Mithrism
Mithrism, or Mithraism, is a mystery religion centered on the worship of the god Mithras, believed to have originated in Persia (modern-day Iran) around the fourteenth century B.C.E. This ancient belief system spread throughout the Roman Empire, where Mithras was linked to themes of light, victory, and social contracts, resonating with Roman soldiers and society. The rituals and practices of Mithrism remain largely obscure due to its nature as a secretive cult, where initiates were sworn to secrecy, and much of what is known comes from reports by early Christians who were critical of it.
Mithras was often associated with the Sun and was viewed as a protector, with initiation ceremonies that may have included challenging rites, though details are scarce and sometimes unreliable. The cult was exclusively male, with members typically initiated in adolescence. Mithrism became a significant rival to early Christianity, attracting many followers until its decline, particularly following Constantine the Great's reign, when Christian authorities began to actively suppress Mithraic practices. While Mithrism showed resilience for a time, it ultimately faded into obscurity after the rise of Christianity, leaving little documentation of its worship and rituals.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Mithrism
Related civilizations: Persia, Greece, Imperial Rome.
Date: c. 2000 b.c.e.-c. 500 c.e.
Locale: Asia Minor, Persia, Europe
Mithrism
Mithrism, also known as Mithraism, a religion centered on worship of the god Mithras, seems to have originated in Persia (now Iran). The earliest documents relating to this belief system date from the fourteenth century b.c.e. in Iran and India and indicate that the god had already been worshiped for about two thousand years.
The early history and the rituals of Mithrism are largely unknown, mainly because it was a secret society, and initiates were forbidden to reveal details of its practice. In addition, most of the contemporary reports of Mithrism were composed by early Christians who were trying to abolish paganism and thus must be viewed with some suspicion. In ancient Persia, Mithras was often associated with Ahura Mazda, god of light, and with the Sun. In India, he was associated with Varuṇa, lord of heaven. As the cult spread, it became associated with Sun worship.
Mithrism apparently reached the Roman Empire by way of pirates from Asia Minor. By this time, Mithras was associated both with contractual agreements and social relationships and with victory for the righteous in battle. These associations were extremely appealing to the Romans, and Mithrism quickly spread through the Roman Legions. Nero (r. 54-68 c.e.) often had himself depicted as a Sun god and readily accepted Mithrism in conquered areas, associating himself with the god.
Mithrism was an exclusively male cult into which members were initiated at adolescence. Initiation ceremonies may have involved severe tests, including exposure to heat and cold, scourging, and long fasts, though as these reports were made by Christians, they must be treated with some circumspection. There are also reports of human sacrifice during the ceremonies, but no firm evidence supports these claims. Animal sacrifice was probably involved, especially of bulls, with which Mithras was associated from very early times.
Mithrism was Christianity’s main rival. When the Christians came to power, they persecuted adherents of Mithrism but also adopted some of their rituals in an attempt to make the opposing belief less appealing.
Constantine the Great (r. 306-337 c.e.), the first Roman emperor to adopt Christianity, waged a major campaign to wipe out Mithrism. Although the cult probably persisted to some extent for several centuries thereafter, Mithrism, already shrouded in secrecy, had become an enemy of the Roman Empire, and virtually no records exist of the worship of Mithras after Constantine’s campaign.
Bibliography
Ferguson, John. The Religions of the Roman Empire. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1970.
Turcan, Robert. The Cults of the Roman Empire. Translated by Antonia Nevill. Cambridge, Mass.: Blackwell, 1996.
Vermuseren, M. J. Mithras, the Secret God. New York: Barnes & Noble, 1963.