TEMPLE TO MITHRAS

Evening Star, Issue 21934, 22 January 1935, Page 13

TEMPLE TO MITHRAS

RIVAL TO CHRISTIANITY The discovery in Dura, “ the Pompeii of the Euphrates,” of a temple dedicated to tho Persian god, Mithras, most important deity of the Roman Army, was announced recently by Yale University, which, with the French Academy, is excavating the ancient city, states the ‘ Christian Science Monitor.’

The seventh year of excavating Dura also brought to light a Roman temple to Zeus and a temple to the Phoenician god, Adonis, and liis consort, Astarte, the lirst discovered temples of these deities.

A head of Astarte, the goddess of love, with two doves on her shoulders, was discovered in its ruins. Dr Michael ]. Rostovtzeff, sterling professor of ancient history and classical arclneology, said the importance of the discovery of the sanctuary of Mithras cannot bo exaggerated. Ho continued

Mithras was the greatest of tho rivals of Christ in the third century, A-n. In his pointed manner, the great K Renan once said that were Christianity prevented from spreading, the religion of the modern world would bo that of Mithras.” It is decorated with two bas-reliefs depicting the great exploits of Mithras, Zoroaster, and Osthones, and a picture or Mithras hunting tho wild animals fhe Iranian forests. Hie room for the congregation contained two of the usual lying benches from which members of fhe congregaf*? 11 —Roman soldiers of the garrison of Dura—partook of the sacred meals and witnessed the sacred ceremonies performed hy the Magi. Methods of ancient warfare used between the Persians and the Romans, together with armour and weapons, also were brought to light. 'ihe ruins of Dura, in what is now byna, mark the outlying post of GneeoKoimm civilisation, which existed from 280 n.c. to L>s6 a. i > . 'I ho city was first a Macedonian colony ol Alexander’s general, Aicanor, and received its Greek culture on a basis ol Semitic population attracted Horn the desert to the security of the walls.

IJ was a melting pel of religions, 'nth Babylonian, Syrian. Persian, Arabian, Greek, Roman, and Christian religious edifices being built there.