Forlong - Rivers of Life

Sun Worship.
Justin Martyr 1 points out, followed the Mithraic initiatory rites, minus most of the
torturing and tests of courage in the Mithraic cave; as also in the eucharistic bread
and water, preceded by thanks and mystic words; in the forgiveness of her priests
before the sacred fount; and in making a holy mark on the forehead. Here the Mithraite
cast his wreath away, and said “his crown was in his god.” Truly, as the Talmudists
wrote, “the Christian religion was the work of Jupiter, Mercury, and the Sun—
all combining for the purpose;” but they added, and with more truth than they were
aware of, “that Abraham and the prophets were inspired by the genius of Saturn.” 2
The round bits of bread used at the Mithraic eucharist were called Mizal, which
is very like the Hebrew word Messah, and Latin Missa, now called usually Hostia
or Wafer. It was the “bloodless sacrifice,” and made circular to represent the Sun’s
disk, but Irish Kelts adhere to their early and real sacrifice of a lamb, and still call the
Mass—Afrionnde, “The very true Lamb of God.” The Mithraic cup or chalice—sometimes
more than one, stood like the Christian’s, on the altar or table; and the liquor
was often shown to changs colour and abundantly gain in quantity as the service
proceeded, and the prayers and praises of the people increased. 4
From Jerome we see that “the worship of Mithras long survived in Rome under
the Christian Emperors,” and doubtless much longer in the remoter districts; for this
Father speaks reproachfully of a city Prefect of 400 A.C. who “did not upset, break,
or burn the cave of Mithras, and all the monstrous images that served in the initiatory
rites;” among such the Corax, or Raven; 5 Niphus or Cheph, the lion-headed serpent;
Father Bromius, “the Roarer,” or Greek Dionysus, and Asiatic Phanaces, who had the
youth and attributes of Apollo and Bacchus.
The twelve tortures of the Mithraic Neophyte lasted forty days. He lay a certain
number of nights on ice or snow, and was scourged for two days; he was terrilied by
all the mysterious rites and sights of Mithrns, trampled upon, blindfolded, and when
his eyes were opened he found numbers of sword points all around his naked body;
often real murders were enacted before him.
When all was over, the neophyte stage was passed,
and he received two stones, symbolical of his manhood,
and was marked indelibly on some part of
the body, perhaps circumcised; but neither the
Fig 188—SUN AS MIHR, THE FERTILISER OF THE SEED
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place nor the mark is now known, though the
latter is believed to have been the equilateral tri-
angle, as at once Fire and the Moon.
Of the seven planets and their genii, these four are moot conspicuous: the Fire
of VENUS or Anaid; SUN or “Mihr, this Winged Disk—the give of Seed;” JUPITER,
or Bersiov, or Lightning, and the MORNING STAR—Mitra, or Anahid, the female of
1 Apol. II., and Tertullian, Praescript. King.
2 King’s Gnostics, note, p. 53.
3 The Rev. R. Smiddy’s Druids Ire., p. 171.
4 Epiphanius’ Hæres. xxiv; King, op. cit., 53.
5 Inferior priests were called Ravens, superior,
Lions, and so the rites were Leontica and Coracica