Christmas Forum: Mithras is very different from Christ - Read on

Posted by: Daniel (ddog800@ThisIsToPreventSpam-850-RemoveThis.hotmail.com) on 8 Jun 2003 at 1:43:55 PM
In-Reply-To: The Christmas Story and the Roman God Mithras posted by Kathleen Shipley on 8:51:14 PM 10 Aug 2002

The Roman army first encountered the cult of Mithras in Persia (modern Iran) during the reign of the emperor Nero although its origins in India have been traced back to 1400 BC. One of the many mystery cults that the Romans introduced from the east, Mithraism first appealed to slaves and freedmen but with Mithras's title Invictus, the cult's emphasis on truth, honour and courage, and its demand for discipline soon led to Mithras becoming a god of soldiers and traders.

Various stories survive to account for Mithras's birth. Often he is depicted springing from the living rock or from a tree; at Housesteads on Hadrian's Wall, however, there was a tradition that he was born from the Cosmic Egg. This sculpture shows Mithras bursting from the Egg whilst holding in his upraised hands the Sword of Truth and Torch of Light. Around him in an egg-shaped frame is the Cosmos containing the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac. This is an unique representation in Britain and is thought to be the earliest surviving representation of the Signs of the Zodiac in the north-west provinces of the Roman Empire.
(Acc.No. 1822.41)


Mithras's early life was one of hardship and painful triumph. Finally,he captured the primaeval bull and, after dragging it back to his cave, killed the animal in order to release its life force for the benefit of humanity: from the bull's body grew useful plants and herbs, from its blood came the vine, and from its semen all useful animals. This bull slaying scene - known as a tauroctony -was to be found in relief or as a wall painting in all Mithraea. The scene includes the Sun god and the Moon goddess as well as the Raven, the Sun god's messenger. Mithras is assisted by a dog, a snake and a scorpion, and is attended by the twin Torchbearers, Cautes and Cautopates.

As you can see, there is very little correlation between the stories of Christ and of Mithras.

Hope this helps!
Daniel

: There seems to be a lot of correlation between the story of the birth and life of the Roman god Mithras and that of Christ. I have read that Mithras was born of a virgin, in a cave, and that shepherds came to worship him; that the cross is the symbol of Mithras; that the Vatican was built on the site of a temple to Mithras; that Mithras was crucified, and was resurrected; that he had twelve disciples; that he gave them bread and wine the night before he died.
:
: I would like to know which parts of the two myths are the same, and if the Christians did indeed weave Mithras's stories into their own stories of Christ.
: Thanks.

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