MITHRAS AND THE ZODIAC Cover Image

MITHRAS AND THE ZODIAC
MITHRAS AND THE ZODIAC

Author(s): Luca Amendola
Subject(s): History, Ancient World
Published by: Editura Mega Print SRL
Keywords: Mithras; ancient religions; mystery cult; zodiac; salvation;

Summary/Abstract: The Roman cult of Mithras has been the object of many controversies, for instance the question of the origin, the mythology, and the role of astronomical-astrological concepts. In this article we focus on another controversial point, the existence and content of a doctrine of salvation. We review systematically the literary, epigraphic, architectural, and iconographic evidence of salvation in Mithraism. We find that the evidence supports the existence of a doctrine that included a soul journey towards the solstices, along the lines of a famous passage in Porphyry's De antro nympharum.

  • Issue Year: 5/2018
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 24-39
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: English