The Sun was likened to a hawk or falcon taking his lofty flight across the sky, and from this may have originated the Egyptian symbol of the deity, a Sun-Disk with the Outspread Wings of a Hawk. This solar emblem of life, omnipotence, majesty was also widely venerated in Asia Minor. The Assyrians introduce a warrior with bow and arrow in the winged sun-disk.
The Arrow, symbol of fertility, rain, lightning, war, famine, disease, death is associated with the sun, moon and atmospheric gods. Apollo gave Hercules a solar arrow. Apollo's arrows are the sun's rays.
The Rays of the Sun were also called the hair of the sun-god. The strength of the sun departs when he is shorn of his hair in winter. Hair was sacred to the sun-god, cutting the hair a sacrificial offering. The priest's tonsure represents the disk of the sun. The Arabs shaved their heads in imitation of the sun. The priests of Egypt and India had shaven heads. Hair as a source of strength in the story of Samson and Delilah has led scholars to interpret this as a solar myth.
