Introduction to Mithra
Mithra is a deity worshiped in the Roman cult of Mithras or Mithraism, a religious mystery that gained prominence in the Roman Empire during the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Although its origin dates back to pre-Zoroastrian Iran, he became a solar and protective god in the Roman tradition, associated with concepts such as contracts, order, and friendship. The cult of Mithra is best known for its ritual of the tauroctony, where Mithra is depicted killing a sacred bull, a symbolic act of death and rebirth. This cult, linked to soldiers, was practiced in underground temples called mithraeum, and only men were allowed to participate.
Correspondence Table for Mithra
| Planet | Sun (Sol Invictus) |
| Day | Sunday |
| Number | 7 |
| Colors | Red and gold (symbols of blood and the sun) |
| Sacred Places | Mithraeum (underground temples) throughout the Roman Empire |
| Helpers | Sol Invictus (sun god), Cautes and Cautopates (Mithra’s assistants) |
Symbol and Appearance of Mithra
Mithra is often depicted wearing a Phrygian cap, a cloak, and armed with a knife to kill the bull in representations of the tauroctony. He is also shown sharing a meal with the sun god Sol after the act of sacrifice. Symbols associated with Mithra include animals such as a dog, a snake, and a scorpion, present in tauroctony scenes, which may represent cosmic forces or constellations.
Genealogy of Mithra
Mithra is a deity of Iranian origin whose name means "contract" or "covenant" in the Indo-Iranian tradition. In the Roman version, he is seen as a solar god and protector of truth and cosmic order. His cult evolved separately from Persian traditions, although it still shares links with the Mithra of ancient Iran.
