Mithraism : archaeological evidence of the spread and change of a Roman cult religion

Abstract

The cult of Mithraism is generally well-known in circles concerning Roman history and archaeology. The set of beliefs embodied by this cult transformed very rapidly when adopted by the Romans. This adoption most likely occurred in the late first century C.E. There are currently several proposed theories concerning the Roman adoption of Mithraism, and these focus on the Roman military during its occupation of Persia. Archaeology has uncovered origins of Mithraism in this area and as far east as India. When Mithraism reached Rome, it became very popular among legionnaires and lower statesmen. There is substantial archaeological evidence of Mithraism's prominence in nearly all of Rome's territories, including modern Great Britain and Africa. Most of this evidence occurs in the form of ruined Mithraeums. By the late third century C.E., Mithraism had all but disappeared, as it came into conflict with Christianity in Rome. The fact that followers of Mithras left few written records forces us to rely solely on archaeological evidence for information about its origins, growth, and eventual disappearance.