Ancient Pagan Symbolism & Tradition in Christianity

[Celtaur]

A lot of us are aware that Christianity has a plethora of combined symbolism from ancient traditions. I'd like to learn specifics of the ancient Pagan symbols and traditions that were adopted by Christianity - the roots of the traditions adopted by the organizational structure we know as Christianity. This isn't about bashing the organization of Christianity (which is not allowed on this forum and thankfully so) or refuting what is true or untrue about the religion . I'm sure many, like I, would like to have a better grasp on the symbolism and how it is all interrelated with ancient belief systems. It would be interesting to have the significance of the symbols and their history brought forth.

[Celtaur]

Resurrection is often stated as being a borrowed symbol of other mythological figures such as Mithras, Dionysus, Osiris... One thing that I noted on reading this phrase "The Body of Osiris" is that my immediate reference was to "The Body of Christ" often stated during ritual mass.

Isis and the Virgin Mary are often equated as being one and the same, with the Madonna and Child being referenced as borrowed from Isis immaculate conception of Horus.

Osiris, Isis and Horus being deemed the divine trinity.

[Haruth]

Resurrection is often stated as being a borrowed symbol of other mythological figures such as Mithras,

Christianity has inherited much from the pagan sun God, Mithras.

Mithras was born on December 25th, in a miraculous manner (from a rock) within a cave, and his birth was witnessed by a group of shepherds.

Prior to his death he shared a last sacramental meal with his twelve closest followers. Upon his death he descended into the earth and rose again after three days; after which he ascended bodily into heaven from where he continued to look after his followers.

The vernal sacrifice is common to both, as is a complex mythology relating to the movement of the sun through the zodaic.

Even the sabbath adopted by the Christian faith, in a coup of marketing genius, was that of the Mithraic tradition, rather than the Judaic tradition which would seem the natural choice.

Here is an image of him slaying the vernal bull:



Image public domain courtesy British Museum.

[Celtaur]

What is the time-line of Mithras worship? Is the bull representative of Taurus?

Also yes, the 12 disciples representative of the 12 signs of the zodiac and the Sun. Is then the story of Mithra's another symbolic myth of astrology?

[Haruth]

What is the time-line of Mithras worship?

The Mithras cult was introduced to the Roman Empire, apparently from the middle East, and ran concurrently with the rise of Christianity, peaking around 300CE. In some respects, in the west, both Mithras and Christ were in competition for the same souls...

Is the bull representative of Taurus?

Indeed it is. The cult predated the Roman Empire considerably.

If you look carefully at the image above, there are several important clues. The bull (obviously Taurus), the dog (Canis Minor), the snake (Hydra) and the scorpion gnawing the bulls testicles (Scorpio). Not evident from this angle, the motive always includes a raven (Corvus). Overlaid on this, is that the zodiac, planets, sun, moon and stars all figure heavily in Mithraic carvings.

Indeed, the significance of the slaying of the bull at the Vernal Equinox appears to date the origins of the cult to the Age of Taurus. i.e. 4000-2000 BCE, when the sun rose in Taurus at the Spring Equinox, and in Scorpio at the Autumnal Equinox. Due to the earth's wobble, each of the constellations appearing in the list above sat on the celestial equator during that period. (As did our modern Zodiac constellations, inherited from the age of aries, during that age).

It has, however, been suggested that the slaying of the bull is a reference to the end of the Age of Taurus, which would, therefore, date the cult sometime in the early part of the Age of Aries (2000 BCE to 0 CE).

Also yes, the 12 disciples representative of the 12 signs of the zodiac and the Sun.

Mithraic tradition also includes a significant representation of each of the planets. As a mystery cult, there were seven levels of initiation: the first four of which all initiates were taken through, whilst the highest three were only available to a select few.

Is then the story of Mithra's another symbolic myth of astrology?

I think this is a fair conclusion. What may be of interest to note is that the Christ mythology (Age of Pisces) relies on the constellations of the Age of Aries for its astrological inspiration.

Perhaps this goes some way to explaining why the Christian mythos won the battle for our souls: the rise of the Mithras cult concurrently with the birth of the Christ cult represents little more than a conservative backlash to the new spiritual paradigm.

[Chaldean Shaper]

When we consider it all goes back to astrology, we must trace it to Babylon, the source of many mathematical innovations and resultantly astrological revelations. There are important correspondences between their mythology and the Christian one, especially to a youthful, blond androgyne, the sun god and his mother, The Virgin, yielding the symbols of Christ and the Madonna.

Many pagan deities are demonized by Christianity. You may notice many cathedrals portraying the pagan gods slanderously as gargoyles. Satan himself is an invidiously-crafted straw-man. Dante writes certain Babylonian rulers in his poem as terrible giants.

There are too many coincidences that historians try to make direct ties to Christ. Osiris has been equated with Christ, but the comparison is tenuous. Frazier makes bad equations about sun-Gods for example. It's all about the Corn, the Kine and and the androgyne~

It is said that Zoroaster first proclaimed duality, the contrast of Good and Evil as light and dark. He wrote of, in addition to the positive Ormuzd, a devil and of Ahriman, the demon of the lie. The introduction of Duality to Christianity is a huge distinction between Christianity and the Judaism it reformed.

Hermeticism, which originated in Egypt, imparted by Hermes Trismigrastus permeates the bible. Christianity's symbolism may've been influenced by hermetic symbolism and numerology. If Masonry influenced the bible, hermeticism influenced Christianity.

Christianity explains and encompasses the same ideas that all of the religions before had. It's only natural that one can draw parallels between the Christian hierarchy, the Greek pantheon and the Hindus' one. Note that the Babylonian astrology cult, the prototype of Hellenic paganism, is pivotal.

The Christianity that dominates is largely extirpated. One may find more value in gnostic alternatives, in what Christianity could've been, than what it has been made. It's not Christ who constructed Christianity.

[elixir]

I have been researching and have been amazed at how many of the symbolism of Jesus Christ has in fact been a representation of previous masters.

He was born to a carpenter and a Virgin; like Krishna
Born on December 25; like Mithras
Heralded by a star in the East; like Horus
Walked on water; and fed the five thousand from a small basket; like Buddha
Performed healing miracles; like Pythagoras
Raised from the dead; like Elisha
Executed on a wooden cross (tree); like Adonis
Ascended to heaven; like Hercules, Enoch and Elijah

Could this have been a plan of the church to try to represent Jesus as an even higher being? or that it was the whole cosmos not just 'God' who came together to bring Jesus to life?

[Celtaur]

It's interesting that many I've heard speak of the carpenter reference is symbolic of masonry, of the builder.

Could this have been a plan of the church to try to represent Jesus as an even higher being? or that it was the whole cosmos not just 'God' who came together to bring Jesus to life?

This is interesting to see it from both views. Is the cosmos built around the symbolism of Jesus on purpose, or is the story of Jesus built around the cosmos? Depending on a persons perceptions based on background and beliefs, they may look at it either way. Regardless, it's fascinating how the cosmos, meaning, purpose and mythology are brought together in many interesting ways.

[QUEST]

The halo that we see in ancient pictures is also apart of sun-whorship. It use to be the disc of the sun behind the heads of saints, now it just looks like an halo.

[mousie]

The Cross actually symbolizes eternal life, this is seen in Egyptian symbolism as the ankh. The Cross is also a constellation called Crux, although it wasn't named until 1500 years after Christ's death, it's a bit hard to say it doesn't resemble it's namesake. The fact remains that there are far too many coincidences in Christ and other religions/myths in the world to say that this story was original, and apparently the gospels were lengthened several hundred years after his death to make them more appealing to the masses. The only one that was not lengthened was the book of Mark.