The Lord of Spirits

No, Virginia, Christmas Isn’t About Mithras

Nov 18, 2025
Delve into the mysterious world of Mithraism, uncovered beneath London in a 1954 excavation. The hosts explore Mithras' origins, rituals, and his intriguing parallels to Christianity. Discover the significance of the bull-slaying image and ritual meals in Mithraea. They also debunk popular memes claiming Mithras as a precursor to Christ, urging critical thinking about ancient evidence. The episode highlights the importance of recognizing doctrinal distinctiveness in faith, while mixing humor with serious theological discussions.
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INSIGHT

Mithraism Is Distinctly Roman And Timebound

  • Roman Mithraism is a distinct AD phenomenon derived from older Indo-Persian Mitra traditions but not identical to them.
  • The Roman cult emerged around Nero's time and flourished mainly in the 2nd–3rd centuries before decline under Constantine and Theodosius.
INSIGHT

Mithraea: Fake Caves With Private Meals

  • Mithraea are recognizable archaeological spaces: artificial caves with a dining-hall layout and a central apse.
  • These sites hosted small, male-only initiatory groups, often soldiers, not broad public worship.
INSIGHT

No Texts, Big Interpretive Uncertainty

  • No Mithraic primary texts survive and the cult's secrecy plus text-loss mean archaeology and hostile Christian reports drive modern reconstructions.
  • Interpretations are provisional and vary widely; scholars must weigh explanatory power of archaeological patterns.
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