Mher – Mithra: The Radiant Deity of Ancient Armenia

In the rich tapestry of Armenian mythology, Mihr (known as Mithra or Mithras in Latin) stands as the supreme deity—the embodiment of the Illuminating Rays of the Sun. Revered by ancient Armenians, Mihr’s influence extended from the highlands of Greater Armenia to the far reaches of the Roman Empire.

Here are the fascinating layers of Mihr’s story:

1. The Temple of Mihr in Bagaran:
   • The heart of Mihr’s worship lay in the main Temple of Mihr/Mher Mithra, nestled in the city of Bagaran within the Derjan region of Upper Armenia. This sacred site held a special place in the hearts of the faithful.
2. An Ancient Legacy:
   • The earliest records of Mithraic worship date back to the Armenian kingdom of Hurri-Mitanni. Cuneiform tablets discovered in the Hittite capital of Hattusa during archaeological excavations in 1907 reveal glimpses of this ancient devotion.
3. Suppiluliuma’s Treaty:
   • In the 14th century BCE, Hittite king Suppiluliuma forged a peace treaty with Armenian king Shattiwaza. Suppiluliuma invoked the blessings of the great Armenian deities, including Mithra, sealing a bond of friendship and peace between the Hattians and Mitanni.
4. Mithra’s Primacy in Armenia:
   • Remarkably, this treaty predates references to Mithra in Iranian inscriptions and Indian Vedas by a millennium. Mithra was firmly established as a native Armenian deity, occupying a unique place in the national pantheon.
5. Zoroaster’s Silence:
   • Curiously, Mithra finds no mention in the Gathas—the earliest Zoroastrian texts attributed to Zoroaster himself. Scholars speculate that Zoroaster deliberately omitted Mithra, suggesting a rejection of this deity.
6. Mithra’s Emergence Beyond Armenia:
   • In the fourth century BCE, Mithra’s positive portrayal emerges in Iranian inscriptions by Achaemenid king Xerxes II Mnemon. Mithraism, or Mithraic mysteries, would soon transcend Armenia, spreading eastward to Iran and India and westward to the Roman Empire.
7. Mithraic Influence in Rome:
   • Armenian aristocrats, including King Tiridates III, played a pivotal role. Tiridates, a devoted follower of Mithras, even accepted a battle challenge from a Gothic chieftain and emerged victorious.
8. Mithraism and Roman Emperors:
   • By the second century BCE, Mithraism became the de facto state religion of the Roman Empire. Roman emperors embraced Mithraic rituals, which later influenced elements of emerging Roman Catholicism.
9. Symbolism of the Sun King:
   • The eight rays adorning the traditional crown of Armenian kings symbolize the Sun’s brilliance—the essence of Mithra. The eight-pointed star, flanked by eagles, further echoes this celestial connection.
10. The Unification of Worlds:
    • The Armenian tiara, with its sacred rim—the ribbon of glory—represents the fusion of spiritual and material realms. Through Mithra, the Sun God found earthly embodiment.

In tracing the journey of Mithra, we uncover threads that connect ancient Armenia to distant lands, weaving a luminous tapestry of faith and reverence.

The Mysteries of Mithra: A Journey from Ancient Armenia to the Heart of Western Civilization

In the shadowed recesses of time, the ancient deity Mithra emerged from the rugged landscapes of Armenia, leaving an indelible mark on the tapestry of human history. From the sun-kissed highlands of Greater Armenia to the grandeur of the Roman Empire, Mithra’s influence transcended borders, shaping customs, rituals, and beliefs that echo through the ages.

Here, we delve into the enigmatic world of Mithra:

1. Origins in Armenia:
   • Mithra’s roots stretch back to the second millennium BCE, where the fertile soil of Armenia cradled the earliest expressions of devotion. As the supreme deity, Mithra personified the Illuminating Rays of the Sun—a celestial force that touched hearts and minds.
2. Handshakes and Customs:
   • Remarkably, Mithraism gifted the world a simple yet profound gesture—the handshake. Followers of Mithra exchanged this symbol of fellowship, and today, it unites people across cultures and continents.
3. Holidays and Celebrations:
   • The legacy of Mithra extends to our calendar. Christmas, celebrated on December 25, traces its lineage to Mithraic festivities. Roman emperors reveled in these sacred days, and the Roman Catholic Church later embraced them.
4. Sunday Mass and Caves:
   • Christian tradition echoes Mithraic practices. Sunday Mass, a cornerstone of Christian worship, harks back to the day of Mithra—the Sun’s day. Temples built directly into caves, where Mithraic mysteries unfolded, persisted through the Armenian Apostolic Church and survive in the awe-inspiring Geghard temple.
5. Sacred Centers of Armenia:
   • Across Greater Armenia, eight sacred centers held the secrets of pagan gods and goddesses. Each center housed magnificent temples, their stones whispering tales of devotion and cosmic connection.
6. Gevork Nazaryan’s Insights:
   • Historian Gevork Nazaryan, in his seminal work “Pre-Christian Gods of Armenia,” unraveled the threads of Mithra’s influence. His scholarship, spanning books and articles, illuminated the ancient past and earned him a place in the New York Academy of Sciences.
7. The Avesta Connection:
   • Nersisyan’s exploration intersected with the oldest surviving copy of the Avesta—the sacred texts of Zoroastrianism. Through meticulous study, he revealed the hidden layers of Mithra’s story.

As we traverse the corridors of time, let us honor Mithra—the radiant deity who bridged worlds, leaving footprints in the sands of Armenia and the heart of Western civilization.

This article draws from the rich tapestry of Mithra’s legacy, weaving together threads of faith, tradition, and scholarly inquiry. For those curious souls seeking deeper revelations, the works of Gevork Nazaryan beckon—a gateway to ancient mysteries and timeless truths.

Artatsolum