HIS 121 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Tunxis Community College, Mithraism, Zoroastrianism
Document Summary
Continuing integration of greek culture into roman culture. Development of mixed aristocracy, romans and locals. Coordination of crop production, transport of natural resources. Many began as fortifications for roman army. Latin word for cultivation of worship of a particular deity. Promise of a better life in the afterlife. Widespread through empire despite some skepticism among roman officials. Religion that believed there is one creator god (associated with the spirit(ahura mazda)) and another deity that was a source of chaos (ahuriman) Polytheistic but the forces of good will win. Followers must choose a life of order or a life of chaos (heaven vs. hell) Mithras is a general for ahura mazda and becomes the focus of devotion among members of the roman military (pretty much exclusively male) Exemption from imperial cult due to antiquity of religion. Do not seek converts for their religion. Conflict on which they ought to accommodate themselves to the people around them.
