The Sun Wheel/Cross

Sun Wheel Pendants(from my shop)

A sun cross, solar cross, or wheel cross is a solar symbol consisting of an equilateral cross inside a circle.

The design is frequently found in the symbolism of prehistoric cultures, particularly during the Neolithic to Bronze Age periods of European prehistory. The symbol's ubiquity and apparent importance in prehistoric religion have given rise to its interpretation as a solar symbol, whence the modern English term "sun cross" (a calque of German: Sonnenkreuz). The symbol means village in Ancient Egyptian.

In the prehistoric religion of Bronze Age Europe, crosses in circles appear frequently on artifacts identified as cult items, for example the "miniature standard" with an amber inlay that shows a cross shape when held against the light, dating to the Nordic Bronze Age, held at the National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen. The Bronze Age symbol has also been connected with the spoked chariot wheel, which at the time was four-spoked. In the context of a culture that celebrated the sun chariot, it may thus have had a "solar" connotation (compare the Trundholm sun chariot).

The same symbol is in use as a modern astronomical symbol representing the Earth rather than the Sun. In pharmacy, sun cross symbol represents various/miscellaneous drugs.

[jessekay]

I’m Sámi and the sun wheel represents Beaivi. In Sámi culture, Beaivi is the Godess of the Sun, spring and sanity and is symbolized by the sun wheel. The sun wheel represents the fertility of plants and animals, and thus of flourishing life, reproduction, health and wealth.

[darrellscott]

In Lakota culture it is known as the medicine wheel. The more I watch these videos it’s amazing the similarities between our culture and yours.

[Survivethejive]

It is well known from comparative Indo-European mythology that a horse or a chariot led by horses is a symbol of the sun. Not just in mythic contexts like you say - in India the horse is specifically said to be the sun in the Ashvamedha rite. I agree that likening the sun to a wheel indicates an association of the sun with its journey through the sky. I doubt four points represent seasons or equuinoxes since these were not celebrated and the earliest Celtic and Germanic sources show they divided the year in to two not four parts.

[rckoala]

Thanks for your observations. This symbol is also found in Celtic art, notably within the Celtic cross. I recently read an intriguing book, "The Symbolism of the Celtic Cross" by Derek Bryce, who notes that the very first depiction of Christ on the cross, from the 5th century, shows him on this exact "wheel cross". It has been postulated that incorporating this very ancient symbol into the Celtic monumental crosses (apparently deriving from the original megalithic standing stones) helped make Christian iconography more acceptable to Celtic pagans. I don't know if there are similar sculpted standing crosses in Scandinavia. The wheel cross or sun cross is also seen on top of maypoles, as on the illustration you used with the giant trumpets. May Day is coming! Have a good one!

[youthinasia]

The Bronze Age was a very busy and well organized time across great distances!

[louispellissier]

Finally a fellow bronze age fan :) Actually there are samples of the sunwheel in the iron age, I haven't found it on iron age carvings but in jewelry from the Wielbark culture (considered as the gothic migration into Poland). And about the swastikas, they were already present in the bronze age, in ornaments of swords, daggers and brooches found in Denmark, Sweden and Gotland, where their arms are curved instead of stright and they end in spyrals or animal heads

[frost]

It also looks like a drum from the reverse side when looking at the handle. The talk of wheels reminded me of spinning yarn. Watching this video is actually the first time I thought that maybe the symbol had more than one meaning, which changes based on the context in which it's used.

[AusDenBergen]

Just from my amateur observation in the things you've shown it says to me that it's a symbol of motion or ascension. Almost like an arrow symbol. Everything that is in motion the person, the chariot, the sun, is shown with that symbol associated with it.

[neuroleptika]

As a swede I agree on bronze age being the glory days

[PaulWallis]

Thank you for this very thoughtful video. I have a personal interest in this symbol too. It is intriguing how the sun cross disappeared in Iron Age Scandinavia. I think it survived longer in ancient Armenia and then persisted through the symbology of Constantinian Christianity. I agree with you that the swastika was also a sun cross. I am persuaded that shamanic activity, survival of cataclysms and the fertility of land and people on which our civilization depends, were all associated with the sun cross in ancient Armenia too. (I am writing about this in the sixth volume in my Eden Series.) Anyway, I think you are on target here. Your correlation of the prevalence of the sun cross with cooler periods is very interesting. Thanks again. Peace, Paul

[TheRedneckViking]

As usual bro your hypothesis is in my opinion pretty spot on. The path of the earth around the sun or vice versa. Having Lakota (Sioux) heritage on my mothers side we know that as a medicine wheel. Depicting the 4 sacred direction which would be prayed to in prayers. Also the four sacred colors which encompassed the whole off mankind (white, black, yellow and red) are the colors associated with them. On my fathers side I’m Norwegian and French so I’m happy to hear that peoples on that side of my heritage used this image in their spirituality also. Tyvm for your video and info bro. Blessings

[RoughRoadHomestead]

I agree with your friends assessment. In a lot of native practices it represents the four directions and each of those have a relationship with the seasons of nature and life. It's how we've always used it.

[AZ-]

In Astrology, this symbol is used as the glyph for the Earth. The cross represents cardinal points and the equinoxes and solstices, major moments of the Earth’s relationship with the Sun, which represent the beginning of each season. North is South and East is West. So basically the symbol is used today in its original meaning. North/Summer Solstice is at the bottom because Summer is when we are furthest from the Sun and the night sky we see at that time of year is actually below the galactic equator.

[driver]

This is why I love this channel. Really great info and you make many connections. Looking forward to subscribing to the Nordic animism channel also.
This symbol is universal for sure & are all over the Americas. The very first one you show is used by my tribe, the Caribbean islands tribe the Arawakan peoples. The cross with the circle represented multiple things to different tribes of the Americas. From the four human colors of mankind (black, red, white, & yellow man), to the four kingdoms in nature, the 4 directions, the four worlds & much much more.
Ive studied tribal society & archaeology since the 90's and it amazes me how we are all connected culturally, but it's kept out of the mainstream. Many of the so called "maverick" archaeologists aren't much so anymore with many of these discoveries shattering the accepted chronology of history that is taught in our modern society. The internet has connected many people and they've challenged current dogma with their amazing discoveries. Bottom line ancient people WERE in contact period. The isolated Americas from the rest of the world wasn't so isolated. From Canada to Argentina the evidence is abundant.
Before Columbus our peoples were in contact and the further back you go there were advances & understandings by our tribal peoples that we still don't have today or have forgotten due to the modern dogmatic & brainwashing systems in place today. But it's all being rediscovered. Like cream in coffee truth always rises to the top. The mass of evidence is there all we need to do is be open minded and search for it. The amount of authors, books, articles, documentaries, & peer review journals are speaking & revealing truths that has been suppressed, misunderstood, and forgotten is numerous.
Before I continue writing this scroll I'll end it here. Thank you brother for your thought provoking material. Bo-ma-tum.

[densaakaldte]

The beams in the cross represent the two dimensions 'Being' and 'becoming', while the circle could represent 'non-Being' or 'the All'. The two triangles in the Star of David, Yin and Yang, Sun and Moon, Seed and the Field, all mean the same thing. The cross and a circle with a dot (center-circumference) are essential symbols in the Primordial Tradition as it is the simplest possible representation of the two worlds, the divine biunity.

[matthewrogers]

my native american heritage believes it to be the 4 elements fire, wind, rain, earth and there are other symbolic reasons too in other tribes its very interesting to learn that a lot of the animist cultures are very similar to each other as they are on opposite sides of the world

[thorgeist]

“As Above Is So Below.” I completely agree with your take on this sun wheel.

[kurtbogle]

When I went to my first class on the Medicine Wheel. The chairs were circled around the wheel. I took a seat. I sat behind the owl. I had no idea that it a type of zodiac
and according to Chief Wilson everyone because your spirit knows, sets down behind their own animal .
This ties in with the SUN DANCE, self sacrifice, dance and meditation.

[jorgnocke]

Great Video thank you so much please keep up the amazing work

[colinp]

Let me throw this one into the pot, the four quarters made me think of the Moon and not the Sun. In the modern world we are more focussed on the Sun calendar but inn older calendars the Moon was at the centre. Indeed the Chinese calendar is lunar based, as was the early Christian and Roman calendar. So maybe it was either a symbol used in an ancient calendar or a device for Lunar worship?
I want to add that I have just watched 3 series of Norsemen, a Norwegian comedy set in the Viking ages. It is on Netflix UK and dubbed in English, well worth watching, very hilarious.