Meta Description: Join Dr. David Noe and Dr. Jeff Winkle in Ad Navseam Episode 41 as they explore the Mysteries of Mithras. From the “Prius of Hades” to the “Time Machine” coffee roaster, discover the secrets of the ancient bull-slayer, the meaning of the “Tauroctony,” and why the world probably wouldn’t have been Mithraic even without Christianity.
Introduction: Heat, Humidity, and Highs in the 90s
Welcome back to the “Vomitorium,” listeners! It is Episode 41 of the Ad Navseam Podcast, and the weather in Grand Rapids is the subject of some spirited debate. Dr. Jeff Winkle is basking in the glory of a Michigan June, with clear blue skies and temperatures hitting the upper 80s—”perfect weather,” in his estimation. He loves the heat.
Dr. David Noe, however, is wilting. He prefers the low humidity. The coming forecast of 90 degrees is “too much” for him. He recalls a sweltering trip to Athens in August 2012, where the heat “rolled up over the ocean” and smothered the city and the Acropolis like a heavy blanket. But Dr. Winkle remains an optimist about the heat, perhaps channeling the solar energy of the deity they are about to discuss. Today, the hosts leave the open air to descend into the dark, subterranean world of the Mysteries of Mithras.
Shout-Out: The Reverend Dr. Waddington
Before we light the torches, we have a shout-out to a very distinguished listener: The Reverend Dr. Jeffrey C. Waddington. A friend of Dr. Noe, Jeff Waddington has a fascinating résumé. He once served as a pastor in the Salvation Army before moving to the Philadelphia area and joining the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. He is currently pastoring a church in Pennsylvania.
Jeff is also a true “jack of all trades” when it comes to language, being a student of Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. Dr. Winkle notes that he shares the name “Jeff,” which automatically makes him a good guy in the hosts’ book. To Reverend Waddington and all those pursuing things of eternal value: Gratias tibi agimus!
The Opening Quote: Alternative History and the “Mortal Malady”
Dr. Winkle sets the stage with a quote from Luther Martin, a scholar of religion with a “switching of first and last name” that Dr. Noe finds amusing . Martin cites the famous 19th-century judgment of Ernest Renan:
“If the growth of Christianity had been arrested by some mortal malady, the world would have been Mithraic.”
This quote launches a discussion on “alternative history”—the “what if” game. Dr. Noe compares it to Philip K. Dick’s The Man in the High Castle, which imagines a world where the Axis powers won WWII . But is Renan’s quote accurate? Dr. Noe calls it “inherently ridiculous.” Why? Because Mithraism was exclusive to men. It is hard to imagine the entire world converting to a religion that excludes 50% of the human race. Nevertheless, as Dr. Winkle notes, the quote highlights just how widespread and popular this “rival” cult really was.
What is a Mystery Cult? (And Does Hades Drive a Prius?)
To understand Mithras, we must first define “Mystery Cult.” Dr. Noe clarifies that “cult” comes from the Latin colere (to worship or care for), not necessarily something involving Charles Manson or David Koresh . Unlike the public state religion—where you appease Zeus (who Dr. Noe’s teacher, Richard Wevers, described as “a big brute that refuses to die”)—mystery cults offered personal meaning. They filled the “hole in the heart” referenced by the band Extreme (specifically guitarist Nuno Bettencourt).
The central theme of these cults is Death and Resurrection. The hosts discuss the famous myth of Persephone, kidnapped by Hades.
- The Abduction: Hades bursts out of the earth. Dr. Winkle speculates he was driving a Prius—or at least that was the original plan for Bernini’s sculpture until the patron, with his oil industry stocks, vetoed it.
- The Cycle: Persephone’s descent and return explains the seasons. In Michigan, this means 11.5 months of winter followed by a brief, joyous spring where Dr. Noe’s roses finally open.
- The Experience: The mystery cults allowed the initiate to “ride the coattails” of the deity through death. It is like a roller coaster or a horror movie: a safe way to face death (the katabasis) and experience the thrill of survival (the resurrection/popcorn refill).
Mithras and the Tauroctony: The Bull-Slayer
The central icon of the cult is the Tauroctony (Bull-Slaying). Dr. Winkle paints the scene vividly:
- The Figure: Mithras appears as a beardless youth, wearing a Phrygian cap—which Dr. Noe helpfully describes as a “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs cap.” This marks him as an Easterner, giving the cult a “Persian sheen”.
- The Action: He has his knee on the bull’s back, pulling its head back by the nostrils/teeth, and plunging a dagger into its neck. Crucially, he is looking away. Dr. Noe suggests this is apotropaic—he is dealing with death but refuses to look it in the face.
- The Menagerie: A dog and snake lap up the blood, and a scorpion attacks the bull’s testicles.
What does it mean? Dr. Winkle suggests an astrological interpretation: Taurus (the Bull), Canis (the Dog), Scorpio (the Scorpion). The slaying represents the changing of the seasons or the cosmic age. Dr. Winkle also offers a literary comparison to Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery (a “literary version of The Hunger Games”). Just as the village stones a victim to ensure the crops grow, Mithras slays the bull to ensure cosmic life and fertility. This is supported by reliefs showing crops sprouting from the dying bull.
The Mithraeum: The Fog Machine of Antiquity
Mithraism was a “franchised” cult. You could find a Mithraeum (temple) anywhere from Hadrian’s Wall to Tunisia. The hosts recount their visit to a Mithraeum in Ostia Antica in 2016. It was an overcast day, which Dr. Winkle jokes provided “ambiance” so they didn’t have to lug their own fog machine down into the crypt . The space is small—a “Man Cave” for maybe 30 people. It has benches for dining, an altar, and often an aperture in the ceiling to let in a beam of light, adding a “sitar sense of mystery” to the ritual.
The Grades of Initiation: Roman CrossFit
One of the most appealing aspects for the Roman soldier was the hierarchy. You could “level up.” Dr. Noe compares it to the Masons, the Stonecutters (from The Simpsons), or even CrossFit. Based on mosaics like those at the Mithraeum of Felicissimus, the grades included:
- Corax (The Raven) – “Left foot red!”
- Nymphus (The Bridegroom).
- Leo (The Lion).
- Paris/Perses (The Persian).
- Heliodromus (The Sun-Runner) – Dr. Winkle’s personal favorite.
- Pater (The Father) – The highest rank.
This structure provided advancement and brotherhood, essential for the military class that flocked to the cult.
Sponsors: Time Machines and Veins
This deep dive into the ancient underground is brought to you by:
- Ad Astra Roasters: Based in Hillsdale, Michigan, Patrick Whalen’s team roasts beans on a Mill City Roaster that looks like “HG Wells’ Time Machine.” Dr. Winkle recommends reading the Rilke quote on their bags about “secret things” and “the journey within.”
- The Deal: Visit adastraroasters.com and use code ANAA for 10% off.
- Ratio Coffee: Dr. Noe loves his Ratio 8, which sends water through its metallic veins to brew perfect coffee. His friends from Oregon were so impressed by its “modern aesthetic” that they bought two!
- The Deal: Visit ratiocoffee.com and use code ANCO for 15% off.
- Hackett Publishing: For the best in classical translations, Hackett offers a 20% discount and free shipping.
- The Deal: Visit hackettpublishing.com and use code AN2021.
- The Moss Method: Dr. Noe announces a Summer Sale! Get 10% off Module 1 of his self-paced Greek course. Go from “Neophyte to Erudite” while rocking on your front porch playing Jarts.
Conclusion: Mistaken Identities in Acts 14
Next week, the hosts will tackle Acts Chapter 14. They will explore the collision of the pagan and Christian worlds when the people of Lystra mistake Paul and Barnabas for Hermes and Zeus (since Paul is the “chatty one” and Barnabas is the “jovial, quiet one”).
The Gustatory Parting Shot
Dr. Noe leaves us with a quote from food writer Florence Fabricant, whose name he loves for its alliteration. It is a simple truth to end a complex episode:
“Peanut butter is the pâté of childhood.”Valete! (And watch out for the Arhythmic Gymnastics Club).
