The Mysteries of Mithras: The Pagan Belief That Shaped the Christian World

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Inner Traditions / Bear & Co, 2005 M06 9 - 230 páginas
An overview of Mithraism, the ancient Roman mystery religion popular in the Roman Legions

• Provides a comprehensive history of Mithraism, including its influence on Christianity and Islam

• Includes rituals, meditations, and teaching tales for readers who wish to follow the Mithraic path

• Studies the evolution and divergence of the Eastern (Persian) and Western (Roman) forms of Mithraism

The Mysteries of Mithras presents a revival of the magical practices and initiatory system of Mithraism, the ancient Roman mystery religion that was immensely popular in the Roman Legions from the late second century B.C. until A.D. 400 and was taken to every corner of the Roman Empire. As the last pagan state religion in Europe, it was the most important competitor to early Christianity and heavily influenced Christian doctrine and symbolism. The parallels between Christianity and ancient Mithraism are striking--for example, the god Mithra was born of a virgin in a cave on December 25.

Payam Nabarz reveals the history, origins, and spiritual and philosophical tenets of Mithraism and its connections to Christianity, Islam, and Freemasonry. He also describes the modern neo-pagan practice of Mithraism in evidence today and for readers who wish to adopt the Mithraic path, he includes seven of its initiatory rituals and meditations, as well as orations and teaching tales, that open the door to the seven Mithraic grades of passage.

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Contenido

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE MITHRAIC MYSTERIES
1
THE ROMAN MITHRAS
7
THE REVIVAL OF MITHRAS IN THE TWENTIETH AND TWENTYFIRST CENTURIES
13
MITHRAIC ICONOGRAPHY
18
MITHRAS THE HUNTER
19
THE TAUROCTONY
20
SOL AND SOL INVICTUS
25
THE MIRACLE OF THE ROCK
26
MEDITATIONS AND INITIATIONS
105
I CORAX MEDITATION AND INITIATION
107
II NYMPHUS MEDITATION AND INITIATION
114
III MILES MEDITATION AND INITIATION
117
IV LEO MEDITATION AND INITIATION
120
V PERSES MEDITATION AND INITIATION
125
VI HELIODROMUS MEDITATION AND INITIATION
131
VII PATER MEDITATION AND INITIATION
136

THE ASCENSION
27
THE SEVEN INITIATORY RITES OF MITHRAS
30
SUFI INTERPRETATION OF THE SEVEN RITES
38
THE WOMENS GRADE
43
ECHOES OF MITHRAISM AROUND THE WORLD
46
MITHRAS AS LIBERATOR
53
ECHOS OF MITHRAISM IN THE YEZIDIS AND THE PEACOCK ANGEL
56
MITHRAS IN BRITAIN
60
SIMORGH A MITHRAIC FAIRY TALE
71
SIMORGH AN OLD PERSIAN FAIRYTALE
72
SYMBOLISM OF THE SIMORGH TALE
77
THE MITHRAIC LITURGY
86
PREPARATION FOR PERFORMING THE MITHRAIC LITURGY
87
THE RITUAL
90
THE GODDESS ANAHITA
97
THE FOUR STATIONS OF MITHRA
145
YULEBIRTH OF THE SUN
146
SPRING EQUINOX NOU ROZ
149
SUMMER SOLSTICE TIR
153
AUTUMN EQUINOX FESTIVAL OF MITHRA
158
EPILOGUE
163
ZOROASTRIAN HYMN TO MITHRA MEHR YASHT 10
165
ZOROASTRIAN HYMN TO ANAHITA ABAN YASHT 5
193
NOTES
213
BIBLIOGRAPHY
219
FURTHER READING
221
MITHRAIC GROUPS AND INTERNET RESOURCES
223
INDEX
226
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Payam Nabarz, a Persian-born Sufi and practicing Dervish, holds a Ph.D. from Oxford University and is carrying out postdoctoral research there on genetics and cancer. He is a Druid in the Grove of the Order of the Bards, Ovates, and Druids; a member of the Golden Dawn Occult Society; and a revivalist of the Temple of Mithras. He lives in England.

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