Universität Wien

010099 VO The Roman Cult of Mithras (2016S)

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 1 - Katholische Theologie

Details

Language: English

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes

MO 09.05.2016 11.30-14.45 Ort: Seminarraum 3 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG; DI 10.05.2016 11.30-14.45 Ort: Seminarraum 2 (Kath) Schenkenstraße; MI 11.05.2016 11.30-14.45 Ort: Seminarraum 3 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG; DO 12.05.2016 11.30-14.45 Ort: Seminarraum 3 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG; FR 13.05.2016 11.30-14.45 Ort: Seminarraum 3 (Kath) Schenkenstraße EG


Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The primary objective of this course is to provide students with a comprehensive introduction into many historical, social and cultural aspects of the Roman Cult of Mithras. Besides basic elements of the Roman Cult of Mithras (cult's architecture, iconography, inner structure, ritual or soteriology etc.), the attention will be also paid to the broader role of this cult in the religious and social world of the Late Antiquity. Various methodological concerns connected with the study of this religious cult will be also taken into account, e.g. the questionability of supposed continuity of the Roman Cult of Mithras with Persian religious tradition, complications following from interpretation of archaeological sources without the corroboratary support of ancient literatry texts, the implausability of many astrological interpretations of Mithraic iconography and ideology etc.

0. Introductory class
1. The Roman Cult of Mithras and Its Role in the Religious World of the Late Antiquity I
2. The Origins of the Roman Cult of Mithras I: Continuity, Transformation or
Invention?
3. Historical origins of the Roman Cult of Mithras II: The Diffusion of the Cult in the Roman Empire
4. Cult's Architecture: A Mithraeum
5. Mithraic Iconography
6. Astrological Interpretations of the Tauroctony
7. Mithraic Iniatory Grades (21.11.2007)
8. Mithraic Ritual and Ideology I (28.11.2007)
9. Mithraic ritual and ideology II
10. Social Structure of the Roman Cult of Mithras (12.12.2007)
11. The Roman Cult of Mithras and Its Role in the Religious World of the Late Antiquity II: Final Discussion

Assessment and permitted materials

Conditions of completion

Submission of a semestral paper on a chosen topic related to the Roman Cult of Mithras. Formal requirements: 8-10 pages (Times New Roman, font size 12, line spacing 1,5); references (either footnotes or in-text citations) and bibliography are required.

Suggested Themes of semestral papers (examples)

• Mithraism: Rival of Christianty?
• Mithraism: Persian or „Persian“ Religion?
• Astrology: A Backdoor to the Understanding of the Roman Cult of Mithras?
• Origins of Mithraism from Archaeological Perspective
• Proselytization and Conversion in the Roman Cult of Mithras
• Mithraic Ritual: What We Can Know?
• Mithraeum: Its Architecture and Function

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Obligatory Reading
Manfred CLAUSS, Roman Cult of Mithras: The God and His Mysteries, Edinburgh:
Edinburgh University Press 2000 = Manfred CLAUSS, Mithras: Kult und Mysterium. Mainz: Philipp von Zabern 2012.

And also articles and studies relevant to particular lectures whose prior reading is required. The texts are to be found in pdf. format in the Study Materials.

Examination topics

Reading list

Literature:

ad abstract 1.
Reading: A. Mellor, The Local Character of Roman Imperial Religion, in: Athenaeum 80, 1992, s. 385-400.
Optional reading:
J. North, The development of Religious Pluralism, in: J. Lieu - J. North - T. Rajak (eds.), The Jews among Pagans and Christians in the Roman Empire, London - New York 1992, s. 174-193.
R. L. Gordon, Religion in the Roman Empire: the civic compromise and its limits, in: M. Beard - J. North (eds.), Pagan Priests. Religion and Power in the Ancient World, London 1990, s. 235-255.
R. Beck, Four Stages on a Road to Redescribing the Mithraic Mysteries;, in: R. Beck, Beck on Mithraism: Collected Works with New Essays, Aldershot 2004, s. xxi-xxvii.

ad abstract 2.
Reading: R. Beck, The Mysteries of Mithras: A New Account of Their
Genesis, in: Journal of Roman Studies 88, 1998, s. 115-128.
or (alternatively)
R. L. Gordon, Persei sub rupibus antri: Überlegungen zur Entstehung
der Mithrasmysterien, in: M. Vomer Gojkovic (ed.), Ptuj v rimskem
cesarstvu - Mitraizem in njegova doba, Ptuj 2001, s. 289-301.
Optional reading:
R. L. Gordon, Franz Cumont and the doctrines of Mithraism, in: J. Hinnells (ed.), Mithraic Studies I, Manchester 1975, s. 215-248.

ad abstract 3.
Reading: M. Clauss, The Roman Cult of Mithras: The God and His Mysteries, Edinburgh 2000, s. 21-32.*
Optional reading:
M. Volken, The development of the cult of Mithras in the western Roman Empire: a socioarcheological perspective, in: Electronic Journal of Mithraic Studies 4, 2004 [word dokument, 20 pages].

ad abstract 4.
Reading: M. Clauss, The Roman Cult of Mithras: The God and His Mysteries,
Edinburgh 2000, s. 42-61.*

Optional reading:
R. Beck, Cosmic Models: Some Uses of Hellenistic Science in Roman Religion, in: R. Beck, Beck on Mithraism: Collected Works with New Essays, Aldershot 2004, s. 335-353.

ad abstract 5.
Reading: M. Clauss, The Roman Cult of Mithras: The God and His Mysteries, London - New York 2001, s. 62-101, 146-155.*

ad abstract 6.
Reading: R. Beck, Planetary Gods and Planetary Orders in the Mysteries of Mithras, Leiden 1988, s. 1-11.*
Optional Reading:
R. Beck, In the place of the Lion: Mithras in the tauroctony, in: J. Hinnells (ed.), Studies in Mithraism, Roma 1994, 29-50.*

ad abstract 7.
Reading: M. Clauss, The Roman Cult of Mithras: The God and His Mysteries, Edinburgh 2000, s. 131-140.*

ad abstract 8.
Reading:
Optional reading:
R. Beck, Qui mortalitatis causa convenerunt: The meeting of the Virunum Mithraists on June 26, A. D. 184, in: Phoenix 52, 1998, s. 335-344.*
R. Beck, Ritual, Myth, Doctrine, and Initiation in the Mysteries of Mithras: New Evidence from a Cult Vessel, in: Journal of Roman Studies 90, 2000, s. 145-180.*

ad abstract 9.
Reading: L. H. Martin, Cognitive Science, Ritual, and the Hellenistic Mystery Religions, in: Religion&Theology 13, 2006, 383-395.*
Optional reading:
L. H. Martin, The Roman Cult of Mithras: A Cognitive Perspective, in: Religio 14/2, 2006, 131-146.

ad abstract 10.
Reading: M. Clauss, The Roman Cult of Mithras: The God and His Mysteries, Edinburgh 2000, s. 33-41.*
Optional reading:
J. H. W. G. Liebeschuetz, The expansion of Mithraism among the religious cults of the second century, in: J. Hinnells (ed.), Studies in Mithraism, Roma 1994, s. 195-216.*
A. Chalupa, Hyenas or Lionesses? Mithraism and Women in the Religious World of the Late Antiquity, in: Religio 13.2, 2005, 198-230.


Association in the course directory

Master RW 066 800 M1, LV zu W10, (freies) Wahlfach für 020,

Last modified: We 19.08.2020 07:54