The Roman Cult of Mithras: The God and His MysteriesFirst published in 2001. The Mithras cult first became evident in Rome towards the end of the first century AD. During the next two centuries, it spread to the frontiers of the Western empire. Energetically suppressed by the early Christians, who frequently constructed their churches over the caves in which Mithraic rituals took place, the cult was extinct by the end of the fourth century. Since its publication in Germany, Manfred Clauss's introduction to the Roman Mithras cult has become widely accepted as the most reliable and readable account of this fascinating subject. For the English edition, Clauss has updated the book to reflect recent research and new archaeological discoveries. |
Contents
Religious perspectives in the Roman empire | 9 |
The nature of the evidence | 16 |
Recruitment | 33 |
The mithraeum | 42 |
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Common terms and phrases
bull-slaying bull's Carnuntum Cautes Cautopates cave Christian Commagene complex relief cult of Mithras cult-images cult-relief Cumont D(eo Dacia Dalmatia Danubian decorated deities depicted Dieburg divine Dura-Europos E.J. Brill emperor EPRO evidence example Father figure fourth century Germania Superior god's gods grade Greek hand Huld-Zetsche I(nvicto images initiand initiates inscriptions invincible Italy Jupiter killing the bull kosmos krater Lions Luna Marble relief Merkelbach mithraea mithraeum Mithraeum of Felicissimus Mithraic Mithraic congregations Mithraists Mithras and Sol Moesia Inferior monuments Museum mysteries of Mithras mystery cults Nemrud Dagh Nida Noricum Osterburken Ostia pagan panel Pannonia Superior pater Persian phrygian cap planets plaque Poetovio priests Prisca provinces Ptuj radiate crown raven religion religious representations represented ritual meal rock rock-birth rôle Romania Rome Sandstone Sarmizegetusa scene scorpion sculptor serpent slaves Sol Invictus Sol's soldiers statue sun-god symbolised symbols temple torch torch-bearers Vermaseren Virunum votive water-miracle zodiac