Mithras was a Roman god that was originally found in Persia and was known as Mithra. He was famous for slaying a bull and bringing back light to the world and he is still remembered in some ways today.

The Roman god Mithras was a well known god in both Rome and Persia. Mithras’ counterpart was the Persian god Mithra. Mithras is known as the god of light. He also was thought to give life to plants and other wildlife.  It was said that he sacrificed the sacred bull to bring light and life back to the world.   Mithras was born on December 25th, and also has many other things in common with the Christian religion.

There are several myths about the Roman god Mithras. One of these myths is about how he sacrificed the sacred bull. It is said that Mithras found a sacred bull out in the wild and brought it back to a cave and sacrificed it. When he sacrificed the bull, life was released from it, which benefited all of humanity. In doing this he was aided by some animals, one being a scorpion that helped him kill the bull. Therefore, in many paintings or sculptures of Mithras slaying the bull there are animals surrounding him. Another myth about Mithras was that he shared many characteristics with Jesus. They both were born on December 25th, they each performed many miracles, and both of them were resurrected after they died.

   Mithras is not really the most well-known Roman god, but he and the myths about him are still found in some things today. There are some lighting installation companies that are called Mithras Lighting or just Mithras. Also it is said that the tradition of people putting lights on their houses and trees during Christmas stems back to the myth of Mithras and how he gave light to the world. There are also many pieces of art that exist today that show him slaying the sacred bull. Although there are not a lot of things in today’s society that are connected to Mithras, these are evidence that show his myths still remain alive today.

 Mithras is the god that returned the light to the world by slaying the sacred bull, and in today’s society he is still remembered in several things related to light and life.

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Works Cited

“Temple of Mithras.” Museum of Antiquities. 6 Jan 2009 .

Holding, J. P. “Did The Mithraic Mysteries Influence Christianity?” Tektonics. 3 Jan 2009 .

“Mithraism.” Encyclopedia Britannica. 8 Jan 2009 .