This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience.
Find out more on how we use cookies in our privacy policy.

 
 

Log in to access the full feed of our Acta Diurna.

 
Socius

Andreu Abuín

Nam cum coeperis deae servire, tunc magis senties fructum tuae libertatis.

andreu.abuin
Paris, France
Joined December 2020
 
 
May 2025
NewTextus

Adams on Mithras

Restoring the Mysteries: A Conversation with Peter Mark Adams on his new book ‘Ritual & Epiphany in the Mysteries of Mithras’.

 
Behzad Bolout
I love the idea of this book and I’m looking forward to to buy and read it. Only one thing looking at the text above there seems to be no mention of the origin of Mithraism, which is Iran and has nothing to do with Zoroastrianism, In fact, the prophet Zoraostara raised against it. And instead of looking for toots in europe it all goes to mystic Persia & Iran where it developed and during Parthian wars and trades took over Rome. The roman version has local signs and philosophy then after the birth of Mithras goes to its original Persian form. The Parthian belief and religion (Mithras) was wiped out after Sassanians took over. Thank god that their religion lived in in Roman empire (so we can discover its doctrine. Which later wiped out by christianity.
 
Sorry Behzad Bolour (correct spelling)
 
Dear Behzad, You are, of course quite right. That said, the earliest account of the tauroctony that exactly matches the more famous frescoes and sculptures of the Roman era is that described in the Epic of Gilgamesh circa 2,000 BCE - and even that is likely to be a relatively ’late’ account of an already ancient oral tradition). The gods Mitra, Varuna and Indra are all cited in the famous Hittite - Mitanni peace treaty circa 1,380 BCE. These people appear to have entered Anatolia circa 2,000 BCE, the Hittites by way of the Caucasus. The earliest image of what looks like the tauroctony appears on a ring of King Saussatar (Shaushtatar) of Mitanni from the fifteenth century BCE. Of course our understanding of the origins of the Hittite and Mitanni leaves something to be desired, but they appear to have entered the culturally Luwian zone of Anatolia sometime in the second millennium BCE. Certainly in the case of the Hittites they tended to assimilate themselves to the Luwian pantheon and language in their religious rites. All of this is, admittedly, somewhat foggy - the decipherment of Luwian hieroglyphics is still ongoing. For the Hellenistic Age it is clear that the syncretism arising from the Greek, native Anatolian and Persian influence gave rise to a rich cultural mix and that the Hellenistic Kingdoms (who claimed ancestry from Cyrus, Darius & Alexander) acknowledged Mithras as Apollo-Mithras-Helios-Hermes. The native Carian dynasty, the Hekatomnids, were appointed Persian satraps for south west Anatolia, adopted Persian monumental architecture (at Labraunda) where they also conducted sacred banquets in purpose built Andron (which are neither a Greek nor a Roman tradition) and whose layout is identical to the later mithraea of the Roman Empire. As far as the transmission of the cult to Rome goes I agree that this was entirely due to the Parthian king, Tiridates I, soujourn in Rome under Nero in 66 CE. I conjecture that the introduction of the cult to the Roman elite was part of the process of underwriting the political settlement between Rome and Parthia over Armenia - Mitra / Mithras was, after all, the god of treaties and agreements par excellence. That said we still have the early attestation concerning the Cilician pirates celebrating secret mystery rites of Mithras in the first century BCE. Beneath all of these ’royal’ goings on we know that trade routes connected vast swathes of the Near/Middle East with Europe and Asia and as far as Afghanistan - how early? Certainly by the Bronze Age; but if the evidence of the Amber, Lapis Lazuli and Obsidian trades are anything to go by long, long before. So yes, the Cult of Mithras was introduced to the Roman elite by the Parthian King of Armenia - but the roots and question of ultimate origins remain far from clear. I do hope that you enjoy the book - hopefully it will (fingers crossed) be emerging from the printers in the next week or so. Thank you for taking an interest in my work, I do hope that you find the book of interest. Very best, Peter Mark Adams Author
 
Jul 2024
Socius

Nam cum coeperis deae servire, tunc magis senties fructum tuae libertatis.

 
Feb 2024
NewVideo

Peter Mark Adams, Mithras and the Renaissance

For the launch of our YouTube channel, we chat with the author, poet, essayist and friend Peter Mark Adams about the Sola-Busca Tarot, a Renaissance masterpiece, uncovering ties to the Mithras cult.

 
Dec 2023
NewTextus

The MITHRA Project

Laurent Bricault has revolutionised Mithraic studies with the exhibition The Mystery of Mithras. Meet this professor in Toulouse for a fascinating look at the latest discoveries and what lies ahead.

 
Marcus
I am a devotee of Mithras Thank you for this interview. I think the author is right when he highlights that Roman Mithras is very different to Persian Mitra. Mithras is born mighty from birth and with a connection to His Father. The rock is a symbol of prowess and His Father is Sol. The main rite was centered on celebration of Mithras,’ victory over the bull, the bull which in Rome was similar to a dragon or an animal which normal people cant slay.
 
Dr. Vicky Jo
Having just visited Frankfurt, and feeling like I missed the exhibition "by this much," I was quite frustrated that I was unable to purchase an exhibition catalogue in English. Let me gently encourage you to make that available. My PhD is in Jungian Studies, and I think a few academic Jungian sorts would likewise be interested. PS: I worked with Thomas Gaehtgens in the Visiting Scholars program at the Getty Research Institute.
 
Mar 2023
NewTextus

Mithras in Hispania

On the occasion of the discovery of the mithraeum in Cabra, we talk to Jaime Alvar, a leading figure in the field of Mithraism. With him, we examine the testimonies known to date and the peculiarities of the cult of Mithras in Hispania.

 
The so-called Elephant Tomb was not a tomb. The data that support its character as a mithraeum derive from its formal characteristics: A room divided into three parts, presided by a chapel, subway, with a water fountain. These are characteristics that formally define a mithraeum. In addition, it has a window that directs the sun's rays into the center of the chamber at the equinoxes three hours after sunrise. In spring, at that time, Taurus would emerge over the horizon. This same configuration is observed in Hawarte whose window allowed the sun's rays to point to the altar during the winter solstice, two hours before sunset. At that time, Taurus emerged over the horizon. One cannot call a proposal extravagant just because one does not know the basic principles of archaeoastronomy or building archaeology.
 
A chara, Any chance of an English translation of El Culto de Mitra en Hispania? If all else fails I’ll work my way slowly through it with my diccionario. Meanwhile, I’m struck by some similarities between the Mithraic Mysteries and Irish Druidism, particularly the tairbhfeis roughly translated as the "bull feast" or "bull sleep". The slaughter of a bull was involved. Rites of kingship applied but also when in search of visions, the Druid/Druidess would wrap themselves in a bull hide and sleep within the dark caves of the ancient mounds (built pre Druidic religion). Many of the mounds were constructed to face the sun. The mound at Brugh na Boinne has a ’roof box’ over the entrance which allows for the sun’s rays of the winter solstice to strike the central chamber. O.R.
 
Feb 2023
NewComentum

Polelle offers a fast-paced, sometimes dizzying novel full of intrigue and action. A little too much, especially in the first half, where the number of characters and situations can leave more than one out of the game and make them give up before the end. However, it is worth carrying on.

There is no shortage of clichés about Rome, Italy, Fascism, Nazism, the Church, the Vatican, la mamma... The characters are a little flat, as Polelle puts all his heart into a plot that he twists to fit a classical structure that is at times too predictable.

Nevertheless, The Mithras Conspiracy is a good action book. Polelle's effort to do his homework and talk about Mithras properly is appreciated. The excesses of the genre can be forgiven, not least because Polelle is one of the few authors who have dared to tackle the subject with a good and sometimes remarkable result.

 
Jan 2023
 
NewScriptum

just got a copy of the Mithras conspirancy and can't stop reading!

 
Dec 2022
NewComentum

I recently had the opportunity to visit the remains of this mithraeum. It is located in Altafulla, in a pleasant seaside village on the Catalan coast. In situ, not much is preserved apart from the foundations, but it's worth a detour if you're passing through the area to visit the site and, if the weather is good, take a dip in the beach!

 
Nov 2021
NewLiber

Monegros

Ana, Jorge y Salva huyen de Barcelona. Pretenden atravesar la península y esconderse en un pueblo de Portugal. Sin embargo, llegados a Aragón, derrapan frente a una furgoneta y se despeñan por la ladera de la carretera. El coche queda destrozado, pero …

 
Sep 2021
NewTextus

Dancing out the Mysteries of Dionysos

Peter Mark Adams: ‘The initiation was a frightening experience that caused some people to panic as a flood of otherworldly entities swept through the ritual space.’

 
Feb 2005
NewTextus

Carabinieri recover a Mithras Tauroctony about to be sold on the black market

The Mithriac votive sculpture comes from a clandestine excavation in the Tarquinia area. The criminal chain is active in archaeological areas of Rome and southern Etruria.

 
I'd have liked to see the face of the carabinieri when they discovered the sculpture.
 
Love the picture of both guys besides the statue. Aren't they called Cautes and Cautopates by a chance?
 
    Back to Top