Topics (move over topic to see place in topic list)
02 Religious and ideological symbols and iconographic motifs
01 Religious and ideological doctrines and imagery
02 Religious and ideological symbols and iconographic motifs
05 Scientific knowledge and scholarly lore
01 Religious and ideological doctrines and imagery
Keywords
initiation rites
Mithraism
Period
Roman Empire
Channel
Iconographic tradition
Text
The unique grade system of Mithras’ Mysteries had seven tutelary deities for each of the seven grades. Worshippers were initiated into the cult and rose in rank as they became more experienced or did things on behalf of their group. As shows the mosaic pavement of the Mithraeum of Felicissimus at Ostia, the gods for each rank were the seven planetary deities which are found presiding over the days of the week, thought not in the same order. The symbols of the grades are juxtaposed with symbols of the tutelary planets in a sequence of squares extending ladder-like up the aisle. This mosaic shows images corresponding to the seven stages of initiation, beginning from the bottom of the slide to the top: Raven (Mercury), ‘Nymphus’ (Venus), Soldier (Mars), Lion (Jupiter), Persian (Moon), ‘Heliodromus’ (Sun), Father (Saturn). This evidence is confirmed by the graffiti of the S. Priscilla Mithraeum which salute with the Iranian loan word Nama each grade as the tutela of its god: e.g. Nama leonibus tutela Iovis. The complete set is also found in the graffiti at Dura, but without the planets and with the local variant the equation of stereōtēs there with Heliodromus in Rome.
Bibliography
Beck 1984, 2011-2013
Beck, Roger. “Mithraism since Franz Cumont.” In: H. Temporini and W. Haase (eds.). Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt. Geschichte und Kultur Roms im Spiegel der neueren Forschung. Part 2: Principat. Vol. 17.4: Religion. Berlin: De Gruyter 1984, 2002-2015.
