Video
The Mystery Cult of Mithras by Peter Mark Adams & Andreu Abuín
Acclaimed esoteric scholar Peter Mark Adams talks about his latest book, ‘Ritual and Epiphany in the Mysteries of Mithras’, interviewed by professor, writer and host of The New Mithraeum podcast Andreu Abuín.
— Watkins Books
18 Dec 2025
His Ritual & Epiphany in the Mysteries of Mithras combines cutting-edge scholarship with first-hand accounts of initiation and contemporary ethnographies of ritual performance, providing an unparalleled glimpse into Mithraism that redefines our understanding of Western Europe’s most enigmatic mystery cult.
Approaching the material from an emic (insider’s) perspective, the author examines the cult’s hierarchical grade structure, ceremonial roles, and ritual mechanics—revealing how initiates invoked the serpent power and encountered the awe-inspiring epiphany of Saturn-Kronos, the sovereign time-deity.
Through a richly interdisciplinary lens, drawing on Orphic metaphysics, Greco-Roman ritual theory, art history, and comparative ethnographies of initiation, Adams vividly animates Mithraic iconography, frescoes, and reliefs as ritual grammar encoding the lived phenomenology of participation.
Richly illustrated and deeply insightful, this volume revives the Cult of Mithras as Western Europe’s preeminent mystery tradition, offering readers both scholarly rigour and spiritual resonance.
Peter Mark Adams is an author, poet and essayist specialising in the ethnography and visuality of ritual, sacred landscape, esotericism, consciousness and healing. He has over twenty years experience with energy based healing modalities including rebirthing breathwork, meridian therapies and Reiki. As a professional author, Peter’s non-fiction is published by Scarlet Imprint and Inner Traditions; literary prose and poetry largely in Corbel Stone Press’ literary journal ‘Reliquiae: Journal of Nature, Landscape & Mythology’ and a range of essays examining other than human encounters in the peer reviewed journals ‘Paranthropology: Journal of Anthropological Approaches to the Paranormal’ and ‘The Journal of Exceptional Experiences and Psychology’.
With a background in Philosophy from the University of Liverpool; Peter pursues advanced studies with the Warburg Institute’s School of Advanced Studies in London covering iconology and iconographic theory; Renaissance art and material culture.
Andreu Abuín was born in Barcelona in 1975. He holds a degree in Audiovisual Communication and a master’s degree in Political and Institutional Communication from Pompeu Fabra University. He has worked in several countries in Europe, America and Africa as an editor and communicator. He writes articles and reports for international organisations, including the United Nations, UNICEF and the European Forest Institute. Monegros is his first novel.
Comments
I hope whatever surfaces in the digital age of information Is abel to mantane some level of mystery. If too much is reveald to easily in plain language what may come of it. Leaving just enough for thoes lovers of wisdom who yurn and seek to know seems to be the tradition. . This interview had just the right balance. Of course there is more we would all like to know. We probably just don’t want any Leyman to gain acses to easily.
The ancients may have been smarter than we give them credit for. In the future researchers and authers may be faced with a serious delema, I pray they proceed with thoughtfullness the mystery cults deserve.