The Secret Roman Mystery Religion: The Cult of the Mithras God in Roman Britain
Channel: Celtic History Decoded
Date: 2023-05-21

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Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:White_marble_relief_with_Mithras_bull-slaying_scene_(CIMRM_810-811),_from_Walbrook_Mithraeum_in_Londinium,,_AD_180-220,_Museum_of_London_(14007820699).jpg  Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en 

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The Cult of the Mithras God in Roman Britain: The Roman Mystery Religion

Chapters:
0:00 The Cult of the Mithras God 
4:22 Ancient Roman Mithras Temple London 

Mithraism, also known as the Mithraic mysteries or the Cult of Mithras, was a Roman mystery religion centered on the god Mithras. The mysteries were popular amongst the Imperial Roman army from the 1st to the 4th century AD, with Mithraism being a rival to Christianity in many respects.
 
Mithra, also known as Mehr, isn’t actually a Roman god as such, but he was originally an Iranian deity, that the Romans then adopted. Mithra was known as the god of covenant, light, oath, justice and the sun. There are many iconic scenes of Mithras, including being born from a rock, slaughtering a bull, and sharing a banquet with the god Sol (the Sun). The mythological scene of Mithras killing a bull within a cave, the ‘tauroctony’ is at the heart of the cult, and its full meaning is unknown.  

Some say it was believed that from the death of the bull - an animal often seen as a symbol of strength and fertility - sprung new life, with rebirth being an essential idea in the Mithraic Mysteries. The sacrifice of the bull established a new cosmic order and was also associated with the moon, which itself is linked to fertility.

Mithraism or the Cult of Mithra was popular in Rome itself and throughout the Roman Empire, including in Roman Britain, with Roman writers referring to it as the “Mithraic mysteries" or "mysteries of the Persians." There were definitely masonic vibes to Mithraism. They had a sophisticated system initiation, with seven grades or degrees of initiation. Initiates were known as syndexioi, meaning those "united by the handshake." 

The seven grades of initiation were: corax, Raven; nymphus, Bridegroom; miles, Soldier; leo, Lion; Perses, Persian; heliodromus, Courier of (and to) the Sun; pater, Father. The rising of the Mithraist in grade suggested the ascent of the soul after death. The series of the seven initiations seems to have been enacted by passing through seven gates and climbing a ladder of seven steps. Each grade was attributed to one of the seven planetary gods. The zealous Mithraist gradually passed the spheres of these minor deities and finally reached the region of the fixed stars. Frescoes in Italy show the initiates blindfolded, kneeling, and prostrated. A simulated death and resurrection was probably part of the ceremony.

It predominantly attracted merchants, soldiers and imperial administrators, and all initiates were males. Emperors also were initiates. The Roman emperors Commodus and Julian were initiates of Mithraism, and in 307 Diocletian consecrated a temple on the Danube River to Mithra, “Protector of the Empire.”

Sources:

London Mithraeum -  https://www.londonmithraeum.com/about/ 

London Mithraeum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Mithraeum 

Religion for Breakfast - Cult of Mithras God Explained https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlF0gVedODE  

Mithraism https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithraism 

Britannica, Mithraism - https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mithraism/Mythology-and-theology  

World History Encyclopedia, Mithraism https://www.worldhistory.org/Mithraic_Mysteries/ 

Celtic History Decoded, Did the Roman Occupation Make Celtic Britons Taller? 2,000 Years of Changing Heights in England https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yyNd1Iiy2Q 

Eyes Wide Shut (1999) Official Trailer - Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman Movie HD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgVo96JaqeM 

Celtic History Decoded - History - Documentary - Roman Britain - Cult of Mithras Britain

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