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τῶν ἐν οὐρανῷ θεῶν: the heavenly constellations, which form the οὐράνιον θεῶν γένος (Tim. 40 A). Plato's description of the sun is instinct with religious feeling. The ‘clear god and patron of all light, From whom each lamp and shining star doth borrow The beauteous influence that makes him bright’ claims adoration from Plato not merely as an οὐράνιος θεός, like the other stars, but as the symbol and scion (ἔκγονος) of the Supreme Idea or God. Cf. Bonitz Disp. Plat. duae, p. 6 note 3, and especially Paul Shorey in Chicago Studies in Cl. Phil. Vol. I pp. 224 ff. The sunworship of some of the Neo-Platonists was inspired in no small measure by this passage of the Republic; see in particular Julian's ‘Address to the Sovereign Sun’ (εἰς τὸν βασιλέα ἥλιον） Or. IV. Cf. 508 D note
The Republic of Plato. James Adam. 1902. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press.
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