This channel is a hidden gem in a sea of historical based content. I would like to see more about Ancient Roman and Greek religious practices and how they were performed. Once you get past the battles, the generals and intrigue I still want to see how an average roman worshiped, believed and went about the day. Thanks for the content!
Hi Wayneward! I will keep that in mind. I've got a lot of the content planned for the next couple of months but I will look to do that - I hope you don't mind if it's quite a bit in the future though! Thank you agian!
Elah-ga-baal, Elagabalus, Heliogabalus... A sungod represented in form of a sunstone from Emesa is Syria, was syncretised with Sol at the end of the Severan dynasty by Alexander Caesar, after being introduced by Antoninus Caesar ( aka Elagabalus). Elagabalus's family held hereditary rights to the priesthood of the sun god Elagabal, of whom Elagabalus was the high priest at Emesa (modern Homs) in Roman Syria as part of the Arab Emesene dynasty. The deity's Latin name, "Elagabalus", is a Latinized version of the Arabic Ilāh ha-Gabal, from ilāh ("god") and gabal ("mountain"), meaning "God of the Mountain", the Emesene manifestation of Ba'al. Initially venerated at Emesa, the deity's cult spread to other parts of the Roman Empire in the 2nd century; a dedication has been found as far away as Woerden (in the Netherlands), near the Roman limes. The god was later imported to Rome and assimilated with the sun god known as Sol Indiges as early as the Roman Republic and as Sol Invictus during the late third century. In Greek, the sun god is Helios, hence Elagabal was later known as "Heliogabalus", a hybrid of "Helios" and "Elagabalus, but you're right that Sol was certainly popularised by Aurelian.
My understanding was that Sol Invictus was a in the middle east when the romans got there. As more soldiers first, then generals, then emperors were were of middle eastern origins, it became more and more popular.
Sol was always worshipped but transformed into Sol Invictus as the centuries passed on. Some historians disagree about Sol being worshipped before the late second or start of the third so I wanted to make that point. Thanks for the question though, if you've asked it others are thinking it :)
Interesting and enjoyable as ever. I am definitely going to visit Newcastle area this year later unless anything crops up. I never knew there was so much roman activity there and things to see. Living and mostly staying in the south country I tend to think of the North Country as a sort of fabulous terra incognita. I've been to Sheffield area so far and it wasn't a bit like in those Lowry type pictures but all the industry has gone of course. Not all but its not grimy and black now. My friend can tell how it was. But I meant to say that I DO believe that Christianity evolved from a fusion of the Mystery religions that were a big deal in the couple of centuries either side of AD1. The book by Freke & Gandy puts the idea that the Christ figure was the protagonist of a sacred drama in a Jewish form of the Mysteries (which are mostly mysteries to this day because almost nobody snitched),in the Disney show Beauty and the Beast (love that show) there is a transformation scene where the Beast spins around or something and seconds later is the Prince. That may sound a profane analogy but theatre folk have known how to do effects like that since the dawn of time. It seems to me that the odd and contradictory "facts" about a real life born person would've been cobbled together when the first generation was going and people forgot and thought it was a real person. I know people who would say I am speaking the words of Satan but it makes sense to me. I do think that if Jesus is an Idea,he's a very good idea and I do believe and trust in God. I'm not that keen on Jesus often reiterated advice to either give your money away (but you can't give it away until you've accrued it) or not seek it in the first place. Just doesn't work for me. OK if you know you're not going to need money after age 33 I suppose.
Whenever you put a message in the chat I know I need to put some time aside to read it! I'm glad I've inspired you to look North! As for the second bit, I'm in the middle of a Hadrian's wall walk and resting for the night so I'm a bit exausted and don't feel I can answer than fully now! Hopefully in the future!!
@@AlexIlesUK it's OK. I wasn't trying to incite a theology discussion. No need to reply further. You seem like someone who admires Jesus so I've probably offended you a bit. I'm sorry if I have. I admire Jesus but I've noticed that the "people" who really capture the human imagination like King Arthur,Santa Claus,Banksy,they've all got one thing in common. There I go being profane again.
There's no offense whatsoever!! I promise I just couldn't give a good answer and I feel everyone deserves a good answer in the comments and as I'm tired I can't do that right now :)
The slaying of the bull is zodiacal and a reference to the age of Taurus ending and Mars and Aries ascendance? It seems "logical" to me, do you disagree, and if not why not mention the concept? I appreciate your work, simply a question.
Hi SecondComingTwice are you referring to the wars between Rome and Persia? If so the problem is that neither side 'won' both declared victory at various points but it lasted nearly 600 years before both were so weakened that the Arab conquest happened. I believe the bull slaying came from Ancient Persian mythology but I need to read it again as it's been a while since I looked at it!
@@AlexIlesUK Ok I wasn't expecting you to comment on this so I'll be honest, the video itself is great I love your work but the audio itself was recorded in mono setting meaning when watched with headphones your voice only comes via the left ear. Aside from that great video keep up the good work!
Ah that has been a problem on some episodes - I have tried re-uploading them when that's been flagged. Have a look at the playlist and it should be apparent which ones are the sorted audio ones!
Two fun facts for you: of the known members of the cult, about 10% were soldiers; the tauroctony in the Hancock museum is made of styrofoam. Thanks for the video. Always gratifying to see intelligent commentary on a favorite subject. #stillworshipingmithras
What do you make of the fact that the Bank of England was built on top of a Mithraic temple? Doesn't that prove that Mithraism survived through the centuries in some form or another?
I think it's more that space is used in a city, it's a nice coincidence that some people have made it into a conspiracy theory, but no one knew it was there.
@@AlexIlesUK Can we extend the coincidence theory to the fact that the Great Fire of London occurred in 1666 and burned down roughly the area that we today know as the City of London? I'm asking for a friend.
I believe that the Mithras cult did not really die out it was reinvented as the Roman Catholic Church where many heathen gods were brought in and called dead saints.
Calling a specific deity simply "sol invictus" is a bit of a misnomer. Sol Invictus is more so a title than a name. Many deities held the title such as Deus Sol Invictus, Sol Invictus Elagabal, and Mithras Sol Invictus.
There is a Sol the deity and they are referred to as Sol Invictus and I am referring to a specific altar. Sol Invictus Is combined with other deities as well such as Mithras, as pointed out in another video I have made.
The Romans regularly adapted a gods remit to explain aspects of life or to create a group identity around. They didn't view it as making something that wasn't real but instead expanding on what the god was.
Sorry Robert, are you certain? You are comparing two god's from very different pantheons both geographically and in time with them being centuries apart. Because of that I don't think you can clearly say that Baldr and Sol are the same deity. Also isn't Sunna the sun god in Germanic pantheons?
