Mithras God

Mithras God of the Morning


© D G Williams 2004



Mithras, God of the Morning, our trumpets waken the Wall!

"Rome is above the Nations, but Thou art over all!"

Now as the names are answered, and the guards are marched away,

Mithras, also a soldier, give us strength for the day!

Mithras, God of the Noontide, the heather swims in the heat.

Our helmets scorch our foreheads, our sandals burn our feet.

Now in the ungirt hour-now when we blink and drowse,

Mithras, also a soldier, keep us true to our vows!

Mithras, God of the Sunset, low on the Western main-

Thou descending immortal, immortal to rise again!

Now when the watch is ended, now when the wine is drawn,

Mithras, also a soldier, keep us pure until dawn.

Mithras, God of the Midnight, here where the great Bull dies,

Look on Thy children in darkness. Oh, take our sacrifice!

Many roads Thou hast fashioned - all of them lead to the Light!

Mithras, also a soldier, teach us to die aright.

Rudyard Kipling



The worship of Mithras has lasted over 3,500 years and continues today. For over 500 years, His religion vied with Christianity for dominance in Rome and through the then known world, ranging from Hadrian's Wall in the North of England to Persia, India and the Russian Steppes. His name varied with locality, being variously called Mitra (India) Mithra (Iran) and Mithras. He was also recognised by the Zoroastrians, the Mitanni (Hittites) and the Manicheans.

Most of our (limited) knowledge of Mithraism has come from the Roman Empire. It is known that they constituted one of the Mystery Schools of Rome, becoming almost as prominent as that of Isis. For some time, it looked as if it would become the dominant force in Rome, until the new Mystery School of Christ gained ascendancy, mainly due to very underhand tactics on the part of His followers (Now there's a surprise!). One wonders what the Western World might have become with Mithraism firmly established as the official State Religion.

But who was He? where did He come from? and what is His message for us today?

Origins

There is a degree of scholarly argument as to whether the Roman Mithras was the same as Mitra or Mithra, or a different development. The first recorded historical mention of Mitra was in a peace treaty, and he later became a “bounteous immortal”, a server of Zarathustra.

The root of the word Mithras is Mihir, an Indo European word meaning “friend” and “contract or pact”.

It is important to realise that these words did not have the same meaning as they do today – rather they represented more of a feudal arrangement, which was a two way relationship between the God and the devotee with duties and obligations on both sides – hence the contract! Like a feudal chieftain, Mithra was also a warrior, but a warrior for the Light, not just an overblown war god who was simply concerned with conquest. In his mighty chariot, drawn by four horses and adorned with many fearsome weapons, he would set out to fight evil, holding truth and justice above purely national concerns. In this aspect, we may catch an echo of Krishna in the Bhagvad Gita, or of Michael, Captain of the Hosts of God. Of this aspect, more later.



The Transfer to Rome

Here we find a difference in the nature and quality of Mithraic worship. Rome was the home of a number of mystery religions, of which that of Isis was the best known. In this scene at least, Mithras makes the transition from an associate deity to Indra (Indian) or Ahura Mazda (Iranian) to a more personal deity, one who would reveal secrets and give wisdom to those who followed his Path with loyalty and devotion. Like many of the Mystery Religions (of which Christianity was originally one) followers would have to pass a series of initiations in order gain advancement.

The Cicilians were inhabitants of a small part of Asia Minor, concentrated in two major cities, Tarsus and Tyana, in what is now modern day Turkey. With an extensive fleet, they captured hundreds of cities in their war against the Romans, while their leader Mithridates (Gift of Mithra) fought them by land. One notable facet of their campaign was that they were joined by men of wealth, rank and ability, and that they were devoutly honest and of high character. They contributed to the fall of the Roman Republic and the rise of the Emperors.

Ultimately they were defeated by Pompey and settled in Greece where their religion began to attract the same adherents as before, men of culture and honour, wealth, and integrity. Eventually, they reached Rome, where they attracted many powerful converts. The followers of Mithras were expected to be brave, fearless, upright, scrupulously honest and truthful. Nor were they all soldiers, to be a Mithraic merchant was said to be a watchword for keeping ones word, and providing honest goods for the stated price. Imperial bureaucrats and Customs Officers, Senators and the Nobility, and even slaves also joined.



Mithraic Culture

Mithraic ceremonies were held wherever possible in small underground chambers known as “crypta” or “speleum” “specus” or “spelunca” all of which last three mean cave. Frequently the walls were decorated with pumice stone to make them resemble a cave, which in Mithraic terms represented the cosmos. Small holes would be bored in the ceiling (which could be covered with precious gems) which would allow the light of certain stars to enter the chamber at specific times of the year, although the ritual purpose of this is unknown.

Astrology was however a feature of Mithraism, and more senior members of the organisation were expected to be proficient in its practice, so perhaps these two features were related.

The orientation of the cave was East-West, with the focus in the East, where the depiction of the Tauroctony (Bull Slaying) was placed.

Small narrow benches were set out for members to recline on during the Sacred Repast (or Festive Board) and the structure itself was only intended to hold a small number of people. Food was brought in from nearby buildings (or local inns) and the whole complex was known as a Mithraeum.

In other places, where a purpose built building was not available, rooms in private houses were used, although these would have required a degree of removable furniture and wall hangings, statuary etc.

There are many examples of Mithraea along Hadrian's Wall, and the Museum of Antiquities at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne has reconstructed one from excavations at Carrawburgh. A Virtual Tour is available below:-

http://museums.ncl.ac.uk/archive/mithras/intro.htm

As can be seen, the actual size of the Temple was quite small, and all in all, the biggest that have been found would not have held more than 50. There are many theories about why this was, (such as the cost of membership, or the difficulty of recruiting suitable members from a small local population) but it is undoubtedly overlooked by the more conventional that esoteric rites derive power best from modest sized groups. It also allows every member a chance to participate and to know their parts off by heart. That is also important, as from the Egyptian point of view, "Speaking from the Heart" means speaking with truth and power.



Mithraic Initiations

As with all Mystery Societies, members would have to undergo formal initiation into the Society, and the Mithraic initiation rites were known to be fearsome. The way the initiations were conducted will undoubtedly have a familiar ring about them to some.

A prospective candidate would be invited to consider joining and his details would be brought to the attention of the senior officers at a full sacred meal.

If approved, he is taught the “open secrets” of the Order and questioned by the Pater (Master) of the Temple on them. He either passes or is turned away, never to be initiated.

Before his initiation, he has to undergo a period of fasting and reflection, as well as some more physical tests and ordeals (the latter more likely in a military scenario).

He is brought to the Temple, disrobed and blindfolded in an antechamber before being admitted into the Temple with his hands tied behind him with chicken intestines. After an oath to reveal nothing of what he might see inside the temple, he was given an initiation mark (usually by branding) as well as an ordeal by water. It is likely that attempts to disorientate and frighten the candidate would also be made.

He would be presented to the Pater, and threatened with a sword, before the Obligation was administered, and nabarze (magical power) passed to him from the Pater or other officer. This was done (according to one wall painting) by having the hands of the Pater over the head of the candidate, in a manner similar to the consecration of a priest in the church, which argues for a Mithraic version of apostolic succession.

Finally, the bonds are cut and the blindfold lifted and the new Frater can see the Tauroctony before him along with a loaf of bread and a cup of wine for Communion (the Sacred Repast followed after). The significance of the bread and wine and the Tauroctony scene would then be explained to him (as well as any Password, Grip or Token). The newly made Frater would undoubtedly then be allowed to retire “to restore himself to his native comforts”.

Once initiated there were seven further grades of Initiation to attain to, although it is likely that very few actually made it to the top. There was only one Pater per Mithraeum, and relatively few senior officers.



Grades of Initiation

Degree

Planet

Attributes

Corax (Raven) Mercury Raven, Caduceus, Cup
Nymphus( Bride) Venus Veil, Mirror, Lamp
Miles (Soldier) Mars Lance, Helmet Kitbag
Leo Jupiter Fire Shovel, Sistrum, Thunderbolt
Perses (Persian) Moon Crescent Moon and Star, Sickle,
Heliodromus (Messenger) Sun Torch, Whip, Nimbus
Pater (Father) Saturn Staff & Ring, Persian Cap, Sword.
Note the planetary sequence above, ascending the grades took you from Hod to Netzach, then Geburah and Chesed, before returning to the astral base of the Middle Pillar in Yesod, and ascending to Tiphereth and then to Binah. It might be wondered why the pathway did not go straight to Kether instead – of which more later.

Progress was by learning and achievement, not by rote. Most who wanted to could make the grade of Miles, and there were also plenty of Leo's about. Famously, the Miles initiation consisted in part of the candidate being offered a laurel crown on a sword, which he had to refuse, saying “Mithras is my crown”. Nor was this a symbolic refusal, all Miles had to refuse, with the same words, all offers of public recognition. It might be said that at this initiation, the Miles became a “Soldier for Mithras” with all that implied, placing the God in a central position in his life.

The Leo initiation is one of the few grade initiations where there is anything known about the actual ceremony. As is appropriate, for the first Adept Grade, it was marked by a symbolic transition from life to death.

The Miles would enter the Mithraeum to the sounds of mourning. He would be divested of all his robes and the tools of his grade before being symbolically killed and placed in an enclosed chamber the size of a bathtub. There he would be subjected to extremes of heat and cold while being read the Mithraic version of the end of the world.

He would then be raised from the tomb, given a red cloak and the significance of the “working tools” of the grade explained (and given) to him. He would then be cleansed with honey to purify him from sin, and would be exhorted to live the ideal Mithraic life of “good words, good thoughts, good deeds”. Transgression by a Leo was considered a most serious event.

Again, I am sure that many will see parallels with other organisations here.

This was most likely the point at which most Mithrasians stopped, as the two higher grades were mainly administrative, and there were only one or two positions per Mithraeum.



Internal organisation

The Degrees were split into three Orders as above with Leo marking the beginning of the Adept Grades, and the Pater being above the Adepts.

There was, in Rome, a central Council of ten Patrii which was run by the Pater Patrorum (Father of Fathers) who was chosen from among them. He was assisted by the Pater Sacrorum (Father of the Mysteries) who might have been a Director of Ceremonies, or a ritualist and teacher. The position of the Pater Patrorum has been likened to that of the Pope, although given the size of the Roman Empire, most Mithrea must have been autonomous, or nearly so. There is evidence of this in the different types of wall paintings found in Mithrea throughout the Roman Empire, the Germanic ones for example were fond of a scene called “The Great Hunt”, and certain regional officials were known to be semi autonomous, rather like Archbishops.

It is likely however, that the various rituals were the same, or similar.

A Pater was not usually elected from within the Mithraeum, but appointed, and once appointed was there for life, unless he behaved in a scandalous or inappropriate way. The only exception to this rule was in the military Mithrea where an individual could be posted away at regular intervals.

A Pater had to be learned in many things both ritual and esoteric as well as being an esoteric astrologer and administrator, and he was the initiator of all new candidates. There is a suggestion that this was more or less a full time post, and that the dues paid by the members of the Mithraeum paid for the upkeep not only of the Temple itself, but also for the maintenance of the Pater.

There are also tantalising hints of a hidden order called the Chryfii (or Hidden Ones) formed late on in the history of Mithraism. There are obvious elements here of the "Hidden Chiefs" of the Golden Dawn, but perhaps more prosaically, these were members who were being trained to take the order underground in the face of increasing hostility from the ascendant Christians.

The end for Mithraism (and other mystery religions too) came with the pronouncement of Christianity as the official state religion. With the power of the state behind them, they lost no time attacking and destroying anything that was not “theirs”. As Mithrasians were well respected in society, their loss must have been keenly felt:-

“Cry aloud; for the old world is broken:
Cry out; for the Phrygian is priest,
And rears not the bountiful token
And spreads not the fatherly feast.”

Dolores – Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows by Algernon Charles Swinburne.



Myths and Symbolism

Birth

Like most ancient Avatars, Mithras does not have a conventional birth. He was born on the Winter Solstice, a fitting symbol of the Returning Sun. His birth was attended by shepherds, and various animals, sheep and goats, but not cattle, indicating that His emergence was at a time when cattle had not been domesticated.

His birth is attended by divine messengers, usually Mercury or Saturn, less commonly by Oceanus or Cautes and Cautopates. These last two are two torch bearers associated with Mithraic images, who stand with legs crossed in a manner reminiscent of the Tarot Card “The Hanged Man” One holds the torch upwards, while the other holds the torch downward. They have been compared to the Dioscurii, but apart from that, their symbolism remains obscure.

Here however, the similarity ends. Mithras is born fully grown from a rock, and is usually depicted as in the process of emerging from the rock, which emits divine light and fire. He is naked, except for his Phrygian cap, and holds a dagger in one hand, and one of the following objects in his other hand, a Terrestrial Globe (showing his dominion over the world), a torch, a bow and arrow, or sheaves of wheat.

Who His parents were remain a mystery.

The shepherds, or the divine messenger(s) assist in pulling Him out of the rock, and are told by the divine messengers of the significance of the event, which is that by His sacrifice of the Cosmic Bull, mankind has now the chance of immortality.

The Miracle of the Rock

Mithras is also an archer God. In one version of the tale, he fires an arrow into a rock from which gushes forth a stream of pure water (This has obvious parallels with the myth of Moses). Some see this as a Creation myth, where the Arrow of Creation splits the rock and forms the Cave, which the Mithrasians saw as the created universe, so this becomes a Cosmic event. Later on the blood of the sacrificed bull would flow from the cave, forming the Milky Way.

It could also be seen as an example of leadership, as the ability to find water in a sometimes dry and arid land would be one of the attributes of a tribal or nomadic leader.

The Great Hunt

This scene is shown mainly in the more northern (Germanic) reaches of the Mithraic world, which shows that some aspects of Mithraism developed along different lines according to local racial characteristics. Why this should be so is unclear as hunting was an accepted royal accomplishment in the middle east as well.

In the scenes, Mithras is shown on horseback, wielding a bow and arrow in pursuit of a deer or stag, which often had unusual horns ending in crescent moons. He can be accompanied by his companion animals, the dog, lion and snake. The esoteric meaning of the scene is unclear, but has been taken to indicate a training for his great battle, the Slaying of the Bull.

The Slaying of the Bull