Mithras Sol Invictus

Mithras (Sol Invictus)

Mithras, also known as Mithra or Mitra, is the God of Sun, Justice, Contract, Treaties, Oaths, Truth, War, and Loyalty to the ruler and the realm. Whenever men observe justice and contract, they venerate Mithras. He is also called Sol Invictus (The unconquered sun) although in the Creation myths he is also described as seperate from the Sun God, who is associated with Creation. Perhaps he is best described as the intermediary between the Creator Sun God "father of all things” and man.

Mythology and Theology

The creation of the world is the central episode of Mithraic mythology. According to the myths, the sun god sent his messenger, the raven, to Mithras and ordered him to sacrifice the bull. Mithras executed the order reluctantly; in many reliefs he is seen turning aside his face in sorrow. But at the very moment of the death of the bull, a great miracle happened. The white bull was metamorphosed into the moon; the cloak of Mithras was transformed into the vault of the sky, with the shining planets and fixed stars; from the tail of the bull and from his blood sprang the first ears of grain and the grape; from the genitals of the animal ran the holy seed which was received by a mixing bowl. Every creature on earth was shaped with an admixture of the holy seed. One Mithraic hymn begins: “Thou hast redeemed us too by shedding the eternal blood.” The plants and the trees were created. Day and Night began to alternate, the Moon started her monthly cycle, the Seasons took up their round dance through the Year, and thus Time was created. But, awakened by the sudden light, the creatures of the dark emerged from earth. A serpent licked the bull’s blood. A scorpion tried to suck the holy seed from the genitals. On the reliefs, a lion often is also seen. With the bull’s death and the creation of the world, the struggle between Good and Evil began: thus is the condition of man’s life. The raven symbolizes Air, the lion Fire, the serpent Earth, and the mixing bowl Water. So the four elements (air, fire, earth, and water) came into being, and from them all things were created. After the sacrifice, Mithra and the sun god banqueted together, ate meat and bread, and drank wine. Then Mithras mounted the chariot of the sun god and drove with him across the ocean, through the air to the end of the world.

The Myth is commonly interpreted as follows.The sacrifice took place in a cave, an image of the world. Mithras himself is sometimes equated with the creator or "father of all things”. The Mithraic doctrine of the soul is intimately linked with the myth of creation. The soul of man came down from heaven. It crossed the seven spheres of the planets, taking on their vices and was finally caught within the body. The task of man is to liberate his divine part (the soul) from the shackles of the body and to reascend through the seven spheres to the eternal, unchanging realm of the fixed stars. This ascension to the sky was prefigured by Mithras himself, when he left the earth in the chariot of the sun god.

Worship, Practices, and Institutions

Organized Mithraism is a state centered religion popular with soldiers and citizens alike. It is focused on service to the state and the role of a good citizen. Worshipers must undergo an initiation ceremony to prove they are worthy.

The Mithraic temples are subterranean caverns, all ceremonies are of necessity enacted in artificial light. The cavern always contains a well. Access to the cavern often consisted of a system of subterranean passages, which are used in the initiation ceremonies. These ceremonies are secret, but are known to involve ablutions (baptism) and purifications and chastisements, fetters and liberation, and certain ceremonial passwords. Initiates are blindfolded, kneeling, and prostrated. A simulated death and resurrection is part of the ceremony. A test of courage must be passed.

The Mithraic temples are decorated with frescoes, reliefs, and statues of minor deities and of the planetary gods. A narrow aisle is flanked on both sides by a broad, raised bench on which the worshippers recline. At one end of the temple there is always a relief or fresco representing the sacrifice of the bull. Sometimes, the relief can be turned on a pivot; the back of the stone represented the repast of Mithras and the sun god. While the ceremony of the bull’s sacrifice is not frequently performed, the common meal of the initiates is a regular feature of Mithraic worship.

Mithraic Virtues

A citizen's worth is measured largely by how much he or she contributes to the well-being of the state as a whole, rather than on individual advancement. There are a number of well-defined virtues that are considered vital for respectable citizens. A citizen's public persona, and thus his or her very place in society, depend on how well and to what degree he or she displays these virtues. The cardinal virtues are social and political in nature, and also tend to be very stern and austere. However, there are also humanist virtues that place greater weight on the inner self.

These are the three virtues held in greatest regard:

Virtus - "strength" or "courage," - Virtus is a very Stoic concept with stern and manly overtones. It is exemplified both by physical courage or excellence in battle and by intellectual courage in the public arena, as well as the strength to control oneself in the face of fear or desire.

Gravitas - "seriousness of purpose" - A sort of inherent dignity and importance. When you have gravitas, you aren't distracted by trivialities.

Pietas - "piety" - A sense of duty towards others, manifested in one's actions - service to the state, reverence of the gods, and appropriate loyalty to one's family - as well as a certain subordination to those things for the greater good. If you "take one for the team," you're showing your pietas.

There are a number of other stern virtues that befit upstanding citizens:

Industria - "A predilection for continuous, hard work" - This doesn't refer exclusively to physical labor, but to unremitting effort in general; a citizen managing every aspect of his estate's workings day in and day out is a good example.

Frugalitas - "thriftiness" or "economy" - Ostentation is deplored. A really virtuous citizen lives simply and without pretense; frugalitas is scorn of waste, almost to the point of austerity.

Dignitas - "dignity" - But with overtones of worth and rank. Dignitas is the "self esteem" of a citizen's life.

Severitas - "strictness" or "severity" - Somewhat akin to gravitas but more inwardly focused. Self control is the mark of severitas.

Fides - "faith" or "loyalty" - The term also refers to honesty; a citizen with fides is worthy of the public trust.

Not all virtues are harsh and stern - some "softer" qualities are admired parts of human character. These are, however, usually considered admirable adjuncts to the other virtues, not substitutes for them. some examples:

Clementia - "mercy" - Usually in reference to a vanquished enemy on a national scale.

Misericordia - "pathos", "pity", and "compassion" - A certain goodness and benevolence towards one's fellow human beings.