Mithra
Also Mithras.
A personification of light, or the god of light, worshipped by the ancient Persians. It was one of their chief deities, and the ruler of the universe, sometimes used as a synonym for the sun.
Mithraism is the cult of Mithra. It was a personal faith, emphasizing the conflict of good and evil, and the reward of virtue and punishment of wickedness in the afterlife. It may be said to have been the only living religion which Christianity found to combat. It was strong enough to exert a formative influence on certain Christian doctrines, such as those relative to the end of the world and the powers of hell. The religion spread from Persia through the Roman Empire from 68 BC until the 3rd century AD, becoming a serious rival to Christianity. It declined in the 4th century AD.
Mithra was essentially the divinity of beneficence. He was the genius of celestial light, endowing the earth with all its benefits. As in his character of the Sun he puts darkness to flight so by a natural transition he came to represent ethically truth and integrity, the sun of goodness which conquers the night of evil.
See Awakening Mystical Consciousness, The Tao of Physics: An Exploration of the Parallels Between Modern Physics and Eastern Mysticism, The Tantric Mysticism of Tibet: A Practical Guide, Wisdom of the Mystic Masters, Buddhism, Christ, Freemasonry, Thoth, Mithra, Rosicrucians, Taoism, Mystic Gifts and Charms - New Age Gift Shop & Wicca and Pagan Supplies, Love Spells -- Use these powerful love spells to help you find and keep your true love, The Tarot Store, Divination & Scrying Tools and Supplies, Unique Amulets, Talismans, Good Luck Charms, and Love Tokens, Powerful Witch Doctor Spell Kits, Powerful Spells - Cast by Andreika the Witch, Webmasters Make $$$, AzureGreen - Celebrating All Paths to the Divine, ISIS - Tools for Your Soul's Journey, and The Pyramid Collection - Myth, Magick, Fantasy and Romance.
Sources: (1) Dictionary of the Occult, Caxton Publishing; (2) Spence, Lewis, An Encyclopedia of Occultism, Carol Publishing Group; (3) The Encyclopaedia Britannica Eleventh Edition Handy Volume Edition, Oxford University Press.
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