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Carrawburgh mithraeum

Carrawburgh mithraeum. What is a mithraeum? . It is a place of worship for the followers of Mithraism Was seen as a Religion This was a mysterious cult religion which believed in “7 stages of initiation” and rituals

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Carrawburgh mithraeum

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  1. Carrawburgh mithraeum

  2. What is a mithraeum? • It is a place of worship for the followers of Mithraism • Was seen as a Religion • This was a mysterious cult religion which believed in “7 stages of initiation” and rituals • We know very little about it as it was secret to anyone who wasn’t initiated • Mithras was an old Persian God • Mithraeum’s were found as caves or grottos • They were very dark inside and had few lights

  3. 7 Stages of initiation • 1) Corax/Corux (Raven/Crow) • 2) Nymphus (Bridesman) • 3) Miles (Soldier) • 4)Leo (Lion) • 5) Perses (Persian) • 6) Heliodromus (sun-runner) • 7) Pater (Father) • Each Grade was commended to a specific God • To move up a gruelling task must be completed – e.g. exposure to heat or cold.

  4. Carrawburgh Mithraeum

  5. Carrawburgh Mithraeum • Built around 200AD • Held around 30-40 people when full • Was discovered by chance when after a dry period the ground sank and some stones became visible • We base what we know about it from sculptures and reliefs found, the originals of these are mainly held in a museum in Newcastle, but replicas were made.

  6. Some of the stone carvings are of Mithras, with one showing him as a “sun charioteer”, an oil lamp was placed behind him so the rays would shine in the dark. • Some was destroyed in the early fourth century, supposedly by Christians • One of the most impressive of its kind found in Britain

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