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92 of 106 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
A New Age "Wiccanizing" of Mithras, September 11, 2005
This review is from: The Mysteries of Mithras: The Pagan Belief That Shaped the Christian World (Paperback)
Nabarz gives an interesting overview of the ancient historical origins of the early Mithra, and he is well suited to the task, given his background and knowledge of the area.
Then he takes us through history to the various peoples who worshipped Mithra(s), including the Romans. He, like most modern students, discounts earlier scholars like Franz Cumont, who saw a connection between earlier worshippers in Persia and those in Rome. This skepticism is, I believe, mistaken, and comes from a modernist view and perhaps an agenda, which is quickly revealed in later chapters.
That agenda is the "Wiccanizing" of Mithra in a so-called revivalist religion, which he details in the book. Using a dubiously-translated "liturgy" of ooos and ahs (which he tampers with, in the name of his new religion) He then introduces an ancient Female goddess, Anahita, into his non-historical pantheon. It's surprising that he doesn't call Mithras the "horned god" as other Wiccans do. The final blow is a description and photo of an "altar" which mimicks one that might be seen in any Wiccan's home.
In short, the attempt to Wiccanize Mithraism is a dubious, spurious and laughable attempt to cash in on the current Earth-centered witch craze (the book is in the "new age" section of bookstores, not in religion or history.)
A far better overview of Mithras and His origins would be the Mysteries of Mithra, by Franz Cumont, a scholar who spent his entire life studying Mithras, and one which students of the New Age have been trying to "refute" and reinterpret for a generation. However, Cumont remains the towering figure in the field of Mithraic research.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
value depends on your needs, January 6, 2008
This review is from: The Mysteries of Mithras: The Pagan Belief That Shaped the Christian World (Paperback)
Payam Nabarz, according to the author bio, is a sufi and practicing dervish, a druid, a member of the Golden Dawn, and a revivalist of the temple of Mithras. In other words, his interest in the subject of Mithras comes from the side of mystery religion, ritual, and for lack of a better word an occult approach, versus looking at the subject from the point of view of say a religious archaeologist. There is nothing invalid in his approach; you just need to note it to understand the book and evaluate its value to you as a reader.
The first half of the book is fairly rough going, as the author discusses the origins of first the Persian Mithra religion, according to some antedating Zoroastrianism but later folded into it; then addresses the worship of Mithras in the Roman world (roughly 100 BC to 400 AD). There is some good writing on key Mithraic iconography, with discussion of the tauroctony, the figure of the leontocephaline, the creation myth according to Mithraic tradition, complete with the major characters in that story. This might be the most informative part of the book.
There is then presented the seven initiatory rites and grades of Mithras, with symbols and connections to the creation myth or symbolism made clear. Additional material shows the leaking of Mithraism into Yezidi and Christian tradition. A traditional Persian fairy tale is recounted and analyzed from a Mithraic point of view, its symbolism and story laid bare. That takes us up to page 85 or so.
The second half of the book is somewhat more fanciful. As stated, the author is active in the revival of Mithraism, and he has written meditations and initiation ceremonies for each of the seven grades, for use as solo practitioners or in group practice. This and further suggestions for practical worship take up the second half of the book. He writes that it took him on average a year to write each of the seven. Apparently there is extremely little actually existing historical record of the actual ritual or procedure used in ancient Mithraea, and so this forces the revivalist to come up with his own workings. As I have not attempted to work these rituals I have no idea as to the efficacy thereof; they are heavy on guided visualization, chanting, and to a certain degree autohypnosis and appear totally harmless.
Finally, on a positive note, the author has compiled an excellent bibliography of book written and online work, modern Mithraic groups and internet resources. Although the focus of this book is less on historical inquiry than in a fanciful reconstruction, and thus is very different from the work of serious historians such as Cumont, it is nonetheless a valuable resource for those interested in the subject.
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13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent practical book on Mithras, May 10, 2006
This review is from: The Mysteries of Mithras: The Pagan Belief That Shaped the Christian World (Paperback)
The first section of the book offers a clear overview of many aspects of the Mithraic field of study. An excellent introduction to the subject.
For further reading see the works of Becks, Ulansey and Clauss, do this and you'll have all angles covered as there number of different theories in the field.
The second section of the book covers the practical aspect of this religion in modern times. There are modern rites and photos of recent neo-pagan Mithraic temples, which make it clear that this religion has made a come back.
The section on Christianity is very interesting, especially the comparison of the Mithras Liturgy to the Book of Revelations.
It also contains the Mithras Liturgy and the entire Zoroastrian hymn to Mithra which are very useful resources.
The numerous photos and images make the points much easier to follow.
The Anahita chapter is fascinating as after all one Anahita temple in Iran (circa 200BC) bears the inscription "Anahita, as the Immaculate Virgin Mother of the Lord Mithra" and the two were so closely linked that Herodotus mistook Mithra for the goddess!
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