Pictish Mithraism

The Taezali Picts guard all our unborn spirits in the haven of the 'Bryhery Gap'. Soon, outside forces will threaten the stability of their souls. With the future children of all races' 'ability to choose' in doubt; the Picts, under the guidance of the Pan, the 'spirit of nature', prepare for battle with the creator of their world. They are assisted by Elfs, Finns and Gridolers. Can Pan maintain a balance between order and chaos, or will Thoth win the battle to control humanity throughout eternity? An easy to read, generally light-hearted, tale for people of all ages. Older readers will enjoy the enlightening philosophy in the story, whilst younger readers will just like hearing an original story for a change. All however, will see the moral of the tale; when nature identifies human activity as the cause of imbalance, then it will remove the source of that imbalance.

A detailed and extensive search through the history of Arthurian literature and the Island of Britain to discover the true form, nature and purpose of the "Holy Grail".

Mithras explores the history and practices of the ancient mystery religion Mithraism, looking at both literary and material evidence for the god Mithras and the reception and allure of his mysteries in the present. The genesis and spread of Mithraism remain highly controversial. This book examines our current state of knowledge on the pre-classical Indo-Iranian god, Mitra, and argues that Mithraism was a product of Mitra’s encounter with the religious thought of the classical world. It then charts the life history of Mithraism in the Roman Empire, exploring the social background of its initiates and the reasons for their attraction to the religion. The rituals and beliefs of the cult are as mysterious as its origins; in studying Mithraic "caves" and paintings found in some Mithraic temples, we can better understand and reconstruct the rituals the Mithraists practiced. While "bull-slaying", or tauroctony, lies at the core of the Mithraic mythos, this volume explores other incidents in the god’s life depicted in ancient art, including his miraculous birth and his banquet with the sun, as well as the disconcerting lion-headed "enveloped god". After a fall from grace in the post-classical world, Mithras has resurrected himself in the present, establishing himself as one of the most recognisable if elusive gods of antiquity. Mithras provides a fascinating study of this complex god that will be of interest to scholars and students of Roman and Late Antique religion, mystery cults, as well as those working on society and religion in antiquity more broadly.

This volume sets forth a new explanation of the meaning of the cult of Mithraism, tracing its origins not, as commonly held, to the ancient Persian religion, but to ancient astronomy and cosmology.