Mithras

A Persian demigod who achieved independence and importance during the Roman empire, and best known as the savior deity of the Roman mystery cult of Mithraism. Especially in military circles, his worship challenged early Christianity. He is portrayed as a young man in a Phrygian cap, usually in the act of kneeling on the back of a bull to dispatch it by a sword thrust in the neck. A Mithraeum is a building, often semi-subterranean, containing a passage between broad shelves on which the worshippers reclined during the ceremonies. The end wall may hold a fresco or relief of Mithras himself. From the 1st century BC onwards, he begins to appear in the Roman world as the god of a mystery cult. His disciples, who were exclusively men and often limited to the ranks of soldiers and businessmen, were promised life and happiness after death. As in other mystery cults, the rites were kept secret, and truth and benefits came only to initiated believers, who had to pass through a sequence of seven grades of initiation. These were the stages of the Raven (Corax), Bride (Nymphus), Soldier (Miles), Lion (Leo), Persian (Perses), Runner of the Sun (Heliodromos), and Fater (Pater). The disciple also underwent baptism, took part in the reenacting of the sacred meal, and bore the seal of his discipleship on his body. Mithraism expanded rapidly from the second half of the 1st century AD.

Best known as the saviour deity of the Roman mystery cult of Mithraism, which flourished alongside early Christianity and shows many parallels with it. Originally an old Persian and Indian god of light, truth and the contract, Mithras bore such titles as Lord of Light and Saviour from Death. From the 1st century bc onwards he begins to appear in the Roman world as the god of a mystery cult, and is usually shown wearing the Persian cap and trousers. His disciples, who were exclusively men and often limited to the ranks of soldiers and businessmen, were promised life and happiness after death. As in other mystery cults, the rites were kept secret, and truth and benfits came only to initiated believers, who had to pass through a sequence of seven grades of initiation. These were the stages of the Raven (Corax), Bride (Nymphus), Soldier (Miles), Lion (Leo), Persian (Perses), Runner of the Sun (Heliodromos), and Father (Pater). The disciple also underwent baptism, took part in the re-enacting of the sacred meal, and bore the seal of his discipleship on his body. The central sacrificial theme was the tauroc-tony, the slaying of the bull by Mithras in the cave. This event symbolized the giving of life by the shedding of blood, the victory of life over death and of good over evil. Mithraism expanded rapidly from the second half of the 1st century ad, and found capital and provincial representation alike. Particularly strong adherence is seen in the western and northern frontier provinces, the Rhine and the Danube. Hadrian s Wall and London offer British examples. See Mithraeum.