar eclipse, where the sun looks like it has a giant bite taken out of it. You cannot view a partial solar eclipse without special eclipse glasses. The entirety of the continental United States will be able to see a partial solar eclipse on April 8, just as the entirety of the United States (even Alaska and Hawaii) was able to see a partial solar eclipse in 2017 .

To quote the essayist Annie Dillard :

A partial eclipse is very interesting. It bears almost no relation to a total eclipse. Seeing a partial eclipse bears the same relation to seeing a total eclipse as kissing a man does to marrying him, or as flying in an airplane does to falling out of an airplane. Although the one experience precedes the other, it in no way prepares you for it.

Places Named Nineveh

The fourth place on Wikipedia's list, Nineveh, New York, is about 30 minutes east of Binghamton. We found it marked on maps but, again, it did not lie in the path of totality.

That completed the Wikipedia list, but various posts about the supposed line-up listed two more Ninevehs located in the U.S.: one in Texas and one in Ohio.

Nineveh, Ohio, was a similar story: not found on maps, no post office, no Census data. But this Nineveh, 30 minutes northwest of Dayton, was finally our second hit.

In total, we counted two places named Nineveh in the United States that could be found in the path of totality.

2024 Total Eclipse . https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/ . Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

April 8, 2024 Eclipse Will Pass Over 7 United States Cities Named Nineveh . www.youtube.com , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n6dp85XynY . Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

April 8 Eclipse and Third-Day Events in Scripture . https://www.biblejournalclasses.com/blog/april-8-eclipse-and-third-day-events-in-scripture-2 . Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Dillard, Annie. "Total Eclipse." The Atlantic , 8 Aug. 2017, https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/08/annie-dillards-total-eclipse/536148/ .

Eclipse 2017 . https://eclipse2017.nasa.gov/ . Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Mark, Joshua J. "Nineveh." World History Encyclopedia , https://www.worldhistory.org/nineveh/ . Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

"Nineveh (Disambiguation)." Wikipedia , 29 Oct. 2023. Wikipedia , https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nineveh_(disambiguation)&oldid=1182408744 .

Noah. "The Upcoming U.S. Eclipse Just Got Even Stranger!" WLT Report , 4 Mar. 2024, https://wltreport.com/2024/03/04/upcoming-u-s-eclipse-just-got-even-stranger/ .

The April 8 2024 Eclipse and the 7 Cities Named Nineveh . www.youtube.com , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLkxKT65IFc . Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

"Total Solar Eclipse 2024 US." Great American Eclipse , https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/april-8-2024 . Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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Hero Alan Bates brands Post Office bosses ‘thugs in suits’ at public inquiry

Julia Atherley , Home Affairs Correspondent
Published : 21:00, 9 Apr 2024
Published : Invalid Date,

HERO campaigner Alan Bates called Post Office bosses “little more than thugs in suits”, a public inquiry heard yesterday.

And he was sacked as he was deemed “unmanageable”, the inquiry was told.

Mr Bates — who led 555 subpostmasters to the High Court over the scandal — yesterday gave evidence at the inquiry where a 2010 letter he wrote to then Postal Affairs Minister Ed Davey was revealed.

The now Lib Dem leader had refused to meet him.

His letter read: “It is because you adopted an arms-length relationship that you’ve allowed a once great institution to be stripped by little more than thugs in suits.”

Mr Bates said he was fired in 2003 for “raising problems and concerns” over faulty tech.

Nobel Prize-winning physicist who predicted Higgs boson ‘God particle’ dies

Lidl apologises after shoppers dangerous weapon listed as 'kids toy'

But the inquiry was also shown an undated slide made by the Post Office about the Horizon software which said: “Bates had discrepancies but was dismissed because he became unmanageable.

"Clearly struggled with accounting, and despite support, did not follow instructions.”

Ex-Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells will give evidence next month.

Post Office
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