Mithraism

• Mithraism, also known as the Mithraic Mysteries, was a Mystery Cult, exclusive to the Roman Empire, whose followers worshipped Mithras.
• Mithraic temples have been located all over the Roman Empire. The earliest temples appeared during the first century CE and it seems to have ended at the end of the 4th century CE with the rise of Christianity.

Description

• It was a ‘mystery cult’ meaning that its followers had to be initiated into the rites which were held in secret.
• Mithraism became very popular across the whole of the Roman Empire from the first to fifth centuries CE.
• It started in Italy, where the greatest amount of Temples have been found. There was no founder, and it did not originate in Persia or the East where, although Mithras was well known, there is no separate Cult of Mithras.

The God Mithras

• Mithras was a God in the Persian Zoroasterian religion, and also a God in the Indian Hindu religion.
• In neither religion did he have his own cult, only in the Roman Empire.
• He is associated with the Sun, Contracts and Negotiation.

The Mithraic Temple

• The Mithraeum or Mithraic Temple was built to resemble a cave. Reclining couches lined the sides of the room.
• At the far end of the room was a relief of Mithras sacrificing a bull.
• The room could only accommodate a small group of people.
• The Temples were either located in a room in a building, or in a remote location in a cave near a stream.
• The majority of Mithraic Temples have been found in Italy, and also in the Danube the Rhine and in Britannia. They are sometimes located near Legionary Forts.

Popularity

• Mithraism was seen by the Roman Emperors as supportive of Roman authority, and despite its secretive nature, was accepted.
• They are sometimes located near Legionary bases, and it was popular with the Legions.
• Its influence declined after the rise of Christianity in the fourth century CE.

Oral Tradition

• There are no surviving Texts for Mithraism, if it ever had any.

Membership

• Initially the members were soldiers and officers of the Roman Military.
• Then it became very popular amongst Freedmen.
• Women were excluded.

Seven Degrees of Initiation

• There were seven degrees of initiation and each initiate wore a different garment denoting his level, and was given different chores accordingly.
  1. Corax (raven)
  2. Nymphus (bridegroom)
  3. Miles (soldier)
  4. Leo (lion)
  5. Perses (persian)
  6. Heliodromus (sun-runner)
  7. Pater (father)

Mithraic Sites

• London Mithraeum

Sources

• Tertullian
  • De corona milites 15.
• Plutarch (46-c.128 CE)
  • mentions the Pirates of Cilicia worshipped Mithras.
• Porphyry (3rd century CE)
  • De antro Nympharum (Cave of the Nymphs). He describes Mithraism in detail.

London Mithraeum, 12 Walbrook, London EC4.