The Roman Cult of Mithras

Mira Richard-Fioramore

History 1st c. AD – 4th c. AD Sources: Depictions on monuments All males Mithraic cult is a mystery religion Mithras = Indo-Persian deity Mitra? Roman origin? Christian?

Myth information Mithras was born from a rock. Slaughters a bull, bows to the Sun, Sun

and himself eat parts of the bull together.

On Latin monuments = Mithras On Greek monuments = Mithra

IconographyThe Mithraeum

Rock cave with central aisle and podiums.

Centrepiece depicting relief of tauroctony.

400+ temples throughout the Roman Empire

Close to streams or springs

IconographyTauroctony

Mithras killing a bull.

A bit different in style, same concept.

Some reliefs have depictions of the myth of Mithras

IconographyBanquet of the Sun & Lion-headed figurine

Relief on opposite side of tauroctony relief.

Mithras and Sun dining. Strictly Mithraic Art Arimanius = deus = god

Initiation Only holy ones can be initiated into the cult. 5 step ritual

Initiation Raven (Mercury) Nymphus (Venus) Soldier (Mars) Lion (Jupiter) Persian (Moon) Heliodromus (Sun) Father (Saturn)

Works cited Pearce, Roger. “The Roman Cult of Mithras.”

The Tertullian Project. N.d., Web. 4 Nov. 2013.

http://www.tertullian.org/rpearse/mithras/display.php?page=main

“Mithraism.”Religion Facts. N.d, N.p. Web 4 Nov. 2013.http://www.religionfacts.com/greco-roman/sects/mithraism.htm

Speidel, Michael P. Mithras-Orion. Netherlands: E.J. Brill, 1980, 1-13. Print.