Chapter XVI
The Mithrades
The Mithrades of ancient Persia had their secret societies and have imitators to-day.
On the Mithraic monuments we find representations of the globe, of the sun, the club and bull, symbols of the highest truths, the highest creative activity, the highest vital power. The principal dogmas as revised by Zoroaster, are as follows: From the beginning there have existed two beings, Ormuzd and Ahriman, the principles of the universe. Ormuzd is pure eternal light, the spirit of beauty and love, and original source of perfection. Ahriman was also originally of the light, and so far good; but as he envied the light of Ormuzd he obscured his own, became an enemy to Ormuzd and the father of evil, and of all evil beings who joined him in a contest with the good. Ormuzd and Ahriman performed the work of creation at different epochs, and brought into existence various species of beings. Ormuzd created the community of good spirits; first six immortal spirits of light; then twenty-eight subordinate spirits, representatives of the months and days; and at last a multitude of human souls. Ahriman produced a number of bad spirits, six great spirits of darkness and a large number of bad spirits of a lower rank. The good dwell with Ormuzd in the light; the bad with Ahriman in the kingdom of darkness.
The place for initiation was always a subterranean apartment. A ladder with seven steps led from one place to another, by which candidates ascended to the mansion of felicity. The probationer had to undergo long and severe trials before he was admitted to the full knowledge of the mysteries. The first degree was inaugurated with purifying lustrations, and a sign was set on the neophyte’s brow, whilst he offered to the god a loaf of bread and a cup of water. A crown was presented to him on the point of a sword, and he put it on his head saying: “Mithras is my crown.” In the second degree the candidate put on an armor to meet giants and monsters, and a wild chase took place in the subterranean caves. The priests and officers of the temple, disguised as lions, tigers, leopards, bears, wolves, and other wild beasts, attacked the candidate with fierce howlings. In these sham fights the aspirant ran great personal danger, though sometimes the assailants caught a Tartar. In the next degree he put on a mantle on which were painted the signs of the zodiac. A curtain then concealed him from the sight of all; but this being withdrawn, he appeared surrounded by frightful griffins. After passing through other trials, if his courage did not fail him, he was hailed as the “Lion of Mithras,” in allusion to the zodiacal sign in which the sun attained his greatest power. Then a solemn oath was administered to him, binding him to secrecy under the most severe penalties.
The Heptasophs have largely borrowed from this ancient order.
