Gentle Reader,

Consider first that the original, Persian Mithras was a god of cattle and pasture. Next consider that Romanized Mithras was viewed as a cattle thief.

All Mithraic tauroctonies, of which I'm aware, show Mithras not slaughtering the bull with a lethal throat slash, but stabbing the bull above the shoulder, mutilating the bull.

Next consider that the dog and snake in a tauroctony are lapping bull's blood straight from the wound, exsanguinating the bull.

Finally, consider the scorpion trying to mutilate the bull's genitals.

Could a Mithraic tauroctony be an iconic representation of a classic cattle mutilation, that 'high strangeness' we usually associate with UFO phenomena?

What do you think?

Am visiting the London Mithraeum as someone who knows very little about Mithras.

I wondered if there is anything I should be mindful of or observant of when I do so. In terms of offerings before I leave to visit etc or observances you follow. Even just things to consider

Considering we have no texts as far as I’m aware, I’m curious what it is to you guys

As a young teen I would see this figure when I would Hallucinate this figure, I called it Fafnir i finally figured out what it was today and im freaked.

Hi, i recently went down the rabbit hole of doing research on this interesting figure in the Mithraic cult.

After digging around, i found mainly two explanations. One positive, in which Leontocephaline is the Kronos, Saturn or Aion of the Mithraism. God of time and astrology, which is supported by his iconography, where you can see him covered in zodiac signs, holding staff or thunderbolt (possible Zeus connection?) and having a lion head (could be interpreted as time evetually devouring everything and everyone).

The other one negative, explaining him as Ahriman, the evil god of chaos in Zoroastrianism and basically using his iconography to interpret his as an evil demiurge, who holds the keys of heaven and refuses to let souls pass to it.

If there is anyone on this sub knowledgable of Mithraism, please tell me what you know about this figure and how you interpret it.

Here are some articles i have read -

Negative explanation - https://www.worldhistory.org/article/685/another-ariamanus-statue-found-the-evil-spirit-of/

Positive explanation - https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9461/2/2/3

Some time ago i also read this book about Mithraism, which explained him as more of a Kronos-like figure - https://www.amazon.com/Mithra-mithriacisme-Histoire-French-Robert/dp/225138023X

I have turned Kipling's poem into a song for Mithras.

Does anyone know if Kipling was really referring to the 30th Legion in England, or making it up for poetic license?

Hello all, I'm writing a paper for class and I'm interested in trying to tie some of the iconography of the Tauroctony to a solar eclipse. I've read about the Tauroctony being being tied to the end of the age of Taurus where the sun rose in the constellation Taurus during the vernal equinox. I found there was a total solar eclipse that covered parts of Greece and the ancient near east April of 2052 BCE that happened in the constellation Taurus. But I haven't been able to find ancient records of it.

My hypothesis is that this event at the end of the age of Taurus was passed down as the basis for the imagery of the Tauroctony. I'm just looking for any sources that might suggest this eclipse was observed... maybe it was cloudy? I've been looking for evidence but haven't found much. It was a long time ago...

Honestly, I would be interested in seeing any evidence of very ancient solar astronomy, I have yet to see anything dated so far back, so perhaps I am looking too far back. I think it would be interesting to tie the slaying of the bull to a specific event. I'd appreciate any feedback. My paper is just on the Tauroctony but I thought this could be interesting to research.

To Mithras Petragenetrix

O Stone-born God of Light

Torchbearers bear witness to Thy miraculous birth

From an aflame cosmos Thou comest

The Saviour in the Phrygian cap

Thou art the greatest, the mightiest

O the Unconquered Sun Mithras!

Wielding the dagger in Thy right hand

Thou art the Giver of Life thanks to Thy godly Tauroctony

Holding up the torch in Thy left hand

Thou shinest Thy Light - breaking the darkness

O Lord of this Age!

We rejoice in Thy reborn

Through the burning down of the old one [cosmos]

By breaking down the Cosmic Egg

By slaying the Mighty Bull yet again

Through the holy coronation by the Immortal God Helios

Thou hast become ruler of the world

Hello. I have some questions for those of you who actively worship Mithras.

1. do you feel the presence of Mithras in your life? Does he involve himself in your affairs?

2. what does he offer you? What does he give?

3. what does he ask or demand in return?

Thank you in advance for any answers.

Hello I've recently left the Abrahamic tradition after a long and arduous self reflection into what ideals and values I hold dear, and what I consider worthy of worship. That being said I've become increasingly attracted to Mithras (in all his associated forms), and have felt what I can only describe as an innate pull towards this god. However when it comes to practice, ritual, and where to start quite frankly I am lost. Anyone willing to point my towards some useful resources should do so, I would greatly appreciate it! And ofc know that I come from a genuine and curious position but have very little understanding of "pagan" or non-Christian practice so be merciful 😂

Welcome to r/Hellenism_Paganism, which falls under the umbrella term as Paganism. Whether you worship the Olympians, Titans, a single god or goddess, or a cross combination from Hellenistic and another culture. You are welcome here. We do not have strict rules or judge. This group will also allow debates and talks on Ancient Greek herbology, science, alchemy, and etc.

Thank you to the mods of this wonderful community to allow me to post this here. :)

Hello everyone, I want to share here a little video that I made recently - Back in the summer of 2019, during my second visit to the Pantheon in Rome, I have experienced an episode of active imagination while looking up through the oculus, this video is a recreation.

Here's a recreation: https://youtu.be/ctp5rMHONP4

Hello there! i was wondering if theres any mithras/mithrasism discord servers online

Good evening I am interested in mithraism and I want to learn more How does mithraism fit in in modern day paganism? I know that the mithraism of old was part of the Roman religion but is mithraism compatible with non hellenic paths of paganism?

And

How do you worship?