In archetypal terms, says historian Richard Tarnas, the sun represents:
the central principle of vital creative energy, the will to exist; the impulse and capacity to be, to manifest, to be active, central, to radiate, to “shine”; to rise above, achieve, illuminate and integrate; the individual will and personal identity, the seat of mind spirit, the animus, the executive functions of the self or ego, the capacity for initiative and purposeful assertion, the drive for individual autonomy and independence... the centrifugal expression of the self... the ruler of the day sky, of the clearly visible, the single source of luminosity that overcomes the encompassing darkness, the monocentric…1
Taken to the psychological sphere, these are the traits of those who have descended and climbed up the spiral of the solar labyrinth, which render the individual with an exceptional capacity for leadership (1.2, 1.3). They are, in short, the attributes of a king. Given this natural relationship between the sovereign, the sun and the most precious of metals, both gods and kings have always demanded to be honored with gold. The first in offerings for their altars, the second in taxes for their coffers.
After being guided by the star that announced Jesus’ birth, a solar figure par excellence, the three wise men “came into the house and saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him; and opening their treasures they presented to Him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.”2 Although frankincense and myrrh were highly valued in the ancient world, gold was certainly the most worthy gift for a king.
In the second book of Chronicles we find that the gold that came to King Solomon
in one year was 666 talents of gold, 14 besides that which the traders and merchants brought; and all the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon. King Solomon made 200 large shields of beaten gold, using 600 shekels of beaten gold on each large shield. He made 300 shields of beaten gold, using three hundred shekels of gold on each shield, and the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon. Moreover, the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. There were six steps to the throne and a footstool in gold attached to the throne, and arms on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the arms. Twelve lions were standing there on the six steps on the one side and on the other; nothing like it was made for any other kingdom. All King Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; silver was not considered valuable in the days of Solomon.3
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