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. |
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Contents
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE MITHRAIC MYSTERIES | 1 |
THE ROMAN MITHRAS | 7 |
THE REVIVAL OF MITHRAS IN THE TWENTIETH AND TWENTYFIRST CENTURIES | 13 |
MITHRAIC ICONOGRAPHY | 18 |
MITHRAS THE HUNTER | 19 |
THE TAUROCTONY | 20 |
SOL AND SOL INVICTUS | 25 |
THE MIRACLE OF THE ROCK | 26 |
MEDITATIONS AND INITIATIONS | 105 |
I CORAX MEDITATION AND INITIATION | 107 |
II NYMPHUS MEDITATION AND INITIATION | 114 |
III MILES MEDITATION AND INITIATION | 117 |
IV LEO MEDITATION AND INITIATION | 120 |
V PERSES MEDITATION AND INITIATION | 125 |
VI HELIODROMUS MEDITATION AND INITIATION | 131 |
VII PATER MEDITATION AND INITIATION | 136 |
THE ASCENSION | 27 |
THE SEVEN INITIATORY RITES OF MITHRAS | 30 |
SUFI INTERPRETATION OF THE SEVEN RITES | 38 |
THE WOMENS GRADE | 43 |
ECHOES OF MITHRAISM AROUND THE WORLD | 46 |
MITHRAS AS LIBERATOR | 53 |
ECHOS OF MITHRAISM IN THE YEZIDIS AND THE PEACOCK ANGEL | 56 |
MITHRAS IN BRITAIN | 60 |
SIMORGH A MITHRAIC FAIRY TALE | 71 |
SIMORGH AN OLD PERSIAN FAIRYTALE | 72 |
SYMBOLISM OF THE SIMORGH TALE | 77 |
THE MITHRAIC LITURGY | 86 |
PREPARATION FOR PERFORMING THE MITHRAIC LITURGY | 87 |
THE RITUAL | 90 |
THE GODDESS ANAHITA | 97 |
THE FOUR STATIONS OF MITHRA | 145 |
YULEBIRTH OF THE SUN | 146 |
SPRING EQUINOX NOU ROZ | 149 |
SUMMER SOLSTICE TIR | 153 |
AUTUMN EQUINOX FESTIVAL OF MITHRA | 158 |
EPILOGUE | 163 |
ZOROASTRIAN HYMN TO MITHRA MEHR YASHT 10 | 165 |
ZOROASTRIAN HYMN TO ANAHITA ABAN YASHT 5 | 193 |
NOTES | 213 |
219 | |
FURTHER READING | 221 |
MITHRAIC GROUPS AND INTERNET RESOURCES | 223 |
226 | |
Other editions - View all
The Mysteries of Mithras: The Pagan Belief That Shaped the Christian World Payam Nabarz Limited preview - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
Ahura Mazda Amesha Spentas Anahita granted ancient Angra Mainyu Ardvi Sura Anahita Asha-owning creatures autumn equinox Avesta awake baresma boon brightness and glory bull cave cent Ardvi chariot Christianity cult of Mithras Daevas earth Father female festival fire Franz Cumont giving gifts goddess gods golden grade heaven heavenly space holy Homa horses hymn incense invoked Iran Iranian Karshvares king Leontocephaline libations light lion lord of wide Lugh magical male MEDITATION AND INITIATION Mithraeum Mithraic Mithraic Liturgy Mithraic mysteries Mithraism moon Mysteries of Mithra Namaz-i chahar nemag Nymphus offer Ogham pagan Pater Pause Payam Nabarz Perses Persian Phrygian cap prayer Prince Khorshid Raven religion rite ritual sacred sacrifice unto Mithra sacrifice worth seven shining Simorgh sleepless Spenta Mainyu spirit Spitama Zarathushtra Sufi Sufism sword symbols tauroctony temple thee thou torchbearers unto this spring wide pastures worship worth being heard Yasht Yazata Yezidis Zarathushtra Zoroastrian
References to this book
Pagan Every Day: Finding the Extraordinary in Our Ordinary Lives Barbara Ardinger Limited preview - 2006 |