MythicMithras, mystery cult with December 25th festival
UBCorrupted Zoroastrianism in Rome
Corrupted Zoroastrianism in Rome = Mithras, mystery cult with December 25th festival
The Connection
The UB identifies Mithraism as a corruption of Zoroastrianism that became the dominant mystery religion of the Roman Empire. The Mithraic December 25th festival (Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, birthday of the Unconquered Sun) was later adopted as the date for Christmas. Mithraism was Christianity's primary competitor in the Roman world.
UB Citation
Academic Source
Clauss, The Roman Cult of Mithras (2000); Beck, The Religion of the Mithras Cult (2006)
Historical Evidence(Strong evidence)
The UB traces Mithraism from Zoroastrian roots through its Roman transformation. Manfred Clauss documents Mithraism as the most widespread mystery religion in the Roman Empire, with temples (mithraea) found from Britain to Syria. Roger Beck confirms the December 25th solar festival and its later Christian adoption. The Chronograph of 354 CE first records December 25 as Jesus' nativity date, centuries after Mithraic practice had established the date as the birthday of the sun god.
Related Mappings
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= Zarathustra, founder of Zoroastrianism
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= Ahura Mazda + seven supreme gods (Amesha Spentas)
Lucifer rebellion, distorted memory of cosmic war
= Zoroastrian dualism (Ahura Mazda vs. Angra Mainyu)
Zoroastrian influence on Jewish theology
= Jewish heaven, hell, devils derived from Zoroastrianism