Mithraism

thumb|Double-faced Mithraic relief. Fiano Romano (Rome), 2nd to 3rd century CE ([[Louvre Museum).]] thumb|Mithras killing the bull (; Louvre-Lens) thumb|Rock-born Mithras and Mithraic artifacts (Baths of Diocletian, Rome)

1st century AD King of Armenia

deity in Hellenistic mythology

Mithra ( ; ) is an ancient Iranian deity (yazata) of covenants, light, oaths, justice, the Sun, contracts, and friendship. In addition to being the divinity of contracts, Mithra is also a judicial figure, an all-seeing protector of Truth (Asha), and the guardian of cattle, the harvest, and the Waters.

thumb|CIMRM 641: Tauroctony scene on side A of a two-sided Roman bas-relief. 2nd or 3rd century, found at Fiano Romano, near [[Rome, now on display in the Louvre. In the upper corners are Helios with the raven, and Luna.]]

torch-bearers depicted attending the god Mithras in the icons of ancient Roman cult of Mithraism

1971 novel by Wallace Breem