How did ancient civilization think of the sun?

Some people before the time of Abraham had begun to worship the sun and stars as a great power. Even today, 21st June marks the Summer Solstice and will be marked by pagan festivities in parts of the world. Sun worship was prevalent in Egyptian religion through the eighteenth dynasty. It was speculated that the sun's movement across the sky represented the struggle between the Pharaoh's soul and Avatar of Osiris. According to Aztec mythology, Tonatiuh was the sun god and was considered the leader of what was thought to be heaven. Many Italian churches are adorned by the symbolism of the sun and early Christians involved many aspects of the sun in their worship. Many of the converted pagans' sun-god festivals were carried over when they professed conversion to Christianity and even the Pope carries a rod with a shining sun on top.