Roman God Stealing and the Rise of Mithraism
A new theory sheds light on the proliferation of Roman Mithraism from the 1st to the 4th centuries AD, suggesting that the Romans 'acquired' Mithras through a practice known as evocatio, which involved the ritual abduction of enemy deities. This method was employed during sieges, such as those at Veii in 396 BC and Carthage in 146 BC, to draw foreign gods to Rome. Pliny the Elder remarked on its ongoing use in the Augustan era. The swift establishment of Mithraic temples in the West points to a strategic introduction of the deity to Rome, aimed at countering Parthian influence. The tauroctony ritual likely represents Roman supremacy over Parthian sacred bulls, contributing to Mithraism's appeal within the Roman military and its eventual official endorsement.
Key facts
- Roman Mithraism spread in the West between the 1st and 4th centuries AD.
- Mithras was a Parthian god, and Parthia was a major rival of Rome.
- The theory suggests Romans 'stole' Mithras via evocatio, a ritual abduction of enemy gods.
- Evocatio was used at Veii (396 BC) to lure Juno Regina to Rome.
- Scipio Aemilianus performed evocatio at Carthage in 146 BC.
- Pliny the Elder noted that pontiffs still practiced evocatio in Augustan times.
- Roman Mithraic temples appeared rapidly in the West, not gradually from the East.
- The tauroctony (bull-slaying) may symbolize Roman dominance over Parthia.
- Mithraism was popular among the Roman army, especially on frontiers like Hadrian's Wall.
- The cult's toleration may be due to its official co-optation by Rome.
Entities
Institutions
- TheCollector
- British Museum
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Walters Art Museum
- Harvard Art Museums
- Barakat Gallery
Locations
- Rome
- Italy
- Veii
- Carthage
- Falerii
- Epidaurus
- Phrygia
- Asia Minor
- Turkey
- Parthia
- Armenia
- Ostia
- Hadrian's Wall
- Rhine
- Danube
- North Africa
- London
- Aventine Hill
- Palatine Hill
- Tiber
- Isaura Vetus
- Cilicia