Modern astrological interpretations Tauroctony

cimrm 1935: tauroctonous mithras maros porto mithraeum (mureş port, romania). @ brukenthal national museum.

in wake of 1970s dismantling of cumontian transfer scenario, cumont s trivialization of astronomical/astrological aspects of mysteries intellectual diversions designed amuse neophytes has yielded general recognition astronomical/astrological aspects part of fundamental premises of cult. recognition not new; [s]ince time of celsus (around 178), author of alēthēs logos, has been known [via origen s contra celsum] mithraic mysteries relate fixed stars , planets. in post-cumontian period, recognition first revived stanley insler (second congress, 1975), pointed out tauroctony interpreted solely in terms of greco-roman understanding of astronomical phenomena. likewise, dr. richard l. gordon (1976) cautioned against overlooking importance of cult s astronomical symbolism. 4 contemporaneous articles (1976–1977) dr. roger beck stressed role of astronomy/astrology in context of greco-roman religious thought. beck thought ironic cumont, himself 1 of eminent scholars of ancient astrology, should have been unaware of implication. [cumont s] preoccupation les traditiones iraniennes had blinkered him.

accordingly, since 1970s, zodiacal symbolism in scene has provoked speculation cult relief represents sort of star-map code poses riddle of mithras identity. beck (2006) summarizes them follows:

alessandro bausani [1979]: tauroctonous mithras leo;
michael speidel [1980]: ... orion;
karl-gustav sandelin [1988]: ... auriga;
david ulansey [1989]: ... perseus;
john david north [1990]: ... betelgeuse;
roger beck [1994]: ... sun in leo.
maria weiss [1994, 1998]: ... night sky.

additionally, stanley insler [1978] , bruno jacobs [1999] identify entire bull-killing scene heliacal setting of taurus. in 2006, roger beck found these approaches lacked persuasiveness because ungrounded in proper contextual soil. there no consensus on issue.

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