A comparative Study of the Sun Symbol in Zoroastrianism in the Sassanian. Period and Christianity in ancient Rome

The sun as a mysterious and magnificent element has had several symbols and still has which due to its respect and sanctity among different religions has always contained different meanings and symbolic patterns. The sun and its other relevant symbols in religions like Zoroaster's and Christianity because of being influenced by "Mehr" religion (Mitraism) has had a lot of changes over time. Since there was a close relationship between Sassanids and Byzantine emperor, this study tends to consider visual and conceptual similarities and differences of this icon, the sun, in Zoroaster's and Christianity in Byzantine emperor based on a comparative study on those religions, this result can be inferred that in Iran “Mehr” known as “Goddess sun” and in Christianity was just considered as “God the sun”. The sun has been sacred and respectful in Zoroaster's and Christianity, and its origin goes back to mythological periods importance of worshipping this resuscitative element and its similarities to IzadMehr (God) has caused gradually to be considered the some, but due to oppositions from Sassanids against Mehr. Customs adopted from Mehr religion were included in Zoroaster's religion nothing was mentioned about Mehr. Since then this religion under the named of “Mitraism” and many other sun elements and symbols like cross, light, halo with different patterns penetrated in Christianity. Hence, similarities in Sun’s symbolic patterns and shapes existing both religions and differences as well which mostly belong to concepts, customs and traditions in both religions. This study has been done based on library and document any method.