Mithras/Mithraism

Question 1

What is the evidence for the existence of Mithraism?

Answer 1

No texts from the cult survive - or may have ever existed
No public aspects to the cult, unlike processions from Andania etc.
Very reliant on archaeological evidence e.g. inscriptions
Some evidence from pagan authors who were interested in the cult
Authors from 4th c. onwards (Christian), hostile to cult but give evidence which corroborates with some archaeological evidence
Earliest evidence from the late 1st c. BC: inscriptions of the Roman empire from soldiers; probably started in Italy and spread elsewhere

Question 2

What key points should you remember for mithraism?

Answer 2

Male-only cult
Initiation required (obviously)
Concentrated in the western half of the Roman empire

Question 3

Where did mithraism come from?

Answer 3

Persia: Mithra worshipped for centuries, later became part of the Zoroastrian pantheon
Connected to the sun
Depicted as a young man in a tunic and a conical (Phrygian) cap
Notable differences: no depictions of him with a bull; no temples in the style of Roman mithraic temples; no grade structure of Roman cult hierarchy
Probably not a direct contemporary, but the Roman version was perhaps an adapted version of Mithra combined with a separate god
Combined with astronomy to create the Roman Mithras?

Question 4

Who worshipped Mithras?

Answer 4

Membership popular amongst the army and custom-officials
Spreads to civilian communities
Senatorial families create their own Mithraic groups in the 4th c.
No substantial evidence for emperors joining the cult, although the Tetrarchic emperors (late 3rd c.) honoured Mithras

Question 5

What is the main archaeological evidence for mithraism?

Answer 5

Mithraic reliefs / statues
Mithras and the bull: Venerated image, like Jesus on the cross (two concepts always depicted together)
Mithras sacrificing (or killing, unusual sacrificial method), snake and dog drinking blood from the wound
Scorpion grabbing the bull’s testicles
On either side are the torch-bearers: Cautes and Cautopates - “mini Mithrases”
Sol (the sun) usually depicted in images of Mithras - confusing concept: two separate figures who are often combined
Also Luno depicted (the moon)
Takes place inside the cave

Question 6

Name 6 places mithraeum were found

Answer 6

Carnuntum
London
Aquileia
Dardagana (Bosnia)
Rome
Budapest

Question 7

What was a mithraeum?

Answer 7

Roman Mithraic temples have a set-plan: one or more anterooms, leading to an inner-chamber containing a central aisle flanked by two parallel benches with the focal point on a Mithras statue or relief
No windows - lit by candle and oil lamp
Decorated to appear cave-like’ and are referred to in inscriptions from italy as spelaea (cave)
Possible meanings:
Recreated the cave in which Mithras stabs the bull
A star map of the universe