The ancient Persian god of light and truth; guardian against evil. Often
identified with the sun ("sun god").
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[Greek Mithrs, from Avestan Mithr, and Old Persian Mithra]
[syn: Mithras, Mithra]
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The Romans adapted the cult of Mithra
from Persia, renaming the god Mithras.
The Persians, in turn, imported the worship of
Mithra from the Indian cult of Mitra.
Mithras is said to have been born from a rock, destined
to secure the salvation of the world. To do this he was commanded by
the god Apollo to slay the Bull of the Moon (represents the fullness
of life). Mithras was reluctant to do this, but acquiesced in deference
to the divine will.
Therefore the the central aspect of Roman Mithraic iconography
is the image of Mithras killing the bull. Each mithraeum
(cave-like temple for the worship of Mithras) presents this icon is
a central location.
It is said that December 25th was a Mithraic holy-day
(with the obvious implications associated with that date).
Mitra
Mitra was a Vedic god who stood for the sun, and was,
with his brother Varuna, the guardian of the cosmic order. He was the
god of friendships and contracts, and watched over the daytime hours.
He was good-natured and on far better terms with humanity than was his
brother. He is seen as a mediator between the gods and man.
In pre-Vedic times Mitra may have been a major diety,
but the prominance of his cult faded with the coming of the Indo-Aryans
to India.
In the Rig Veda, Mitra is always presented with Varuna, who is
said to be his twin (both were of the Adityas).
This god fared far better in Persia under the name of Mithra:
Until the 6th cent. B.C., Mithra was apparently a minor
figure in the Zoroastrian system. Under the Achaemenids, Mithra became
increasingly important, until he appeared in the 5th cent. B.C. as the
(?) principal Persian deity, the god of light and wisdom, closely associated
with the sun.
