Mithras etymology

Etymology and Origin:

The name "Mithras" is derived from the Avestic (Old Persian) word "Miθra," which means "covenant" or "friendship."

Meaning and Significance:

In ancient Iranian religion, Mithras was the god of light, truth, and justice. He was associated with:

  • Covenants: Mithras was seen as the guarantor of contracts and oaths.
  • Sun and Sky: He was often depicted as a youthful god riding a chariot across the sky, similar to the Greek god Helios.
  • Cattle: Mithras had a close connection to cattle and was often shown killing a bull,象征着牺牲和重生.
  • Warrior deity: Mithras was a fierce warrior who protected the righteous and punished the wicked.
  • Cosmic order: He represented the harmony and balance of the universe.

Cult of Mithras:

The cult of Mithras became popular throughout the Roman Empire from the 1st to 4th centuries CE. Roman soldiers and administrators adopted Mithras as their patron deity, incorporating elements of Iranian, Greek, and Roman religious traditions. Mithras was worshiped in secret mystery cults, with initiation rituals and underground sanctuaries.

Influence:

The cult of Mithras had a significant influence on the development of Christianity. Some scholars believe that the Christian celebration of Christmas on December 25th may have been influenced by the Roman festival of Sol Invictus, which was associated with Mithras. Additionally, the idea of a savior figure who dies and is resurrected may have parallels in the Mithras cult's ritual killing of a bull and its subsequent rebirth.

Mithras relate terms

  • amiss

    Etymology Old English miss to miss go astray err from Proto Germanic missan t

  • amoeba

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  • azimuth

    Etymology The word azimuth comes from the Arabic word السموت as sumūt mea

  • common

    Etymology refers to the study of the origin and history of words It involves tracing the

  • commune

    Etymology Latin communis meaning common shared or belonging to all Meanin

  • communicate

    Etymology The word communicate comes from the Latin word communicare which means to

  • communication

    Etymology The word communication derives from the Latin word communicare meaning to

  • communism

    Etymology The word communism comes from the French word communisme which in turn de

  • commute

    Etymology Origin Old French commuter to change exchange Derived from Latin commutar

  • congee

    Etymology Origin Chinese 粥 zhōu Pronunciation ˈkɔːndʒiː or ˈkɒndʒiː

  • demean

    Etymology Middle English demeinen from Old French demaignier from Medieval Latin dis

  • emigrate

    Etymology The word emigrate comes from the Latin word emigratus the past participle

  • emigration

    Etymology The word emigration is derived from the Latin word emigratio which is a co

  • excommunicate

    Etymology The word excommunicate comes from Latin ex meaning out or from comm

  • excommunication

    Etymology Latin excommunicatio From ex out of communicare to share communica

  • immune

    Etymology The word immune comes from the Latin word immunis which means free from

  • incommunicado

    Etymology Latin incommunicatus not communicated Prefix in not Root communica

  • mean

    Etymology Old English mǣne Proto Germanic mainiz Proto Indo European mei to think

  • mews

    Etymology The word mews comes from the Old French word meus or meues which referr

  • migrate

    Etymology The word migrate originates from the Latin verb migrare which means to m

  • migration

    Etymology The word migration comes from the Latin word migrare meaning to move from

  • mistake

    Etymology Old English mistæc meaning a misunderstanding an error Germanic root

  • Mithras

    Etymology and Origin The name Mithras is derived from the Avestic Old Persian word

  • molt

    Etymology Old English molettan from Proto West Germanic multanan possibly from a Pro

  • Mstislav

    Etymology The name Mstislav is of Slavic origin Components Mst This stem means r

  • municipal

    Etymology The word municipal derives from the Latin word municipalis which in turn c

  • munificent

    Etymology Latin munificentia Sanskrit manista jewel treasure Meaning Except

  • mutable

    Etymology The word mutable derives from the Latin word mutabilis which means change

  • mutant

    Etymology The word mutant is derived from the Latin word mutare which means to chan

  • mutate

    Etymology The word mutate derives from the Latin verb mutare which means to chang

  • mutation

    Etymology The word mutation is derived from the Latin word mutatio meaning change

  • mutual

    Etymology Latin mutuus reciprocal interchanged Meaning Shared or reciprocal

  • permeable

    Etymology The word permeable comes from the Latin root permeare meaning to pass thr

  • permeate

    Etymology Late Middle English in the sense diffuse through from Latin permeatu

  • permutation

    Etymology The word permutation comes from the Latin word permutare which means to e

  • permute

    Etymology From Latin permutare meaning to exchange or to alter Ultimately deriv

  • remunerate

    Remunerate Etymology Latin remunerare meaning to reward to give back Derived fro

  • remuneration

    Etymology Remuneration is derived from the Latin word remunerari It means to reward

  • transmutation

    Etymology Latin transmutare meaning to change into another substance trans across

  • transmute

    Etymology The word transmute comes from the Latin word transmutare which means to

  • zenith

    Etymology Middle English zenith from Old French zenith from Old Provençal zenit

  • steward

    Etymology Middle English stuard steward Old English stigweard stiweard Proto German

  • resilience

    Etymology Latin resilient springing back French résilient elastic springy

  • presume

    Etymology Latin praesumere praesumere pre before sumere to take Meaning To

  • conspicuous

    Etymology Conspicuous originates from the Latin word conspicuus which means visible

  • balance

    Etymology Middle English balaunce from Old French balance from Latin bilanx bilance

  • plague

    Etymology The word plague comes from the Latin word plaga which means blow or wo

  • family

    Etymology The word family comes from the Old French word famille which in turn deriv