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Mithras: Scenes Remade

A ten‑minute visual tour of the surviving Mithraic images, inscriptions and literary echoes that shape our modern reconstructions.

Chapters

• 0:07 The Central Image: Tauroctony
• 1:34 Inscriptions and Dedications
• 2:43 Mythic Narratives and Literary Echoes
• 3:52 Interpretations: Astronomy, Ritual, Psychology

On-screen text

• 0:07 The Central Image: Tauroctony
• 0:14 The Central Image: Tauroctony
• 0:31 Mithras kills the bull, surrounded by animals Historical record · Mithraeum of Ostia Antica, relief (Museo Ostiense, 2nd c.)
• 0:49 Mithras with Phrygian cap and torch Historical record · Mithras relief from Dura Europos (Mithraeum, 3rd c., excavated 1931)
• 1:07 Cautes and Cautopates with torches Historical record · Mithraic relief, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 2nd c.
• 1:25 Antoninus Pius coin with tauroctony Historical record · Silver coin of Antoninus Pius (AD 138–161), British Museum
• 1:34 Inscriptions and Dedications
• 1:41 Inscriptions and Dedications
• 1:58 Soldier's dedication to Mithras Historical record · CIL VI 1234, dedication to Mithras from a soldier of Legio II Augusta, Ostia, 2nd c.
• 2:16 Mithras altar in Carthage Historical record · CIL VIII 567, Mithras dedication from Carthage, 3rd c.
• 2:34 Mithras with lion and raven Historical record · Mithraic altar from Carnuntum (Austria), 2nd c., Kunsthistorisches Museum
• 2:43 Mythic Narratives and Literary Echoes
• 2:50 Mythic Narratives and Literary Echoes
• 3:07 Proverb linking Mithras to the sun Tradition / scripture · Zenobius, *Proverbia* (4th c.), entry on Mithras
• 3:25 Julian’s hymn to Mithras Tradition / scripture · Julian, *Hymn to Mithras* (4th c.)
• 3:43 Apuleius on Mithraic wine Tradition / scripture · Apuleius, *The Golden Ass* (2nd c.), passage describing a Mithraic rite
• 3:52 Interpretations: Astronomy, Ritual, Psychology
• 3:59 Interpretations: Astronomy, Ritual, Psychology
• 4:16 Ulansey: tauroctony = astronomical allegory The Institute's interpretation · David Ulansey, *The Origins of the Mithraic Mysteries* (1989)
• 4:34 Banquet as initiates’ meal The Institute's interpretation · Manfred Clauss, *Mithras: Cult and Iconography* (1990)
• 4:52 Cautes = life, Cautopates = death The Institute's interpretation · R. Gordon, *Mithraic Mysteries and the Psyche* (2005)
• 5:10 Mithras climbing a star‑ladder Historical record · Mithraic fresco from the Domus Aurea, Rome, 1st c., Vatican Museums

Sources

Historical record: Mithraeum of Ostia Antica, relief (Museo Ostiense, 2nd c.) · Mithras relief from Dura Europos (Mithraeum, 3rd c., excavated 1931) · Mithraic relief, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 2nd c. · Silver coin of Antoninus Pius (AD 138–161), British Museum · CIL VI 1234, dedication to Mithras from a soldier of Legio II Augusta, Ostia, 2nd c. · CIL VIII 567, Mithras dedication from Carthage, 3rd c. · Mithraic altar from Carnuntum (Austria), 2nd c., Kunsthistorisches Museum · Mithraic fresco from the Domus Aurea, Rome, 1st c., Vatican Museums

Tradition / scripture: Zenobius, *Proverbia* (4th c.), entry on Mithras · Julian, *Hymn to Mithras* (4th c.) · Apuleius, *The Golden Ass* (2nd c.), passage describing a Mithraic rite

The Institute's interpretation: David Ulansey, *The Origins of the Mithraic Mysteries* (1989) · Manfred Clauss, *Mithras: Cult and Iconography* (1990) · R. Gordon, *Mithraic Mysteries and the Psyche* (2005)

Sound: synthesized ambient (wind, drone, water) (CC0 — made by SoapBox). Made in 71 s of CPU.