Mithras
The cult of Mithras was a men-only cult based on Iranian deities that spread across the Roman Empire and was especially popular with the army. Many forts in Britain had altars to Mithras, the most northerly being Musselburgh/Inveresk fort, as well as Mithraeums in London and St Albans.
Ceremonies were held in caves and other simple places. Benches up each side led to an altar and a representation of Mithras with his attendants. Lighting, sound and smells would enhance the whole experience.
At the top of the Mithraeum, there would be a relief of Mithras. The sun god Sol, the moon god Luna and two attendants, Cautes and Cautopates, with torches – one held aloft and one to the ground. A dog, a snake and a scorpion attack the bull from below.
This video gives a really good overview. It is from Gresham College, which was founded in 1597 and has been providing free lectures in the City of London for over 400 years.
Map of Mithras sites in Europe
The map above was made by the people at https://www.mithraeum.eu/
Some useful links for further reading
- Mithraism (Wikipedia)
- The Mystery of Mithras ( a pan-European museum project)
- The New Mithraeum Database ( an online database of all Mithras images, documents, books etc)
- The Roman Cult of Mithras (enthusiast’s site)
