The Origins of the Mithraic Mysteries

The Origins of the Mithraic Mysteries PDF Author: David Ulansey
Publisher: Cosmology and Salvation in the
ISBN: 9780195067880
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 176

Get Book

Book Description
This volume sets forth a new explanation of the meaning of the cult of Mithraism, tracing its origins not, as commonly held, to the ancient Persian religion, but to ancient astronomy and cosmology.

The Origins of the Mithraic Mysteries

The Origins of the Mithraic Mysteries PDF Author: David Ulansey
Publisher: Cosmology and Salvation in the
ISBN: 9780195067880
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 176

Get Book

Book Description
This volume sets forth a new explanation of the meaning of the cult of Mithraism, tracing its origins not, as commonly held, to the ancient Persian religion, but to ancient astronomy and cosmology.

The Mysteries of Mithras

The Mysteries of Mithras PDF Author: Payam Nabarz
Publisher: Inner Traditions / Bear & Co
ISBN: 9781594770272
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 244

Get Book

Book Description
The Mysteries of Mithras presents a revival of this ancient Roman mystery religion, popular from the late second century B.C. Payam Nabarz reveals the history and tenets of Mithraism, its connections to Christianity, Islam, and Freemasonry, and the modern neo-pagan practice of Mithraism today. Included are seven of its initiatory rituals.

Mithras

Mithras PDF Author: D. Jason Cooper
Publisher: Weiser Books
ISBN: 1609257138
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 293

Get Book

Book Description
Known as Mitra to the Indians, Mithra and Zarathustra (Zoroaster in Greek) to the Iranians, and Mithras to the Romans, this is the oldest of all living deities. Mithras was recognized as the greatest rival of Christianity, a greater threat even than the religion of Isis. If Rome had not become Christian, it would have become Mithrasian. Mithraisians had a sacrament that included wine as a symbol of sacrificial blood. Bread in wafers, or small loaves marked with a cross, was used to symbolize flesh. The priestly symbols were a staff, a ring, a hat, and a hooked sword/ members were called brothers, and priests were called "Father." Mithras was born on December 25th. He offered salvation based on faith, compassion, knowledge, and valor. He appealed to the poor, the slave and the freeman, as well as to the Roman aristocracy, the militia, and even to some emperors. The Christians sacked his temples, burned his books, and attacked his followers--they desecrated his temples, and built their own churches on the same foundations as the old Mithraic temples. Cooper examines Mithras and his religion in the most complete study ever done. He explores the various forms of this godworshiped from Lisbon to modrn Bangladesh, from the Scottish border to the Russian Steppesand investigates the worship. This is an exciting journey into living mythology, the history of a living god, and will fascinate modern Western readers who want to know more about the spiritual pathwhether they want to better understand contemporary Christianity, the basis of many contemporary ideaologies, mythology, or the Western Mystery Tradition.

The Religion of the Mithras Cult in the Roman Empire

The Religion of the Mithras Cult in the Roman Empire PDF Author: Roger Beck
Publisher: OUP Oxford
ISBN: 0191518239
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 304

Get Book

Book Description
A study of the religious system of Mithraism, one of the 'mystery cults' popular in the Roman Empire contemporary with early Christianity. Roger Beck describes Mithraism from the point of view of the initiate engaging with the religion and its rich symbolic system in thought, word, ritual action, and cult life. He employs the methods of anthropology of religion and the new cognitive science of religion to explore in detail the semiotics of the Mysteries' astral symbolism, which has been the principal subject of his many previous publications on the cult.

The Mysteries of Mithra

The Mysteries of Mithra PDF Author: Franz Cumont
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Mithraism
Languages : en
Pages : 276

Get Book

Book Description


The Mithraic Origins of Christianity

The Mithraic Origins of Christianity PDF Author: Allan Di Donato
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781736355800
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

Get Book

Book Description
One of the most challenging objections to the historicity of the New Testament documents and the uniqueness of first century Christianity is the accusation of wholesale borrowing from earlier pagan sources. Such accusations are common in the fields of comparative religion and mythology. Parallels have been drawn between the story of Jesus and various other religious leaders, heroes, and pagan dying and rising gods. Though these parallels are found in stories from various cultures going back several millennia before the Christian era, the most prevalent challenge has come from what have become known as the mystery religions or mystery cults. From among these numerous cults, one has presented the greatest challenge and most striking parallels. That is the cult of Mithras, or Mithraism. This book addresses the theory that early Christianity borrowed heavily from Mithraism, and it investigates ancient textual and archaeological evidence as it seeks to evaluate that claim.

The Mysteries of Mithras

The Mysteries of Mithras PDF Author: Attilio Mastrocinque
Publisher: Mohr Siebeck
ISBN: 9783161551123
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 392

Get Book

Book Description
Attilio Mastrocinque explains the mysteries of Mithras in a new way, as a transformation of Mazdean elements into an ideological and religious reading of Augustus' story. The author shows that the character of Mithras played the role of Apollo in favoring Augustus' victory and the birth of the Roman Empire.

Mystery Cults in the Ancient World

Mystery Cults in the Ancient World PDF Author: Hugh Bowden
Publisher: Thames & Hudson
ISBN: 0500778620
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 314

Get Book

Book Description
Mystery cults are one of the most intriguing areas of Greek and Roman religion. In the nocturnal mysteries at Eleusis, participants dramatically re-enacted the story of Demeter's loss and recovery of her daughter Persephone; in Bacchic cult, bands of women ran wild in the Greek countryside to honour Dionysus; in the mysteries of Mithras, men came to understand the nature of the universe and their place within it through frightening initiation ceremonies and astrological teachings. These cults were an important part of life in the ancient Mediterranean world, but their actual practices were shrouded in secrecy, and much of what they were about has remained unclear until now. This is the first book to describe and explain all the major mystery cults of the ancient world, cult by cult, reconstructing the rituals and exploring their origins. It makes plentiful use of artistic and archaeological evidence, as well as ancient literature and epigraphy. Greek painted pottery, Roman frescoes, inscribed gold tablets from Greek and South Italian tombs and the excavated sites of ancient religious sanctuaries all contribute to our understanding of ancient mystery cults. Making use of the most recent work on these cults, the book is also informed by crucial current work on the anthropology and cognitive science of religion. Not only is this clearly written book a significant contribution to the study of these cults, but it is also accessible to a general readership. More than any other book on ancient religion, it allows the reader to understand what it was like to participate in these life-transforming religious events.

The Mysteries of Mithra

The Mysteries of Mithra PDF Author: Franz Cumont
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 0429874804
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 139

Get Book

Book Description
First published in 1956, this seminal study, by the great Belgian scholar Franz Cumont, remains the definitive coverage of a great ideological struggle between the West and the Orient in the first centuries of the Christian era. Mithraism, a mystery religion originating in Persia, spread rapidly through the Roman Empire, and achieved such strength that Europe almost became Mithraic. Dr. Cumont, the world’s’ greatest authority on aspects of classical religions, here discusses the origins of this colourful oriental religion, and its association with the Roman army. Then utilizing fragmentary monuments and texts, in one of the greatest feats of scholarly detection, he reconstructs the mystery teachings and secret doctrines, the hidden organization and cult of Mithra. This volume includes 70 illustrations.

The Mysteries of Mithra

The Mysteries of Mithra PDF Author: Franz Cumont
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
ISBN: 9781981435203
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 182

Get Book

Book Description
With over 50 LARGE TO FULL-PAGE illustrations, The Mysteries Of Mithra examines the history and origin of the Mithraic religion. It covers the dissemination of Mithraism into the Roman Empire, the Doctrine of the Mithraic mysteries, the liturgy, clergy and devotees and the art of the Mithraic religion. The Romans attributed their Mithraic mysteries (the mystery religion known as Mithraism) to "Persian" (i.e. Zoroastrian) sources relating to Mithra.