MITHRAS AND MITHRAISM
PART 1: Introduction to Mithras

Mithra is an ancient Indo-Iranian god worshipped at least as early as 2nd millennium BC. The myths of this God link him with the mythologies of all Indo-European people. He shares the same origin as the Vedic Mitra who is the lord of heavenly light and protector of truth.

Mithra was the counterpart to Ahura Mazda (Varuna) until Zarathustra (aka Zoroaster) reformed Persian polytheism into a new monotheistic religion. Mithra, like other gods, would have much of his power and functions largely cannibalized by Ahura Mazda.

Mithra is a great warrior carrying a great mace, the strongest of all weapons, and still to this day Zoroastrian priests carry the mace of Mithra, a symbol of the eternal struggle. The Zoroastrian temples are known as Dare-e Mehr, which translates to “Court of Mithra”.

The name Mithra (or Mehr) has three meanings in Farsi: “love”, “sun”, and “friend”. He is seen as a protector the Aryan peoples, giving victory to the righteous who keep their oaths.

Like other Indo-European peoples, the Romans also had a Mithras. The amount that Roman Mithras was uniquely Roman, influenced by the Indo-Iranians, and influenced by the Greeks, is a rather heated scholarly discussion that I will just sidestep with ‘yes’.

Immensely popular within the Roman Empire, at the forefront of philosophical and astronomical thought, it was also the most important competitor to early Christianity.

Worship of the “Invisible Sun” Mithras, was present throughout the Roman Empire. It was especially popular among the Roman Legions. Remains from Mithraic temple be found all the way from North Africa, across central Europe, to the British Isles.

One of the most important aspects to the Roman Mithraic cult was that it maintained secrecy, its teachings were only revealed to initiates. Unfortunately this has left scholars with only underground temples, paintings, statues, and antipagan rhetoric from early Christians.

In the end though, knowledge of the Black Sun God has lived on despite persecution from Christianity and Islam. Mithras has had tremendous influence on Christianity as well as Sufism (both of which will be discussed in greater detail in another thread).

The similarities between Roman Mithraic religion and Christianity were so overwhelming that they frightened the Early Church Followers. They said the Devil, knowing ahead of the coming of Christ, imitated it with a pagan deity as a way to denigrate Christian teachings.

As Christianity gained in strength in the Roman Empire, the cult of Mithras was one of the first pagan cults to be attacked. In the 5th century temples of Mithras were destroyed, oftentimes with Churches being built on top of them.

I will end this introductory thread with “A Song to Mithras” written by Rudyard Kipling in 1906. I enjoy singing each respective part as a kind of “solar adoration” at the appropriate time each day, complete with prostrations, while keeping the Black Sun in mind’s eye.

Mithras, God of the Morning, our trumpets waken the wall! “Rome is above the Nations, but Thou art over all!” Now as the names are answered, and the guards are marched away, Mithras, also a soldier, give us strength for the day!

Mithras, God of the Noontide, the heather swims in the heat, Our helmets scorch our foreheads; our sandals burn our feet, Now in the ungirt hour; now ere we blink and drowse, Mithras, also a soldier, keep us true to our vows!

Mithras, God of the Sunset, low on the Western main, Thou descending immortal, immortal to rise again! Now when the watch is ended, now when the wine is drawn, Mithras, also a soldier, keep us pure till the dawn!

Mithras, God of Midnight, here where the great bull dies, Look on thy children in darkness. Oh take our sacrifice! Many roads Thou has fashioned: all of them lead to the Light, Mithras, also a soldier, teach us to die aright!