Vergina Sun

The Vergina Sun, Star of Vergina or Argead Star, is the name given to a 16 ray sun/star symbol that was unearthed by Professor Manolis Andronikos in 1977 during archaeological excavations in Vergina Greece. He discovered it on a golden larnax in the tombs of the kings of the ancient kingdom of Macedon.



Nationalists from F.Y.R.O.M claim that the Vergina Sun has always been a significant symbol of the millennia old "Macedonian Nation" whose historical and cultural legacy is rooted in the ancient Macedonian kingdom . For this reason they claim that the Vergina Sun should be on the national flag of F.Y.R.O.M.

As proof of the symbol's continuous usage throughout the centuries nationalists from F.Y.R.O.M present depictions of what they claim are derivations of the Vergina Sun used in various artistic portrayals. This is supposed to be proof of the symbol's continuous usage by the so called "Macedonian nation" with the implication that "ethnic Macedonians" have been aware of their ancient Macedonian cultural legacy for thousands of years. For example the nationalist website historyofmacedonia.org provides the following explanation under the heading of "The Macedonian Sun":

As proof for the allegation that the "Macedonian Sun" is found on icons and frescoes that were produced throughout the ages historyofmacedonia.org supplies the following images with the far fetched assumption that "ethnic Macedonians" included depictions of the "Macedonian Sun" in religious art with the implication that there is some sort of cultural continuity between the ancient Macedonians that the symbol is currently associated with and the modern "Macedonian" nation.







A few points regarding these far fetched arguments:

1. If the "Macedonian Sun" has been cherished by "Macedonians" for over 3000 years and it appeared on cultural artifacts since the days of the ancient Macedonians, as implied above, why was it not used in any official capacity by any government or cultural institutions managed by "ethnic Macedonians" prior to its excavation in 1977?

2. If the "Macedonian Sun" was such a powerful symbol for "Macedonian" people throughout the ages why didn't any of F.Y.R.O.M's national heroes use the symbol during any of the struggles or liberation movements described by F.Y.R.O.M's official historiography? As an example why didn't the primary characters of the 1903 Ilinden uprising use the Symbol in any capacity?

3. The notion that the "Macedonian Nation" is 3,000 years old is not supported by any credible historian, anthropologist or sociologist. The "Macedonian" ethno/national identity is a 19th century construct.

4. The symbols depicted on the icons and religious paintings hardly look like the 16 ray Sun excavated in Greece! Equating Star symbols found on religious art with the symbol excavated in 1977 is far fetched to say the least!

5. Depictions of Sun/Star symbols in Byzantine art was not uncommon. How does historyofmacedonia.org explain the fact that similar symbols are found on icons from Russia, Greece and Italy:

Example a: Icon from Belingheiro Italy, produced in 1230. I suppose that there is some sort of cultural continuity between modern Italians and the ancient Macedonians too?

Example b: Icon from Patmos Greece, produced in the 15th century.

Example c: Virgin Amolyntos from Crete produced in 15th century:

Example d: Virgin Mother Eleusa from Russia produced in 14th century. Were the Russians depicting the "Macedonian Sun" too??

The truth is that the Sun of Vergina held no significance to any nation prior to its excavation in 1977. Nationalists from F.Y.R.O.M really grasp at straws when they claim that the symbol was cherished for 3,000 years by the "Macedonian Nation" and then offer Byzantine paintings depicting star symbols as evidence. As shown above the depiction of star symbols in Byzantine art was not uncommon.