Mysteries of Mithra - Softcover

Cumont, Franz Valery Marie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1602062757 ISBN 13: 9781602062757

Publisher: Cosimo Classics, 2007

Synopsis

Mithraism was a Roman mystery cult that drew upon the mythology of Mithras from the Persian Zoroastrian religion. In this unique book, first published in 1903, Cumont explains how the Roman version differed from the original worship of Mithras and then identifies those rituals that have some historical accuracy. Often, the Roman rituals preserved only the external trappings of Zoroastrian worship, such as using animals skins during rites and designating caves as holy places. Cumont also shows his readers how Mithraism adopted beliefs and rituals from other sources as well, creating the cult in its fully realized form. He then goes on to show how the cult fell from favor and was finally overwhelmed by Christianity. Students of history and religion, as well as anyone interested in cult religions, will find this book an intriguing journey through an obscure era. Belgian archaeologist and historian FRANZ-VALERY-MARIE CUMONT (1869-1947) wrote numerous books, often making use of his interest in philology and the study of instructions. Among his books is Life After Roman Paganism (1922).

About this title

About the Author:

Franz-Valéry-Marie Cumont (1868 – 1947) was a Belgian archaeologist and historian, a philologist and student of epigraphy. Cumont was a graduate of the University of Ghent (PhD, 1887). After receiving royal travelling fellowships, he undertook archaeology in Pontus and Armenia (published in 1906) and in Syria, but he is best known for his studies on the impact of Eastern mystery religions, particularly Mithraism, on the Roman Empire.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cosimo Classics
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1602062757
• ISBN 13: 9781602062757
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256