Payam Nabarz, Caitlin Matthews-The Mysteries of Mithras_ The Pagan Belief That Shaped the Christian World-Inner Traditions (2005).pdf

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The
MYSTERIES
of
MITHRAS
The Pagan Belief That Shaped the Christian World
Payam Nabarz, Ph.D.
Inner Traditions
Rochester, Vermont
Mighty Anahita with splendor will shine,
Incarnated as a youthful divine.
Full of charm her beauty she will display,
Her hip with charming belt she will array.
Straight-figured, she is as noble bride,
Freeborn, herself in puckered dress will hide.
Her cloak is all decorated with gold,
With precious dress Anahita we shall behold.
ORIGINAL POEM BASED ON KASHANI’S
PERSIAN FOLK SONGS,
FROM
ANAVESTAN INVOCATION TO ANAHITA
Like grapes, we have always accompanied the vat.
From the view of the world, we have disappeared.
For years, we boiled from the fire of love
Until we became that wine which intoxicated the world.
SUFI PIR AND POET DR. NURBAKHSH
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
To Alison Jones for reading this manuscript and her numerous helpful comments,
discussions, and especially for her encouragement in the “last mile” of this
journey.
To John, Paul, Ivor, Moni, Ruth, Alex, Colin, Pascale, Tony, Mogg, and Sharron
for stimulating conversations over the years. A special thanks to Mogg Morgan
of the Oxford Golden Dawn Occult Society for his magical encouragement for
my work with Mithras.
To Caitlín Matthews for reading the manuscript and for her very helpful
comments and especially for encouraging me to finish this book.
To Guya Vichi and Lesley Harris and the other Priestesses and Priests of Mithras
who are keeping the flame of Mithras alive.
To all the members of the Mithras e-list who have discussed Mithraism with me,
especially Parviz, Omid, Peter, Bradley, John, and Hannah.
To Victoria and Laura for their very helpful editorial comments.
To Sun and Moon Druid Grove of OBOD, and to Andrew and Gillian for the
shamanic meetings and for helping me to open the gate to a place I had forgotten.
To Tony and Mani for always being there in friendship.
To Terry Graham for helpful discussions.
To Dr. Nurbakhsh, and the late Mr. Niktab (may he rest in peace), for bestowing
the light, and all the Sufis on the Path of Love.
Dedicated to Ali “110.”
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
FOREWORD BY CAITLÍN MATTHEWS
CHAPTER 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE MITHRAIC MYSTERIES
The Persian Mithra
The Roman Mithras
The Revival of Mithras in the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries
CHAPTER 2: MITHRAIC ICONOGRAPHY
Birth of the Roman Mithras
Mithras the Hunter
The Tauroctony
Sol and Sol Invictus
The Miracle of the Rock
The Sacred Meal
The Ascension
Leontocephaline (Lion-Headed One)
CHAPTER 3: THE SEVEN INITIATORY RITES OF MITHRAS
The Rites
Sufi Interpretation of the Seven Rites
The Women’s Grade
CHAPTER 4: ECHOES OF MITHRAISM AROUND THE WORLD
The Echo of Mithraism in Christianity
Mithras as Liberator
Echoes of Mithraism in the Yezidis and the Peacock Angel
Mithras in Britain
CHAPTER 5: SIMORGH—A MITHRAIC FAIRY TALE
Simorgh—An Old Persian Fairy Tale
Symbolism of the Simorgh Tale
CHAPTER 6: THE MITHRAIC LITURGY
Preparation for Performing the Mithraic Liturgy
The Ritual
CHAPTER 7: THE GODDESS ANAHITA
CHAPTER 8: MEDITATIONS AND INITIATIONS
I. Corax Meditation and Initiation
II. Nymphus Meditation and Initiation
III. Miles Meditation and Initiation
IV. Leo Meditation and Initiation
V. Perses Meditation and Initiation
VI. Heliodromus Meditation and Initiation
VII. Pater Meditation and Initiation
CHAPTER 9: THE FOUR STATIONS OF MITHRA
Yule—Birth of the Sun
Spring Equinox—Nou Roz
Summer Solstice—Tir
Autumn Equinox—Festival of Mithra
EPILOGUE
APPENDIX A: Zoroastrian Hymn to Mithra (Mehr Yasht 10)
APPENDIX B: Zoroastrian Hymn to Anahita (Aban Yasht 5)

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