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Foreign cults

Foreign cults

Roman authorities were generally tolerant of other religions provided they were not a threat to public order. And a number of (at least nominally) foreign (often eastern) cults outside the Roman state religion achieved considerable popularity throughout the empire.

Perhaps the best known is the worship of Mithras. While Mithraism displays some Iranian elements and influences, in its Roman form it may have been a quasi-oriental cult that took on its own distinctive character within the multicultural environment of the Roman empire. It was widespread in the second and third centuries AD. In Britain, for example, mithraic temples have been discovered in London and on Hadrian's Wall.

Many (but not all) of the worshippers of Mithras were soldiers and lower-ranking government officials. The cult required individual initiation (by revelation of secrets - hence these religions collectively are often known as 'mystery religions') and promised personal salvation, in contrast to the state cults.

The image shown here is that of a sculpted relief from Rome, depicting the central image of Mithraism - Mithras slaying a bull. This is accompanied by a number of figures that probably relate to Mithraic ritual and theology, including the torch-bearers on each side. A figure in the top left corner with a radiate crown represents the sun, and alludes to the relationship of Mithras with the cult of the Unconquered Sun.