survivals of the mystery cults

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survivals of the mystery cults

Postby Lucius Tyrrhenus Garrulus on Fri Jan 16, 2004 5:59 am

SALVETE OMNES, S.V.B.E.V.
Does anyone know if the "mystery cults" continued into the late Empire?
By mystery cults I mean Mithra, Cybele, Isis, etc.
I'm not so much interested in their origins as I am in the possibility that they may have continued into the late Empire.
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Postby Gnaeus Dionysius Draco on Sat Jan 17, 2004 11:19 pm

What do you mean by the late Empire?

According to what I know, the Mithraic cult was at the height of its popularity in the later (3rd-4th century) Empire. Aurelianus (end of 3rd century) was known for the cult of Sol Invictus, which, although little is known about it, was a syncretic cult that incorporated many elements from Mithraism (which was popular with many military men).

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Postby Horatius Piscinus on Mon Jan 19, 2004 3:35 pm

Salve Garrule

I too would like to know what you mean by Late Empire. Fourth century, after Constantine? Yes, the mysteries consitnued. The Eleusian mysteries I think were closed down in the 390's. There continued active communities for centuries afterward, well into the 13th century in some places, and some would claim they were never completely extinguished.

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Postby Lucius Tyrrhenus Garrulus on Tue Jan 20, 2004 1:11 am

M Moravi Horati Piscine wrote:There continued active communities for centuries afterward, well into the 13th century in some places, and some would claim they were never completely extinguished.
SALVETE OMNES!
Right there... that's what I was getting at.
Christianity would also be listed as one of the eastern "mystery cults," no?
If so, then we know for sure that that at least one has survived until today.
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