Mithra | Persian Mythology, Zoroastrianism, Sun God

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[{"p":1,"t":386025},{"p":6,"t":658081},{"p":1,"t":452741},{"p":2,"t":386080},{"p":11,"t":400805},{"p":8,"t":507866},{"p":5,"t":39971},{"p":10,"t":139301},{"p":1,"t":45645},{"p":1,"t":658060}], "sequence": 1, "topics": {} }); </script> <article class="article-content container-lg qa-content px-0 pt-0 pb-40 py-lg-20 content " data-topic-id="386025"> <div class="grid gx-0"> <div class="col-auto"> <div class="topic-left-rail md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mithra">Mithra</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.iranchamber.com/religions/articles/mithra_khsathrapati_ahura.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Iran Chamber Society - Mithraism: Mithrâ Khšathrapati and his brother Ahurâ</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b01pg5nt" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">BBC Sounds - In Our Time - The Cult of Mithras</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Religions/iranian/Mithraism/m_m/mithra_mithraism.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">The Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies - Mithra and Mithraism - The Legend of Mithras</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/mithras-cult-0014192" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Ancient Origins - Mithras, the Persian God Championed by the Roman Army</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.biblicalcyclopedia.com/M/mithra-or-mithras.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">McClintock and Strong Biblical Cyclopedia - Mithra or Mithras</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.worldhistory.org/Mithra/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">World History Encyclopedia - Mithra</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/mithra" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Encyclopædia Iranica - Mithra</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn btn-sm border-2 btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 d-none mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10 px-sm-5 px-md-10 js-header-ai-ask-button"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: Mihr, Mithras, Mitra</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written and fact-checked by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 qa-editor-popup gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2025-03-07T00:00:00CST" >Mar 7, 2025</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mithra/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn btn-sm border-2 btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 module-spacing js-inline-ai-ask-button p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Also spelled: </dt> <dd>Mithras</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Sanskrit: </dt> <dd>Mitra</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>On the Web: </dt> <dd><a href="https://www.iranchamber.com/religions/articles/mithra_khsathrapati_ahura.php" target="_blank">Iran Chamber Society - Mithraism: Mithrâ Khšathrapati and his brother Ahurâ</a> (Mar. 07, 2025)</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/Mithra"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref54018"></span>Mithra</strong>, in ancient Indo-Iranian mythology, the god of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/light" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">light</a>, whose cult spread from India in the east to as far west as Spain, Great Britain, and Germany. (<em>See</em> <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mithraism" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Mithraism</a>.) The first written mention of the Vedic <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mitra-Vedic-god" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Mitra</a> dates to 1400 <span class="text-smallcaps">bc</span>. His worship spread to Persia and, after the defeat of the Persians by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-the-Great" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Alexander the Great</a>, throughout the Hellenic world. In the 3rd and 4th centuries <span class="text-smallcaps">ad</span>, the cult of Mithra, carried and supported by the soldiers of the Roman Empire, was the chief rival to the newly developing <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/religion" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">religion</a> of Christianity. The Roman emperors <span id="ref54019"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Commodus" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Commodus</a> and <span id="ref54020"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Julian-Roman-emperor" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Julian</a> were initiates of Mithraism, and in 307 <span id="ref54021"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Diocletian" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Diocletian</a> <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="consecrated" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/consecrated" data-type="MW">consecrated</a> a temple on the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Danube-River" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Danube River</a> to Mithra, “Protector of the Empire.”</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">According to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/myth" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">myth</a>, Mithra was born, bearing a torch and armed with a knife, beside a sacred stream and under a sacred tree, a child of the earth itself. He soon rode, and later killed, the life-giving cosmic bull, whose blood fertilizes all vegetation. Mithra’s slaying of the bull was a popular subject of Hellenic art and became the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="prototype" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prototype" data-type="MW">prototype</a> for a bull-slaying ritual of fertility in the Mithraic cult.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">As god of light, Mithra was associated with the Greek <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/sun-worship" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">sun god</a>, Helios, and the Roman Sol Invictus. He is often paired with <span id="ref54022"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Anahiti" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true"></a>Anahita, goddess of the fertilizing waters.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/world-religions-traditions" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/20/102120-131-B5741CE4/Sultan-Omar-Ali-Saifuddien-Mosque-Brunei-Bandar.jpg" alt="Omar Ali Saifuddin mosque, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei." class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">World Religions & Traditions</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-simplify-root"></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":386025,"pageLength":219,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-134/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.134.26"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-134/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.134.26' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"D","adLeg":"C","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"SMALL","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true,"hasAiTopQuestions":false,"hasSimplifyButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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