The Origins of the Mithraic Mysteries

Ulansey's style is highly readable and I would unhestatingly recommend it as reading for students who want to learn about this fascinating religion. Ulansey has demystified the mysteries marvelously and with admirable lucidity. --Nicholas D. Humez, Montclair State University An excellent, well-researched, comprehensive analysis of the origins of a tradition popular throughout Europe and the Near East for hundreds of years. --Antonia Tripolitis, Rutgers Univ. The illustrations and diagrams play a useful part in this clear and lively exposition concerning the origin of a major reigion which for a time rivalled Christianity. --Shadow ...sets a new standard for both scholarly and popular works on Mithras. --Timothy O'Neill, Gnosis Magazine A very interesting interpretation of the symbolism of the Mithras-religion. --Journal for the History of Astronomy Lucid....A surprisingly convincing and readable book, and I heartily recommend it to the educated general reader. --Biblical Archaeologist [A] thrilling book....Bravo for Ulansey. --Religious Studies Review Why are the Mysteries of Mithra such a mystery to us?...The astronomical explanation...has been revived in our time under different forms, but never as convincingly, with such an impressive array of arguments--iconographic, geographic, mythological, numismatic, and literary--as those offered by Dr. David Ulansey. --Jacques Duchesne-Guillemin, Institut de France Ulansey's extremely interesting book throws a completely new light on the origin of the Mithras religion. --B.L. van der Waerden, University of Zurich Ulansey has put the development of western Mithraism in an utterly new perspective. --Martin Schwartz, University of California, Berkeley An important contribution toward the comprehension of a religious cult tht spanned Greco-Roman and Near Eastern cultures in late antiquity. Erudite, well written, and fascinating to read....This excellent book is a welcome addition to research on the mysteries of Mithras, and firmly establishes the basis for furhter examination of an important cult of antiquity. --Bulletin for the Center for the Study of World Religions Fascinating reading. --Choice A fascinating and. to me, compeltely persuasive scholarly detective story. --The Key Reporter Ulansey's book addresses a very large audience, from undergraduate to scholars of religion and/or history. --The Journal of Religion