Mithras explores the history and practices of the ancient mystery religion Mithraism, looking at both literary and material evidence for the god Mithras and the reception and allure of his mysteries in the present.
Our modern understanding of Mithraism, though, depends largely on a few short (and very problematic) literary mentions, mostly written by the cult’s Christian rivals.
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.
Between the 1st and 4th centuries, Mithraism developed throughout the Roman world. Much material exists, but textual evidence is scarce. The only ancient work that fills this gap is Porphyry’s intense and complex essay.