Mithraism

Mithraism, also known as the Mithraic mysteries or the Cult of Mithras, was a Roman mystery religion focused on the god Mithras. Although inspired by Iranian worship of the Zoroastrian divinity (yazata) Mithra, the Roman Mithras was linked to a new and distinctive imagery, and the degree of continuity between Persian and Greco-Roman practice remains debatable.[a] The mysteries were popular among the Imperial Roman army from the 1st to the 4th century AD.[2]

Worshippers of Mithras had a complex system of seven grades of initiation and communal ritual meals. Initiates called themselves syndexioi, those "united by the handshake".[b] They met in dedicated mithraea (singular mithraeum), underground temples that survive in large numbers. The cult appears to have had its centre in Rome,[3] and was popular throughout the western half of the empire, as far south as Roman Africa and Numidia, as far east as Roman Dacia, as far north as Roman Britain,[4](pp 26–27) and to a lesser extent in Roman Syria in the east.[3]

Mithraism is viewed as a rival of early Christianity.[5](p 147) In the 4th century, Mithraists faced persecution from Christians, and the religion was subsequently suppressed and eliminated in the Roman Empire by the end of the century.[6]

Numerous archaeological finds, including meeting places, monuments, and artifacts, have contributed to modern knowledge about Mithraism throughout the Roman Empire.[c] The iconic scenes of Mithras show him being born from a rock, slaughtering a bull, and sharing a banquet with the god Sol (the Sun). About 420 sites have yielded materials related to the cult. Among the items found are about 1000 inscriptions, 700 examples of the bull-killing scene (tauroctony), and about 400 other monuments.[4](p xxi) It has been estimated that there would have been at least 680 mithraea in the city of Rome.[8] No written narratives or theology from the religion survive; limited information can be derived from the inscriptions and brief or passing references in Greek and Latin literature. Interpretation of the physical evidence remains problematic and contested.[d]

  1. ^ Beck, Roger (20 July 2002). "Mithraism". Encyclopaedia Iranica (Online ed.). Archived from the original on 20 May 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Geden-1925-2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference hopfe-5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b
    Clauss, Manfred (2000). The Roman Cult of Mithras: The god and his mysteries. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 0-415-92977-6. ISBN 0-7486-1396-X
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Richardson-Hopfe-1994-Archeol was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference collectedworks was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Beck, Roger (17 February 2011). "The pagan shadow of Christ?". BBC-History. Archived from the original on 23 October 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference HaaseTemporini1984 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ulansey-1991-Origins was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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