Once upon a time, there was a child who was born on December 25 of, a virgin. Three kings came to worship him at his birth, following a star. At 12, he astonished friends and strangers with his great knowledge. At the age of 30, he was baptized and began his ministry. He had 12 disciples with whom he traveled practicing miracles, among them walking on water. Among the names he was known were: “The Lamb of God” and “The Light of the World”. He was betrayed by one of his disciples, crucified, and died. He was resurrected on the third day and then ascended to heaven as the god he was. Who am I talking about? Well, no, it’s not who you have in mind. Specifically, I am talking about Horus, who lived in Egypt over 3,000 years ago. However, this same story has been repeated multiple times throughout humanity and in an infinite number of cultures.
Among these are:
– Attis of Greece, 1200 years before Christ. He was born on December 25 of a virgin, performed miracles, had disciples, died crucified, and resurrected.
– Mithra of Persia, 1200 years before Christ. Born on December 25 of a virgin, a star marked his birth, he performed miracles, had 12 disciples, died, and was resurrected.
– Krishna of India, 900 years B.C. Was born of a virgin, a star pointed to his birth; he performed miracles, had disciples, died, and was resurrected.
– Dionysus of Greece 500 years before Christ. He was born of a virgin, performed miracles such as turning water into wine, had disciples, died, and was resurrected.
But, there are even more who share the same “divine characteristics,” such as:
– Chrishna of Hindustan
– Buddha Sakia of India
– Zhule, Osiris, and Orus of Egypt
– Odin in Scandinavia
– Zoroaster or, in its English version, Zarathustra in Persia.
– Baal, “The begotten god of Phoenicia.”
– Indra of Tibet
– Thammuz of Syria
– Atys of Phrygia
– Xamolxis of Thrace
– Deva Tat of Siam
– Alcides of Thebes
– Beddru of Japan
– Thor, son of Odin… to name a few.
Now, let’s examine the first one that came to your mind and of course, from whom Christianity starts: Jesus of Nazareth was born on December 25, of a virgin. Three kings arrived to gild him at his birth, guided by a star. At 12, he amazed friends and strangers with his great knowledge. At 30, he was baptized by John, his cousin, and began his ministry. He had 12 disciples with whom he traveled practicing miracles, among them walking on water. Judas, one of his disciples, betrayed him, had a crown of thorns put on him, was crucified, and died. He was resurrected on the third day and then ascended to heaven as the god he was. Among the names he is known are: “The Lamb of God” and “The Light of the World”.
Where does this date come from, and why is it repeated again and again at the moment of granting “mysticism and sanctity” to some “anointed” of god? The reality is that this date’s origins and the symbolism accompanying it are entirely based on ancient astrology (yes, that zodiac one).
It all starts with the brightest star in the zodiac, named “Sirius” or “Sirius,” also called Alpha Canis Maioris, the brightest star in the night sky as seen from earth, which on December 24 aligns with three stars located in Orion’s belt. Those three bright stars in Orion are now known as “The 3 Kings,” as they were in the past.
Once aligned, the three stars and Sirius point to the “birth” of the sun on December 25—the birth of the “sun god” or the winter solstice. Translating this symbolism, the star of Bethlehem would be Sirius, Jesus Christ the birth of the sun, and the three wise men the stars in Orion’s belt.
The “virgin” represents the constellation Virgo, which means “virgin” in its Latin etymology. “virginis” means “maiden, young woman”. Another meaning to Virgo is “house of bread,” represented by the Greeks as a woman holding ears of wheat. Wheat, in ancient times, represented the months of August and September, the harvest months. The word Bethlehem comes from the Hebrew, bet-lehem, whose literal meaning is: “house of bread”.
Another interesting phenomenon that occurs around December 25 or the solstice is the following: From the summer solstice to the winter solstice, the days become shorter, and from the perspective of the northern hemisphere, the sun appears to move southward, while in its movement, it is becoming “smaller.” Hence, a kind of cross was formed in the movement, which, in ancient times, was considered “the death of the sun.” By December 22, the sun has reached its “final” process. That is its lowest point. From this moment on, the sun no longer moves southward; it remains “motionless” for three days, December 22, 23, and 24. The movement forms an imaginary “cross” in the sky, which we know today as “the southern cross,” a constellation of the celestial southern hemisphere, composed of two crossed crossbeams, one of 4.2 and the other of 5.4 degrees long and occupies an area of only sixty-eight square degrees. More than two thousand years ago, at the time of the birth of Christ, it was visible from the latitudes of Jerusalem, Mesopotamia, and Persia.
On December 25, the sun moves “up” or northward, giving more light, warmth, and life. This originates from “he died on the cross and rose again on the third day.” Perhaps because of this fact, Jesus Christ and all the above-named share crucifixion, death, and resurrection. As it moves northward, he brings “life” into the world, creating a cycle of birth and development that includes the miracles of life and salvation until his final point, which is death and again resurrection.
The following symbol is the number 12. Where does this number come from, and what is its meaning? As I mentioned, most of this explanation is based on past astrological writings and their interpretations. The number 12 is equivalent to the 12 constellations of the zodiac around the sun. In the Bible, the number 12 is mentioned multiple times. Among these:
12 tribes of Israel
12 brothers of Joseph
12 judges of Israel
12 patriarchs
12 kings
12 princes
Jesus in the temple at the age of 12
The same happens with the metaphor of the cross. The cross does not come from Christianity but from much earlier, when “the astral chart” was used to represent the solar movement and a pagan symbol called “the cross of the zodiac.” Hence, in many artistic interpretations, we see the face of Jesus Christ, the crown of thorns representing the rays of the sun, and the cross behind his head. Going a step further regarding biblical metaphors, there are the multiple evocations of the “times” so often mentioned in the scriptures. Whenever we speak of epochs or times, we go back to the astrology of the past, which today is known as “the precession of the equinoxes.”
In ancient Egyptian culture, as well as other civilizations, these times were recognized and given amounts. Every 2,150 years, this new “epoch or era” began at a different place in the zodiac as the constellations moved between the 12 signs.
The precession of the equinoxes is the slow and gradual change in the orientation of the earth’s axis of rotation, which causes the position indicated by the axis on the celestial sphere to shift around the pole of the ecliptic. It traces a cone and travels a complete circumference every 25,765 years, a period known as the “Platonic year.” According to Claudius Ptolemy, Hipparchus of Nicaea discovered the precession of the equinoxes approximately between 147 and 127 BC.
These “eras, epochs or times” of 2,150 years were the following: From 4,300 B.C. to 2,150 B.C. was the “age of the Taurus” or bull. From 2,150 B.C. to 1 B.C., it was the “era of Aries” or the ram. From 1 to 2,150 of our era, it is the “era of Pisces,” and although this last data is under debate, it is believed that from the year 2,150 to 4,300, it will be the “era of Aquarius.”
Can we conclude that the Bible is filled with allegories? So are many writings of other religions, the texts of secret societies, poetry, literature, music, and even cinema.
It is undeniable that human beings need to “believe” in something. The evidence proves it since there is data on the supposition of the existence of a life beyond the grave dating back 100,000 years. So much so that every known human culture has its own creation myth; in absolutely all cultures and civilizations, there have been “gods” with forms ranging from those represented by nature and the cosmos in the image and likeness of people to those deities lacking physical form.
Nowadays, experts in the human mind consider it intrinsic in humans to believe. Hence, believing in god is an extension of our recognition of existence and our perspective and tendency to see the world for what we are: finite beings. In human terms, we project our thoughts and feelings onto supernatural, infinite objects or forces, creating the cornerstone of religion and faith. That personal belief in the existence of a superior being is considered by many as an essential aspect of life.
For Times Media Mexico / The Yucatan Times
José E. Urioste
Merida Yucatan, Mexico.
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José E. Urioste, a highly accomplished Yucatecan businessman, he has established himself as a seasoned professional in Business Intelligence, amassing over 25 years of experience, leading him to serve on several boards of directors. In addition to his business acumen, Mr. Urioste has made significant contributions to the media landscape, sharing his insights through articles on business-related topics and hosting radio shows that provide in-depth political analysis. His influence extends beyond the media, as he is also a published author.
