Abstract
Mithraism, which particularly flourished among military circles in the Roman Empire, emerged as a mystery religion emphasizing individual spiritual transformation and communal cohesion through its ritual practices. Initiation ceremonies, purification rites, and sacred meals aimed to facilitate the transformation of individuals on both earthly and cosmic planes. Through various tests and symbolic experiences of death and rebirth, initiates were guided towards spiritual maturity. Purification rituals involving elements such as water, fire, and air symbolized the liberation of the soul from earthly attachments. Sacred meals not only reinforced material sharing but also fostered spiritual unity within the community. Archaeological evidence from sites such as Santa Maria Capua Vetere and Mainz illuminates the symbolic nature of Mithraic rituals. This comprehensive ritual framework enabled Mithraism to sustain a closed and cohesive religious community, successfully integrating individuals from diverse social backgrounds within the multicultural and multi-religious environment of the Roman Empire.
References
- Alvar, Jaime, Romanising Oriental Gods: Myth, Salvation and Ethics in the Cults of Cybele, Isis and Mithras, Brill, Leiden 2008.
- Beck, Roger, “Myth, Doctrine, and Initiation in the Mysteries of Mithras: New Evidence from a Cult Vessel”, Journal of Roman Studies, 90, 2000, 145-180.
- Beck, Roger, The Religion of the Mithras Cult in the Roman Empire Mysteries of the Unconquered Sun, New York, 2006.
- Bremmer, J. N., İnitiation into the Mysteries of Ancient World, De Gruyter, Berlin/Boston, 2014.
- Bunuel, M. A.and Caillat, P., “Honorer Mithra en mangeant: la cuisine du Mithraeum de Septeuil (La Féerie)”, eds. S. Lopetz and W. Van Andringa, Archéologie du sacrifice animal en Gaule romaine: Rituels et pratiques alimentaires, Montagnac 2008, 255–266.
- CIMRM Corpus Inscriptionum et Monumentorum Religionis Mithriacae
- Clauss, Manfred, The Roman Cult of Mithras: The God and his Mysteries, Trans. R. L. Gordon, Routledge, New York 2001.
- Cumont, Franz, The Mysteries of Mithra, London 1903.
- Demougeot, E., “Paganus Mithra et Tertullien in Texte und Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der altchristlichen Literatur”, Studia Evangelica, 3 (1), 1961, 354-365.
- Geden, A. S., Select PassagesIllustrating Mithraism, Londra, 1925
- Guarducci, M., “İl graffito Natus prima luce nel mitreo di St. Prisca”, Ed.
- Ugo Bianchi, Mysteria Mithrae, Leiden 1979, 153-171.
- Guenon, Rene, İnisiyasyona Toplu Bakışlar I-II, İstanbul, 2010.
- Freke, Timothy, Gandy, Peter, İsa’nın Gizemleri Gerçek İsa Bir Pagan Tanrısı mıydı?, Çev. Aslı Bengisu, Ayna Yayınları, İstanbul 2005.
- King, A., “Animal Remains from Temples in Roman Britain”, Britannia, 36, 2005, 329–369.
- Kinsley, Peter, Ancient Philosophy, Mystery, and Magic: Empedocles and Pythagorean Tradition, Oxford University Press, 1995.
- Le Glay, M., “La ΔΕΞΊΩΣΙϚ dans les Mystéres de Mithra”, Ed. Ugo Bianchi, Mysteria Mithrae, Leiden 1979, 279-304.
- Murray, M. A., Egyptian Religious Poetry, Londra, 1949.
- Panagiotidou, Olympia, “The Cognitive Route of ‘Star Talk’: The Scene of Tauroctony as a System of Signs”, Pantheon, 7/1, 2012, 70-78.
- Panagiotidou, Olympia, & Beck, Roger, The Roman Mithras Cult: A Cognitive Approach, Bloomsbury Academic, 2017.
Abstract
Mithraizm, Roma İmparatorluğu'nda özellikle askerî çevrelerde yaygınlaşmış gizemli bir din olup, bireysel ruhsal dönüşüm ve cemaat içi aidiyeti güçlendiren ritüel uygulamalarıyla dikkat çeker. İnisiyasyon törenleri, arınma ayinleri ve kutsal yemekler, bireyin hem dünyevi hem kozmik düzlemde dönüşümünü amaçlamıştır. İnisiyasyon, bireyi çeşitli sınavlar ve sembolik ölümler aracılığıyla ruhsal olgunluğa ulaştırır. Su, ateş ve hava gibi arındırıcı unsurlar kullanılarak gerçekleştirilen vaftiz ve arınma ritüelleri, ruhun dünyevi bağlardan kurtulmasını simgeler. Ritüel yemekler, maddi paylaşımın ötesinde ruhani bir birlikteliği pekiştirir. Santa Maria Capua Vetere ve Mainz gibi arkeolojik buluntular, Mithraik ritüellerin sembolik doğasına ışık tutmaktadır. Bu bütüncül yapı, Mithraizm'in Roma toplumunda kapalı ve dayanışmacı bir dini topluluk oluşturmasını sağlamıştır.
Ethical Statement
Çalışmanın tüm süreçlerinin araştırma ve yayın etiğine uygun olduğunu, etik kurallara ve bilimsel atıf gösterme ilkelerine uyduğumu beyan ederim.
References
- Alvar, Jaime, Romanising Oriental Gods: Myth, Salvation and Ethics in the Cults of Cybele, Isis and Mithras, Brill, Leiden 2008.
- Beck, Roger, “Myth, Doctrine, and Initiation in the Mysteries of Mithras: New Evidence from a Cult Vessel”, Journal of Roman Studies, 90, 2000, 145-180.
- Beck, Roger, The Religion of the Mithras Cult in the Roman Empire Mysteries of the Unconquered Sun, New York, 2006.
- Bremmer, J. N., İnitiation into the Mysteries of Ancient World, De Gruyter, Berlin/Boston, 2014.
- Bunuel, M. A.and Caillat, P., “Honorer Mithra en mangeant: la cuisine du Mithraeum de Septeuil (La Féerie)”, eds. S. Lopetz and W. Van Andringa, Archéologie du sacrifice animal en Gaule romaine: Rituels et pratiques alimentaires, Montagnac 2008, 255–266.
- CIMRM Corpus Inscriptionum et Monumentorum Religionis Mithriacae
- Clauss, Manfred, The Roman Cult of Mithras: The God and his Mysteries, Trans. R. L. Gordon, Routledge, New York 2001.
- Cumont, Franz, The Mysteries of Mithra, London 1903.
- Demougeot, E., “Paganus Mithra et Tertullien in Texte und Untersuchungen zur Geschichte der altchristlichen Literatur”, Studia Evangelica, 3 (1), 1961, 354-365.
- Geden, A. S., Select PassagesIllustrating Mithraism, Londra, 1925
- Guarducci, M., “İl graffito Natus prima luce nel mitreo di St. Prisca”, Ed.
- Ugo Bianchi, Mysteria Mithrae, Leiden 1979, 153-171.
- Guenon, Rene, İnisiyasyona Toplu Bakışlar I-II, İstanbul, 2010.
- Freke, Timothy, Gandy, Peter, İsa’nın Gizemleri Gerçek İsa Bir Pagan Tanrısı mıydı?, Çev. Aslı Bengisu, Ayna Yayınları, İstanbul 2005.
- King, A., “Animal Remains from Temples in Roman Britain”, Britannia, 36, 2005, 329–369.
- Kinsley, Peter, Ancient Philosophy, Mystery, and Magic: Empedocles and Pythagorean Tradition, Oxford University Press, 1995.
- Le Glay, M., “La ΔΕΞΊΩΣΙϚ dans les Mystéres de Mithra”, Ed. Ugo Bianchi, Mysteria Mithrae, Leiden 1979, 279-304.
- Murray, M. A., Egyptian Religious Poetry, Londra, 1949.
- Panagiotidou, Olympia, “The Cognitive Route of ‘Star Talk’: The Scene of Tauroctony as a System of Signs”, Pantheon, 7/1, 2012, 70-78.
- Panagiotidou, Olympia, & Beck, Roger, The Roman Mithras Cult: A Cognitive Approach, Bloomsbury Academic, 2017.
Details
| Primary Language | Turkish |
|---|---|
| Subjects | Classical Period Archeology, Archaeology (Other) |
| Journal Section | Araştırma Makaleleri |
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | July 4, 2025 |
| Submission Date | April 29, 2025 |
| Acceptance Date | June 2, 2025 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2025 Volume: 9 Issue: 1 |
