Mithraism, or miter cult, was a mysterious and secret religion, only for men, which was practiced in Rome in the second and III centuries of our era and that was vaguely based on Persian religion. Zoroastriano beliefs, but probably didn’t look much like the original.

The primary god Mitra may have been a Greco -Roman rebirth of the Indoirenio Mitra God, although the connection, apart from the similarity of the name and representation of Mithra as Persian in imagery and writing, is not clear.

The cult of Mitra appeared in Rome at the beginning of the second century DC and was popular among men of all social classes throughout the Roman Empire.

Mithraism was repressed together with the rest of pagan cults after Constantine’s conversion in the fourth century of our era and had practically disappeared in the 5th century.

The members of the cult gathered in caves or temples with a cave -shaped arranged as a formal dining room, with a miter image killing a bull arranged near the head of the table and astrological symbols everywhere.

Ceremonial activities seem to have included community meals The cult is based on an initiatory ritual and seven levels of initiation. We have limited knowledge of the cult due to its secret nature and the lack of written records.

Mithraism and Renaissance

It is believed that the idea of ​​the Renaissance was fundamental in mitraism. The ritual sacrifice of a bull – an animal that powerfully symbolized strength and fertility – was linked to the establishment of a new cosmic order.

In addition, the sacrifice was linked to the moon and its associations with fertility. Mithraism practitioners believed that from the death of the bull a new life would arise.

Seven degrees of initiation

There were strict rules that governed the organization of Mitrains parties, even around hygiene. The order had seven degrees of initiation: each grade had its own type of clothing. These degrees were Corax (Cuervo), Nymphus (boyfriend), Miles (soldier), Leo (León), Perses (Persa), Heliodromus (sun corridor) and Pater (father). In addition, each of these degrees was linked to one of the seven planets.

The different tasks in the banquets were made by those of a specific degree. For example, the «crows» wore food, while the «lions» offered sacrifices to the «parents.» The initiates also had to undergo value evidence, and the paintings of the Mitra Temple in Santa Maria Capua Vetere give us an idea of ​​the aspect they could have. It is believed that these «evidence» consisted of exposing themselves to the cold, in the heat or a threat of danger.

The admission in the mitraic community ended with a handshake with the «pater.» The initiates were called «Syndexioi», that is, the United for a handshake. This agrees with the fact that, in the old Iran, the traditional way of meaning a solemn agreement or concluding a treaty between two parts was that one person took the right hand of the other.

More information

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External links

Mitra mysteries in sacred texts