Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Clivedurdle · 06-14-2010, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Did a Mithraist say "You saved us by shedding the eternal blood" ?

Yes

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore...f_mithras.aspx

Quote:

Roman, 2nd century AD
From Rome, Italy

The cult of Mithras originated in Persia, but he was one of a number of eastern deities, including Cybele and Isis, whose worship spread throughout the Roman Empire during the first three centuries AD. He is shown here in eastern costume, including trousers and a Phrygian cap.

He is killing a bull, the spilling of whose blood was believed to bring about the rebirth of light and life. The dog and the snake which try to lick the blood both feature prominently in Persian religious imagery, as does the scorpion which attacks the bull's genitals.

After a secret initiation, the devotees of the cult of Mithras rose through ranks such as 'soldier', 'raven' and, ultimately, 'father'. They consumed bread and water (as the 'meat' and 'blood' of the bull) at communal meals. This, combined with the cult's emphasis on regeneration, earned them the particular enmity of the Christians.

Mithraism's popularity lay partly in its appeal to the army, but like all mystery religions (including Christianity) it benefited from ideological and philosophical changes in the Late Empire; these tended towards monotheism - the worship of a single god.

P.C. Roberts, Romans, a pocket treasury (London, The British Museum Press, 1996)

A.H Smith, A catalogue of sculpture in -2, vol. 3 (London, British Museum, 1904)

Roger Pearse · 06-14-2010, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clivedurdle

Quote:

Did a Mithraist say "You saved us by shedding the eternal blood" ?

Yes

Your ancient evidence for this?

Quote:

http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore...f_mithras.aspx

Quote:

Roman, 2nd century AD
From Rome, Italy

The cult of Mithras originated in Persia, but he was one of a number of eastern deities, including Cybele and Isis, whose worship spread throughout the Roman Empire during the first three centuries AD. He is shown here in eastern costume, including trousers and a Phrygian cap.

He is killing a bull, the spilling of whose blood was believed to bring about the rebirth of light and life. The dog and the snake which try to lick the blood both feature prominently in Persian religious imagery, as does the scorpion which attacks the bull's genitals.

After a secret initiation, the devotees of the cult of Mithras rose through ranks such as 'soldier', 'raven' and, ultimately, 'father'. They consumed bread and water (as the 'meat' and 'blood' of the bull) at communal meals. This, combined with the cult's emphasis on regeneration, earned them the particular enmity of the Christians.

Mithraism's popularity lay partly in its appeal to the army, but like all mystery religions (including Christianity) it benefited from ideological and philosophical changes in the Late Empire; these tended towards monotheism - the worship of a single god.

P.C. Roberts, Romans, a pocket treasury (London, The British Museum Press, 1996)

A.H Smith, A catalogue of sculpture in -2, vol. 3 (London, British Museum, 1904)

Best to verify what, if anything, of this exists in the ancient sources. There is so much hearsay around.

I don't find "regeneration" or "rebirth" in any of the materials offhand.

All the best,

Roger Pearse

Clivedurdle · 06-14-2010, 11:43 AM

Roger, you have now queried both the British Museum and Britannica.

Are you saying Mithraism did not have sacrifices? Did you look at the British Museum site with the statue Roman 2nd Century of Mithras killing a bull?

Are you querying that rituals might not have had some belief in eternal effects?

What precisely are you looking for?

Yellum Notnef · 06-14-2010, 04:57 PM

Roger hates Mithra just as much as he thinks we hate Jesus. Simple as that.

mountainman · 06-14-2010, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenton Mulley

Roger hates Mithra just as much as he thinks we hate Jesus. Simple as that.

Fenton its not about hate as much as it's about malice. It appears obvious that the people in the British Museum have a proclivity for malicious statements such as ---

Quote:

[Mithra] is killing a bull, the spilling of whose blood was believed to bring about the rebirth of light and life.

Quote:

I don't find "regeneration" or "rebirth" in any of the materials offhand.

People who write this sort of stuff about Mithra (ie: those who have been published by the British Museum re Mithra) obviously operate out of a professional malice against Jesus, to whom exclusively the concepts of birth of light and life must be associated. It's all very plain and simple.

avi · 06-16-2010, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto, post 28

Mod note: this thread is not a general discussion of Mithraism and blood. It is about the translation / interpretation of a specific inscription.

Thanks, Toto, for clarifying the OP:

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewcriddle

Did a Mithraist say "You saved us by shedding the eternal blood"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger Pearse

Rome must be stiff with people who could do this. Anyone any ideas?

Quote:

Originally Posted by show_no_mercy, post 30

Well... I'm going to be going to Rome with my Italian gf in about a month...

avi

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

06-14-2010, 11:43 AM	#13
Clivedurdle Contributor Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: London UK Posts: 16,024	Roger, you have now queried both the British Museum and Britannica. Are you saying Mithraism did not have sacrifices? Did you look at the British Museum site with the statue Roman 2nd Century of Mithras killing a bull? Are you querying that rituals might not have had some belief in eternal effects? What precisely are you looking for?

06-14-2010, 04:57 PM	#14
Yellum Notnef Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Gone Posts: 4,676	Roger hates Mithra just as much as he thinks we hate Jesus. Simple as that.

Freethought & Rationalism Archive

The archives are read only.