Mithras

American  

[mith-ras] / ˈmɪθ ræs /

Also Mithra

noun

Persian Mythology.

1. the god of light and truth, later of the sun.

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Mithras British  

/ ˈmɪθrə, ˈmɪθræs /

noun

1. Persian myth the god of light, identified with the sun, who slew a primordial bull and fertilized the world with its blood

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Etymology

Origin of Mithras

< Latin < Greek Míthrās < Old Persian Mithra

Example Sentences

The worship of Mithras was so popular that, some historians have noted, it is easy to imagine the Roman Empire becoming Mithran instead of Christian if Constantine had not converted to the latter faith.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2020

It was built over a fourth-century church that itself sat atop a temple to the Roman god Mithras.

From The New Yorker • Sep. 12, 2016

The wine god’s local cult had installed itself in the 2nd-century Temple of Mithras, less than a mile away, when the soldiers’ god fell out of fashion.

From Washington Post • Jun. 9, 2016

Welsh archaeologist Prof WF Grimes discovered a Roman temple devoted to god of light Mithras.

From BBC • Oct. 4, 2015

She had no way of knowing if this room was older than the shrine of Mithras, or if—like the labyrinth—the rooms were a hodgepodge from many eras thrown randomly together.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan