The cult of Mithras in late antiquity : development, decline, and demise circa A.D. 270-430

"In The Cult of Mithras in Late Antiquity David Walsh explores how the cult of Mithras developed across the 3rd and 4th centuries A.D. and why by the early 5th century the cult had completely disappeared. Contrary to the traditional narrative that the cult was violently persecuted out of existence by Christians, Walsh demonstrates that the cult's decline was a far more gradual process that resulted from a variety of factors. He also challenges the popular image of the cult as a monolithic entity, highlighting how by the 4th century Mithras had come to mean different things to different people in different places."-- Publisher's website Contents 5 Foreword 9 Illustrations 10 Abbreviations 12 Introduction 13 Religious Change in Late Antiquity: Changing Scholarly Views 14 The Cult of Mithras: A Brief Introduction 16 The Cult of Mithras in Late Antiquity: Changing Scholarly Views 24 The Structure of This Volume 25 Selecting the Evidence 25 A Note on Terminology 27 Chapter 1 The Development of the Cult of Mithras in Late Antiquity 29 The Location of Mithraea 29 Mithraic Architecture 32 Mithraic Iconography 34 Patronage and Membership 37 Mithraic Hierarchies 41 Ritual Practice 42 Initiation Rituals 42 Sacrifices 43 Feasts 43 Votive Practices 44 The Ritual Fragmentation of Objects 45 Variations of the Name ‘Mithras’ 51 Conclusion 51 Chapter 2 The Decline of the Cult I: The Evidence 54 Introduction 54 The Decline in Construction/Restoration of Mithraea 56 Mithraea and Wider Patterns of Construction and Repair in Late Antiquity 61 Charting the Declining Use of Individual Mithraea 66 Conclusion 67 Chapter 3 The Decline of the Cult II: Explaining the Decline 68 Introduction 68 Declining Populations 68 Changing Social Networks 70 Changes in Mithraic Rituals 72 Coercion by the Imperial Government 76 Conclusion 77 Chapter 4 The Fate of Mithraea 79 Introduction 79 Geographical and Chronological Variation in the Fate of Mithraea 80 Factors Contributing to the Fate of Mithraea 89 Christian Iconoclasm 90 ‘Barbarian’ Incursions 97 Civil War 100 Imperial Legislation 101 Natural Disasters and Accidental Destruction 102 Conclusion 104 Appendix A: Gazetteer of Mithraea Active in the 4th c. and Those That Exhibit Evidence of Christian Iconoclasm 113 A. Britain 113 A.1 Borcovicium (Housesteads) 113 A.2 Brocolitia (Carrawburgh) 113 A.3 Londinium (London) 115 B. Germany 116 B.1 Biesheim 116 B.2 Bornheim-Sechtem 117 B.3 Gimmeldingen 118 B.4 Reichweiler 118 B.5 Rockenhausen 118 C. Noricum 118 C.1 Ad Enum (Pons Aeni) 118 C.2 Lentia (Linz) 119 C.3 Schachadorf 120 C.4 St. Urban 120 D. Pannonia 120 D.1 Aquincum IV (‘of Symphorus’) 120 D.2 Carnuntum I 121 D.3 Carnuntum III 121 D.4 Poetovio II (Ptuj) 122 D.5 Poetovio III 122 D.6 Poetovio V 123 E. Dalmatia 124 E.1 Arupium (Prozor) I and II 124 E.2 Epidaurum (Cavtat) 124 E.3 Jajce 124 E.4 Konjic 124 F. Italy (Excluding Rome and Ostia) 125 F.1 Capua 125 F.2 Ponza 125 F.3 Spoletium 126 F.4 Timavo 126 F.5 Vulci 127 G. Gaul 127 G.1 Augusta Treverorum (Trier) 127 G.2 Burdigala (Bordeaux) 128 G.3 Forum Claudii Vallensium Octodurensium (Martigny) 128 G.4 Les Bolards 129 G.5 Mackwiller 129 G.6 Pons Saravi (Sarrebourg) 130 G.7 Septeuil 130 G.8 Tienen 131 G.9 Venetonimagus (Vieu-en-Val-Romney) 131 H. Spain 132 H.1 Lucus Augusti (Lugo) 132 I. North Africa 132 I.1 Lambaesis 132 J. The Eastern Mediterranean 133 J.1 Caesarea Maritima 133 J.2 Doliche 134 J.3 Hawarte 134 J.4 Ša‘āra 136 Appendix B: Mithraea Constructed and Repaired ca. AD 201–400 137 Bibliography 140 Index 150 Contents......Page 5 Foreword......Page 9 Illustrations......Page 10 Abbreviations......Page 12 Introduction......Page 13 Religious Change in Late Antiquity: Changing Scholarly Views......Page 14 The Cult of Mithras: A Brief Introduction......Page 16 The Cult of Mithras in Late Antiquity: Changing Scholarly Views......Page 24 Selecting the Evidence......Page 25 A Note on Terminology......Page 27 The Location of Mithraea......Page 29 Mithraic Architecture......Page 32 Mithraic Iconography......Page 34 Patronage and Membership......Page 37 Mithraic Hierarchies......Page 41 Initiation Rituals......Page 42 Feasts......Page 43 Votive Practices......Page 44 The Ritual Fragmentation of Objects......Page 45 Conclusion......Page 51 Introduction......Page 54 The Decline in Construction/Restoration of Mithraea......Page 56 Mithraea and Wider Patterns of Construction and Repair in Late Antiquity......Page 61 Charting the Declining Use of Individual Mithraea......Page 66 Conclusion......Page 67 Declining Populations......Page 68 Changing Social Networks......Page 70 Changes in Mithraic Rituals......Page 72 Coercion by the Imperial Government......Page 76 Conclusion......Page 77 Introduction......Page 79 Geographical and Chronological Variation in the Fate of Mithraea......Page 80 Factors Contributing to the Fate of Mithraea......Page 89 Christian Iconoclasm......Page 90 ‘Barbarian’ Incursions......Page 97 Civil War......Page 100 Imperial Legislation......Page 101 Natural Disasters and Accidental Destruction......Page 102 Conclusion......Page 104 A.2 Brocolitia (Carrawburgh)......Page 113 A.3 Londinium (London)......Page 115 B.1 Biesheim......Page 116 B.2 Bornheim-Sechtem......Page 117 C.1 Ad Enum (Pons Aeni)......Page 118 C.2 Lentia (Linz)......Page 119 D.1 Aquincum IV (‘of Symphorus’)......Page 120 D.3 Carnuntum III......Page 121 D.5 Poetovio III......Page 122 D.6 Poetovio V......Page 123 E.4 Konjic......Page 124 F.2 Ponza......Page 125 F.4 Timavo......Page 126 G.1 Augusta Treverorum (Trier)......Page 127 G.3 Forum Claudii Vallensium Octodurensium (Martigny)......Page 128 G.5 Mackwiller......Page 129 G.7 Septeuil......Page 130 G.9 Venetonimagus (Vieu-en-Val-Romney)......Page 131 I.1 Lambaesis......Page 132 J.1 Caesarea Maritima......Page 133 J.3 Hawarte......Page 134 J.4 Ša‘āra......Page 136 Appendix B: Mithraea Constructed and Repaired ca. AD 201–400......Page 137 Bibliography......Page 140 Index......Page 150 In The Cult of Mithras in Late Antiquity David Walsh explores how the cult of Mithras developed across the Third and 4th centuries A.D. and why by the early 5th century the cult had completely disappeared. Contrary to the traditional narrative that the cult was violently persecuted out of existence by Christians, Walsh demonstrates that the cult's decline was a far more gradual process that resulted from a variety of factors. He also challenges the popular image of the cult as a monolithic entity, highlighting how by the 4th century Mithras had come to mean different things to different people in different places In The Cult Of Mithras In Late Antiquity David Walsh Examines How And Why The Cult Of Mithras Vanished From The Roman Empire By The Early 5th Century C.e.