Went to see the star show at the Rosicrucian planetareum. It was a bit on the facile side and was entirely and uncritically about the Ulansey astronomical interpretation of Mithraism. I for one had a few issues, like the statement that the religion just magically appeared in Asia Minor in 168 BC, when in fact written documents over a thousand years old make reference to Mithra.
Discuss...
Discuss...
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Re: Hey how about that Rosicrucian star show?
Tue, July 27, 2004 - 11:31 AMWhat's the earliest recorded Mithraist artifact or written record of 'em?
I've never heard anything that I take to be really authoritiative on the origins of Mithraism. Joseph Campbells' overviews of it are too glib to be terribly useful (Actually a complaint I have w/ a lot of Campbell, really) and from pouring through Zoroastrian sources, I've never really been able to decide if Mithra was an offshot of Z-ism, or simply a pre-Z-ian pagan god that got somewhat absorbed into the Z-ian system. -
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Re: yr earlier Qs about Mithraism...
Mon, September 20, 2004 - 9:45 PMHey, sorry to take so long in getting back. Guess I am a lame Tribester. Anyhow, the oldest recorded mention of Mithra is a treaty between the Hittites and an Indo-european tribe called the Mittani. This dates to about 1100 BC, whereas Z-ism (thanks for the useful abbreviation!) goes back to 6th cet. BC. The theory is that Zoroaster sidelined an old favorite mediator type god or subordinated him to Ormazd (Ahura-Madza). ButZoroaster also preached vehemently against sacrifice cows and oxen, and what is the icon of Mithras doing?
Anyhow, I think there was a lot of change and adaptation from 1100bc to 381AD when the Roman emperor Theosdosius put an end to paganism. There is no real way of proving that Mithras was worshipped exactly as Mithra or Mitra.
A foundation text on the study of Mithra would be The Mysteries of Mithra by Franz Cumont, written in 1890 but pretty accessible. A more up to date book would be Manfred Clauss' Roman Cult of Mithras. FOr a great intro, including the difference between Mithra and Mithras (if there is one) pls check out: www.mithreaum.org -
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Re: yr earlier Qs about Mithraism...
Wed, September 22, 2004 - 10:38 AMSnazzy! I'll check 'em both out!
Any books about the Roman equivalent of Mithra, "Sol Invictus?" I find it interesting that an emphatic Invictine priest - Constantine the Great - was the force behind Nicea. I've oftened wondered how much of Mithraism became subsumed into Xianity as a result of that.
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