I. World Religions
A.
World Empires
1.
Hellenistic (323-30 BC)
2.
Roman (World Dominion 30 BC - AD 410):One
ruler; two languages (Greek /
Latin); many cultures / religions
B.
Syncretism (mixing together)
C.
Fortune (Fortuna, Tyche)
Savior:helps
you outdo Fortune; mostly in this world
II. Isis
A.
Myth
-Twins
Isis and Osiris married; boxed by Seth and set to sea; box / column recovered;
dismembered and gathered
-Osiris
= Nile / Isis = Earth
B.
Rites and Mysteries
1.
Festivals:Navigium
Isidis (Voyage of Isis); procession
/ festival
2.
Mysteries (Apuleius Met. 11.19-23)
Not
entirely open; Stages
Cult
Societies:regular prayer; linen;
chaste (groupies); salvation
C.
Universality
-Ptolemy
Iand the Sarapeum (Egyptian / Greek
Pop.)
-Egyptian
Migration:traders; mission (Delian
Cult)
-Isis
in Rome:Rejection (28 / 21 BC);
Public Temple (39 AD); Associated
with emperor worship
-Isis
in the Empire:"many-named" = universal
III.Mithras
A.
Theories:Tauroctony (Bull-slaying)
1.
Persian Model (Cumont)
2.
Astronomical Model (Ulansey)
3.
From Commagene (Persian
/ Greek border state): combines Persian myth with Greek astrology (Beck)
B.
Inititation
-Seven
Grades:Club / Secret Society
-Torture
/ Initiation
-Transcendance
/ Salvation
C.
Universality
-Spread
via Army
-Excludes
Women
