Cult of Mithras Explained | Religion For Breakfast

The Cult of Mithras was a thriving religion in the Roman Empire. But by the 5th century....it was gone. What do we know about the Cult of Mithras? And what was its relationship with Christianity?

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Bibliography:

Clauss, Manfred. The Roman Cult of Mithras.

Beck, Roger. The Religion of the Mithras Cult in the Roman Empire.

Sources debunking the "Christ/Mithras" myth can be found at The Tertullian Project: Tertullian Project: http://www.tertullian.org/rpearse/mithras/display.php?page=Mithras_and_Jesus#note12

Incredible resource of every citation about Mithras in Greco-Roman literature: http://www.tertullian.org/rpearse/mithras/literary_sources.htm

Photo attributions:
San Clemete Mithraeum: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/Mithraeum_San_Clemente_Rom.JPG

Ostia Mithraeum: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mitreo_dei_Serpenti_(Ostia_Antica)#/media/File:Ostia_Antica_-_mitreo_dei_Serpenti_1050449.JPG

Mithraeum of Seven Spheres:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/archer10/5150996098

Baths of Caracalla: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baths_of_Caracalla#/media/File:Baths_of_Caracalla,_facing_Caldarium.jpg

Rock Born Mithras: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MitraRisingfromtherockMNIR.JPG
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/MC_-_Mithras_im_Fels.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Mithra_as_a_child_-_3rd-4th_century_AD_-_Museo_Archeologico_-_Milan_2014.jpg

Mithras Fresco: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Tauroctony_-_Frescos#/media/File:Mitreo_Barberini.JPG

7th Ostia Felicissimus Panel: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Ostia_Antica_(archaeological_site)#/media/File:7th_panel_Mitreo_di_Felicissimus_Ostia_Antica_2006-09-08.jpg

Sol and Mithras: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithraism#/media/File:Mithras_banquet_Louvre_Ma3441.jpg

Ritual Meal: http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/a-feast-for-the-senses-and-the-soul/

Hawarte Picture: http://palmyra2010.blox.pl/html/1310721,262146,21.html?801805

Aurelian Coin: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Radiate_of_Aurelian_(YORYM_2001_9658)_obverse.jpg

Saarbrücken: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mithrasgrotte_(Saarbr%C3%BCcken)#/media/File:Mithrasgrotte_Halberg_Saarbruecken.jpg

Santa Prisca: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Santa_Prisca_Mithraeum.jpg

Capua Mithraeum: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mithraeum_(mitreo),_Ancient_Capua_(14416247560).jpg

Capua Fresco: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tauroctony_fresco_in_the_mithraeum_of_Capua,_2nd_century_(CIMRM_181),_Mithraeum_(mitreo),_Ancient_Capua_(14595393221).jpg

Dura-Europos House Church: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dura-Europos_church#/media/File:DuraEuropos-Church.jpg

Constantine the Great bust: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_the_Great#/media/File:0_Gaius_Flavius_Valerius_Constantinus_-_Palatino.JPG