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Gates, defiles, valleys, pits, and caves are featured in many of the sun myths. In the Oedipus sun myth Oedipus engaged his father, Laius, in a valley. With a blow from his staff Oedipus killed his father (1). At the time, Laius and Oedipus were riding in opposing chariots. Since the vedic word for Laius is Dasyu, meaning the night demon (2), more than likely the club wielded by Oedipus was a shaft of sunlight. Sunlight is inimical to the existence of demons, particularly night demons. Oedipus, the swollen, red, denuded sun, was born out of darkness. This darkness usually meant the earth mother at night (3) (4).
The sun's noctural disappearance behind the maw (mouth) of the Western Gate of Heaven (see diagram) reminded