Mithraism in Ancient Syria: The Persian Cult on the Borders of the Roman Empire
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2010 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | Anodos: Studies of the Ancient World |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Philosophy and religion |
| Keywords | Mithraism; Syria; Origins of Mithraism; Dura Europos; Dolichos; Caesarea Maritima; Sidon; Hawarte |
| Attached files | |
| Description | The article summarizes and evaluates Mithraic evidence from Ancient Syria. At the same time, it tries to answer two interrelated questions: 1) whether there is a special “quality” in Mithraic material from Syria which would justify us to postulate the existence of a special variety of Syrian Mithraism different from its Western form; 2) whether some of the Mithraic monuments from Syria can help us to clarify the vexed problem of Mithraic origins. After a careful analysis of the most important evidence answers to both questions must remain negative. Although the Syrian monuments clearly share some “Syrian artistic conventions”, they generally follow the norms and motifs known from the western provinces of the Roman Empire. The Syrian monuments are also usually relatively late, connected with the Roman military or administrative presence and do not contribute to our search for Mithraic origins in any decisive way. |
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