Mithras was principal deity of a Persian-derived Roman religious Cult that existed concurrent with Christianity. Mithraism was an initiatory cult that shared many similarities with early Christianity, and is believed by many scholars to have influenced practices of the Catholic church. Worship centered around the solar deity Mithras, who may or may not be related to the Persian Mithra. The cult was open to men only, and consisted of a number of initiatory grades concieved as a ladder of ascension. Candidates were moved figuratively through the spheres of the seven planets, each grade offering its own symbolism, precious metal, and moral requirements.

Followers of Mithras, like Christians, partook in a eucharistic liturgy, ritually consuming bread and wine representing the body of the God. Initiates who ascented to the rank of priest were called Pater, father.

The central icon of Mithraic worship was the Tauroctony, or bull-slaying scene, which depicted an astrological tableau with Mithras sacrificing the bull of Taurus.

Pronunciation: Meeth-rahs • (noun)