Sun, Emperor and Pope

Neoplatonic Solar Worship in Mughal India and Barberini Rome
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-041-28122-1
Verlag: Routledge

Buch, Englisch, 146 Seiten, Format (B × H): 145 mm x 222 mm, Gewicht: 326 g

This book aims to uncover Neoplatonism as an entangled global philosophy that has connected Europe with India for centuries. To demonstrate that argument, it delves into two notable instances ofsolar cults during the long sixteenth century. Both cases are examined through the lens of the longue-durée Great Tradition of Neoplatonism, taking off from the sun cult designed by the Roman Emperor Julian in the fourth century. The book also includes:

- Comprehensive analysis of solar worship traditions across cultures and civilizations

- Detailed examination of Mughal cosmology and millenarian beliefs in India

- In-depth study of Barberini solar cult practices in Renaissance Rome

- Comparative approach to understanding sun worship in different historical contexts

- Scholarly investigation of the longue durée of solar religious traditions

By exploring the intriguing parallels between these coinciding solar cults, this book advocates a truly global intellectual history that transcends the conventional boundaries of world religions and civilizations.

This title has been co-published with Manohar Publishers & Distributors. T&F does not sell or distribute the print editions in India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Bhutan.

Zielgruppe

Academic, General, and Postgraduate

Autoren/Hrsg.

Gommans, Jos

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Religionsphilosophie, Philosophische Theologie
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Alternative Glaubensformen Moderne Kulte & Sekten
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Alte Geschichte & Archäologie Geschichte der klassischen Antike Griechische Geschichte

Inhaltsverzeichnis

List of Illustrations

Acknowledgements

Note on Transliteration

Introduction

1. The Silent Thread

1.1. Great Tradition

1.2. Longue Durée

1.3. Sun Worship: The Julian Model

2. Solar Cult in Mughal India

2.1. Mughal Cosmology

2.2. Mughal Millenarianism

2.3. Mughal Antiquarianism

3. Solar Cult in Barberini Rome

3.1. Barberini Cosmology

3.2. Barberini Millenarianism

3.3. Barberini Antiquarianism

Conclusion

Bibliography

Index

Illustrations

Über Autor(innen)

Jos Gommans is Professor of Colonial and Global History at Leiden University, The Netherlands, where he specializes in medieval and early modern history of South Asia and its interconnections with Europe, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. In this latest work, Gommans applies his expertise in comparative historical analysis to explore solar worship traditions, demonstrating his continued commitment to understanding the complex cultural and religious dynamics that have shaped civilizations across time and geography. His interdisciplinary approach and deep knowledge of both South Asian and European historical contexts make him uniquely positioned to examine the fascinating parallels between Mughal and Barberini solar cult practices.