The Mysteries of Mithras: The Pagan Belief That Shaped the Christian WorldAn overview of Mithraism, the ancient Roman mystery religion popular in the Roman Legions • Provides a comprehensive history of Mithraism, including its influence on Christianity and Islam • Includes rituals, meditations, and teaching tales for readers who wish to follow the Mithraic path • Studies the evolution and divergence of the Eastern (Persian) and Western (Roman) forms of Mithraism The Mysteries of Mithras presents a revival of the magical practices and initiatory system of Mithraism, the ancient Roman mystery religion that was immensely popular in the Roman Legions from the late second century B.C. until A.D. 400 and was taken to every corner of the Roman Empire. As the last pagan state religion in Europe, it was the most important competitor to early Christianity and heavily influenced Christian doctrine and symbolism. The parallels between Christianity and ancient Mithraism are striking--for example, the god Mithra was born of a virgin in a cave on December 25. Payam Nabarz reveals the history, origins, and spiritual and philosophical tenets of Mithraism and its connections to Christianity, Islam, and Freemasonry. He also describes the modern neo-pagan practice of Mithraism in evidence today and for readers who wish to adopt the Mithraic path, he includes seven of its initiatory rituals and meditations, as well as orations and teaching tales, that open the door to the seven Mithraic grades of passage. |
Contents
THE SEVEN INITIATORY RITES OF MITHRAS | |
ECHOES OF MITHRAISM AROUND THE WORLD | |
THE MITHRAIC LITURGY | |
THE GODDESS ANAHITA | |
THE FOUR STATIONS OF MITHRA | |
EPILOGUE | |
Zoroastrian Hymn to Anahita Aban Yasht | |
MITHRAIC GROUPS AND INTERNET RESOURCES | |
SIMORGHA MITHRAIC FAIRY TALE | |
BIBLIOGRAPHY | |
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The Mysteries of Mithras: The Pagan Belief That Shaped the Christian World Payam Nabarz Limited preview - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
abodes Ahura Mazda Amesha Spentas Anahita granted Ardvi Sura Anahita Asha-owning creatures Asha-owning wind astral temple autumn equinox Avesta awake baresma beneficent Ardvi boon brightness and glory bull celebration chariot creatures of Spenta Daevas earth female festival fire giving gifts goddess gods golden grade hay-racks heaven heavenly space holy hundred male horses hymn initiate invoked Iran Karshvares Leontocephaline libations light lion lord of wide Lugh meditation Mehregan Mithraeum Mithraic Mithraic Liturgy Mithraic mysteries Mithraism moon Namaz-i chahar nemag night Nymphus offering up libations Pater Pause Persian Phrygian cap prayer Prince Khorshid Rashnu Raven recite the Namaz-i regulators of Asha rite ritual Roman sacrifice unto Mithra sacrifice worth self-disposing seven shalt shining Simorgh sleepless smite Spenta Mainyu spirit Spitama Zarathushtra stand stars without beginning Sufi Sufism symbols tauroctony temple thee thousand lambs thousand oxen Tishtrya torchbearers unto this spring wide pastures worship worth being heard Yasht Yazata Zoroastrian