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Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Secret Rites of Mithras

Double-faced Mithraic relief. Rome, 2nd-3rd ce...Image via WikipediaI'm up to my ears researching Cilician Pirates and any possible ways I can connect them to the Cilician djinn in my story. Last week, a footnote about Mithraism tickled my synapses and sent me off looking for info on that and... Violá! I was at a book swap, when out of only a handful of books what should appear? A hardbound copy of "A History of Pagan Europe" with a blurb on the back about Constantine. Thinking I might find some interesting tidbit about Vanadis or Byzantium, I tucked it under my arm and went on my merry way.

At home later, I randomly opened the book to an underlined passage on Mithraism! Uh...something is pointing me in that general direction.

So today we have: The Secret Rites of Mithras! Or what I can make sense of it. Remember when I connected the djinn to Zoroastrianism? Well, Mithraism is somehow connected to Zoroaster, and guess what - to the Cilician pirates too!

Here's where I started to make two columns -
What I Know and What I Need to Find Out (and a WTF column too, but nevermind that one.)

What I Know:
  • Mithra was one of the deities of the syncretic Graeco-Iranian royal cult founded by Antiochus I, king of the small, but prosperous "buffer" state of Commagene, in the mid 1st century BC (wikipedia)
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    wikipedia
    
  • The first Cilician pirate was supposedly Seleucid, which is right next door to Commagene.
  • Indo-Persian Mithras was born from a rock. He struck water from stone with an arrow. He killed a sacred bull. His pal was the god Sol. He and Sol feasted on the bull. Then Mithras ascended to heaven in a chariot.
  • Mithras was portayed as a young hero with a dagger and he wore a Phyrigian hat (something to do with liberty which I don't fully understand yet.)
  • In the depiction of the feast, a follower points the caduceus (decidedly Platonic and yet related to Kundalini) at a flame near the base of the altar. (The flame is very significant to a djinn - so is Kundalini.)
  • Mithraists worshipped in underground caves or rooms, usually near a spring or water source. There was usually a basin in the temple. Evidence points to a constellation mural on the ceiling.
  • This guy on the right (a leontocephaline) had something to do with them and only them. (separate post next week - I hope!)
  • There are lots of caves in the rock faces of Cilicia Trachea.
What I Don't Know:


  • Was Mithraism founded by Zoroaster? Lots of clues point to him, but there isn't a smoking gun.
  • Was there something to do with equinox and a shift in the way people perceived astronomy? Did someone create a new religion? OK...but why use an avestan (persian, for lack of a better explanation) name?
  • Is Mithras another name for Perseus? Perseus is above Taurus in the stars and the stories share ideas.
  • What does Mithraism have in common with summer solstice? Records indicate a celebration then, which would make sense if Sol was important. Aside - December 25th is an important day for Mithras - his birthday. World religion and spirituality is so intertwined it's hard to find the thread I need.
  • How can I tie in to the djinn world better? Notice there are lots of links to past posts today, so it shouldn't be that difficult, and yet...there's sooo much info I'm in a quagmire. Which is how I felt with Sybil last time I was plotting, so it can only be a good thing...right?
And lastly...Why do I always find the MOST obscure things to research?? I used to think this stuff was so awesome when I was in college....Sigh.

Rudyard Kipling:

MITHRAS, God of the Morning, our trumpets waken the Wall!
' Rome is above the Nations, but Thou art over all!'
Now as the names are answered, and the guards are marched away,
Mithras, also a soldier, give us strength for the day!

Mithras, God of the Noontide, the heather swims in the heat,
Our helmets scorch our foreheads ; our sandals burn our feet.
Now in the ungirt hour; now ere we blink and drowse,
Mithras, also a soldier, keep us true to our vows !

Mithras, God of the Sunset, low on the Western main,
Thou descending immortal, immortal to rise again !
Now when the watch is ended, now when the wine is drawn,
Mithras, also a soldier, keep us pure till the dawn!

Mithras, God of the Midnight, here where the great bull dies,
Look on Thy children in darkness. Oh take our sacrifice !
Many roads Thou hast fashioned: all of them lead to the Light,
Mithras, also a soldier, teach us to die aright!


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11 comments:

  1. This is so fascinating--thanks for letting us see your research process. I think your story is going to be riveting! I want to read it!

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  2. Love this sort of obscure research! Writing is the next best thing to university for leading one down strange paths of reading and discovery [g]

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  3. My god this is cool. You are always researching the most fascinating things!

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  4. I heard in a long ago half remembered World Religions lecture that at one point Mithraism was the leading competitor against Christianity among the Romans. It was a man's man type of religion from what I remember (Did they bathe in bull's blood? I seem to remember that, too).

    Thanks for sharing your research!

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  5. I thought what I researched was complicated. I'm having trouble figuring out all the names. All I know is this, your story will be amazing and so realistic because of all the hard work now.

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  6. WOW!!!!! What research of such AWESOMENESS!!! I only know of Zoroastrianism as ye most ancient of religions still hanging around in this day and age (and long may they continue!) but I do like the links here with Mithras!!!

    That Mithras fella is one shifty warrior god!!!! TOTALLY AWESOME!! Take care
    x

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  7. Yay for serendipity! Love that you found the book, just when you were pondering the matter. (and I love the WTF column, even if you didn't share it)

    Mithras was the dude with the December 25 birthday that the Christians coopted, wasn't he? I didn't remember that until you said he sprung from under a rock.

    Good stuff!

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  8. That actually sounds like great research! And so great that you are doing the work to find out! (I need to do more of that. Eck.)

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  9. That is so cool. Research is so fascinating. Then it’s fun to figure out what and how much to include in your story.

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  10. I love that you're so into/good at research. I wish I was more committed to that because I find the results fascinating. Until then I have your blog.

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