Mithras - The Other Saviour

The Eurocentric viewer of modern life may take the underlying mythology of western calendar myths for granted, assuming that, for instance, the winter solstice holiday is basically either about the birth of the Christian god-man Jesus, or about a jolly fat elf who lives at the North Pole and brings toys to good children on 24 December. This same observer may be startled to discover that the origins of many of the beliefs and customs surrounding the celebration of the solstice holiday - both relating to Jesus and Santa Claus - have their roots in quite a different saviour god who brought blessings to mankind - the now almost-forgotten god Mithras.

 

The cult of Mithras, which flourished from Britain to Palestine in the early centuries of the First Millennium CE, has left us a legacy of winter customs, a number of intriguing archaeological sites, and a strange cult figure in a funny hat. The Roman army bathed in bulls' blood and called one another 'brother' in his name, and poets from Taliesin1 to Kipling2 have honoured him in verse.

 

The most startling fact about Mithras is that his mystery cult is really a star map, and Mithras himself an astral engineer - the god who moved a universe.