Mithraism

[ mith-ruh-iz-uhm ]

noun

1. an ancient Persian religion in which Mithras was worshiped, involving secret rituals to which only men were admitted: a major competitor of Christianity in the Roman empire during the 2nd and 3rd centuries a.d.

Mithraism

/ ˈmɪθreɪˌɪzəm; mɪθˈreɪɪˌsɪzəm; mɪθˈreɪɪk /

noun

1. the ancient Persian religion of Mithras. It spread to the Roman Empire during the first three centuries ad

Derived Forms

• ˈMithraist, nounadjective
• Mithraic, adjective

Other Words From

• Mith·ra·ic [mith-, rey, -ik], Mithra·istic adjective
• Mithra·ist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Mithraism¹

Mithra(s) + -ism

Example Sentences

According to Dr. Mehravari, the origins of Yalda date back to pre-Zoroastrian Mithraism, the worship of the god of the sun.

From New York Times

However, Mithraism — the most popular pre-Christian religion of the Roman Empire — did honor the solstice as “the birth day of the unconquered sun” when Mithras “emerged from his birth place in a cave, witnessed by two shepherds.”

From Washington Post

By the middle of the 4th century, Christians had settled on Dec. 25 as the day of Christ’s birth, partly in competition with the holiday in the mystery religion Mithraism of the birthday of the unconquered sun.

From Washington Post

“Yalda” means birth, and in the pre-Zoroastrian religion Mithraism, the god of the sun was believed to have been born on the longest night of the year.

From New York Times

Unlike other Roman Gods, such as Jupiter, Mithraism was congregational in nature, Beard says.

From BBC