Alternative Geography

"The House of Sorrows."

We must find our way through an altered political and religious geography. The narrator, Ro Esbernsson, is a Marklander from New Denmark but Markland is no European country because the red-domed Mithraeum and blue-domed Shrine of the Good Mother in the city of Mirzabad are said to be:

"...taller than any in Europe or Markland..." (p. 76) (my emphasis)

(Mithraeum and Shrine must correspond roughly to church and Lady Chapel.)

From his boyhood, Ro remembers Ivarsthorp near the Connecticut River, also Lake Winnepesaukee and Merrimack Haven, this last sounding from its description like an Atlantic harbour. Apparently, it was the Trekfolk who came and cultivated Markland. North Markland is said to be:

"'Across the Western Sea...'" (p. 79)

Mithraists have their divisions. The Ispanyans:

"...look on our Northern godword as heretical. Asiatic Mithraists are at odds with both, but hold that different roads may lead to the same truth. In this, if in naught else, the East is wiser than the West." (pp. 75-76)

If, within our received traditions, we are free to practice as seems best to us without harassment or worse by "heresy" police, then we are more likely to find our way to some measure of truth. At least, there are fewer impediments. The East is indeed wiser.

However:

"Even the orthodox Zarathustrans have always looked on Mithraists as fallen halfway back into heathenism, the more so after our cult linked itself to that of the Good Mother. To the Puritans, we are worse than that, worse than infidels, the very creatures of Angra Mainyu." (p. 79)

We meet again "...lion-headed Aeon..." (p. 76) (Scroll down.) Accusations of heresy must dwindle to insignificance before Aeon.

The All-Devouring

In The King Of Ys, Poul and Karen Anderson mention a Mithraic figure called "Lion-headed Time." Here, I compare this figure both to the Hindu man-lion incarnation and to CS Lewis' Aslan whom I accuse of swallowing universes whereas in fact, to be more precise:

"'I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and realms,' said the Lion."
-CS Lewis, The Silver Chair (London, 1988), p. 23.

Nevertheless, He is quite omnivorous. I suggest that, in His aspect as swallower of realms, Aslan functions not as the Biblical Lion of Judah but as cosmic Time, the All-Devouring. Gratillonius thinks of the Ultimate that is not prayed to, that is known of only by the highest ranks, and that is before and above all else forever as:

the One from Which Everything comes
Time
Aeon
Chronos
Saturnus
the Source
the Fountainhead.

Below the One but above all Gods is Ahura-Mazda Who is also called:

Ormazd
Jupiter
Zeus
the High
the Ever-Good.

Ahura-Mazda creates other Gods and His commander in the war against Ahriman is Mithras. Thus perhaps there is a sort of Trinity of Time, Ahura-Mazda and Mithras.

The Myth Of Mithras

In Poul and Karen Anderson's Roma Mater (London, 1989), Gratillonius instructs a Mithraic postulant. The Andersons acknowledge that little is known about Mithraic doctrines but they "...present those which are reasonably well attested." (p. 480)

Gratillonius starts to speak of " '...the One from Which Everything comes...,' " then checks himself because Time, Aeon, Chronos, Saturnus, the Source, the Fountainhead, the Ultimate is "...for the higher ranks, those allowed into the sanctuary..." and, in any case, is not prayed to. (p. 305)

Christians and Buddhists pride themselves that they have no hidden or esoteric doctrines. This passage implies that Mithraists did. In some Indian traditions, meditative techniques are divulged only to initiates so that they will not become debased. John Blofeld, an expert on Tibetan Buddhism, wrote, in a very short chapter on secret Tibetan rituals, that anyone who claims to reveal such rituals should be disregarded because he is either lying or breaking a confidence. Zazen, which I practice, is open to all and much has been written about it but it is advisable to heed an informed instructor before starting to practice it. I would refer enquirers to the Group, not instruct them myself.

Having avoided mention of the Ultimate, Gratillonius identifies the highest God as Ahura-Mazda, variously named Ormazd, Jupiter, Zeus etc. The names do not matter so that, in this case, there is not any one true name. Gratillonius had said earlier that he did not worship Jupiter but, on that occasion, he referred to the chief Olympian, not to the highest Mithraic deity. I notice that, in Classical mythology, Saturn, a Titan, and Jupiter, an Olympian, belong to successive generations of gods while, in Mithraism, Saturn is a name for the Ultimate and Jupiter is a name for the highest god.

If we fight for Ahura-Mazda against Ahriman (Evil, Chaos), then our Commander is Mithras who was born from a rock, as was the Chinese Monkey King although I imagine that this is a coincidence. Shepherds saw, adored and made offerings although:

" 'This happened before there was life on earth.' " (p. 306)

Contradiction?

Ahura-Mazda made the Bull slain by Mithras. From Its body came life and "...from Its blood the wine of the Mystery." (p. 306) There was a flood, an ark and a last supper. It all sounds very crude. How is it known if it happened so long ago?

Mithraic Instruction

Roma Mater, XVII, 1.

The Scoti killed, raped or enslaved Cynan's family. Swearing to live for revenge, he lied about his age and his religion to join the army, gloried in killing barbarians, saw Medb in battle, was impressed by Eppilus' burial and now wants instruction in Mithraism but I am not clear about his motivation. Does he repent of living for revenge? Does he interpret the vision of Medb as a warning not to continue down that road?

Instructing Cynan, Gratillonius begins to refer to:

the One from Which Everything comes

Time

Aeon

Chronos

Saturnus

the Source

the Fountainhead

the Ultimate which is not prayed to

- but checks himself because that is for the higher ranks. Instead, he refers to:

one above all Gods

Ahura-Mazda

Ormazd

Jupiter

Zeus

He Is 

the High

the Ever-Good

I agree that the Ultimate is not to be prayed to but not that any truth should be kept from lower ranks.

Gratillonius concludes the first day of instruction by saying that Cynan might decide not to join:

"'...every man has to find his own way...'" (p. 307)

Infinitely more enlightened than telling him that he will be damned if he is not initiated.