During the time of the Roman Empire

What is a “Mystery Cult”? The name says it all – it’s a mystery!

We don’t know much about it! Actually, it’s from the Greek word

, which means “mystery, secret rite”, because the only people who could know the secrets of the religion where those who had been initiated into it

The worship of Isis was a mystery cult as well

What’s the difference between a Mystery

Religion and Others?

In the Roman Empire, there were a number of religions or gods that people could worship. There was still worship of the various “Olympic” gods, such as Jupiter and Juno, as well as to deified Emperors, such as Augustus, Vespasian, and Titus.

However, there were also these other cults to specific gods that were springing up around the empire.

The worship of Mithras, Isis, and even Christianity was spreading from places other than Rome. Isis came from Egypt, Christianity from Judea, and Mithras (it is presumed) from Persia.

These were very often spread by sailors who docked in ports around the Mediterranean, or slaves who were sold, but still maintained their own religious beliefs, or soldiers stationed around the Empire.

Worshipping Mithras did not preclude someone from worshipping other gods – it wasn’t monotheism.

So followers of Mithraism had no problem making sacrifices to deified emperors, or Jupiter if they had to.

Which means authorities didn’t have a problem with this religion, the way they did with Christianity (who couldn’t worship anyone or anything else).

History of the Cult of Mithras Possibly originally the Indian god Veda Possibly originally the Persian god Mitra

Both of these gods were identified with the sun

In some places, he was referred to as Mithras Invictus or Sol Invictus Mithras

Most of the Mithraeums (temples to Mithras) seem to have been constructed between the second to the fourth centuries AD

Mithraism was popular in Ostia and Rome

Also popular along the borders, where soldiers were stationed

Map of Mithraea – Mithraeum. Our Common Sun.

Membership

No women! Ex-slaves Soldiers Each Mithraeum seems to have only

held about 20-40 or so people Even a couple of emperors, including

Commodus, Septimius Severus, Caracalla, and Geta are believed to have been worshippers of Mithras

Mithraeum

Small rooms made to resemble caves

Had an altar or a fresco with an image of Mithras killing a bull

They were usually lined with dining couches, so it is assumed that there were often communal meals

The Mithraeum found under St. Clement’s

Birth of Mithras

reclining couchesAltar of Mithras

looks like a cave

Mithras killing a bull

a typical Mithraic altarMithras sacrificing the bull

a snake and a dog drinking the bull’s blood

a scorpion biting the bull’s privates

Sol

Luna

wheat sprouting out of the bull’s tail

Cautes

Cautopates

raven

Phrygian cap

a Mithraic altar located in the Vatican

a Mithraic altar located in Vulci (north of Rome)

notice the altar under St. Clements is a little different than the others – Cautes and Cautopates seem to be on the sides

In addition, there seems to be a representation of his birth on a small shelf in the back of the Mithraeum

Mithraic Hierarchy

1. Corax 2. Nymphus 3. Miles 4. Leo 5. Perses 6. Heliodromus 7. Pater

Best evidence we have for these levels ?

Regio V - Insula IX - Mitreo di Felicissimus (V,IX,1)

The Mithraeum of Felicissimus at Ostia Antica