A new proposition for redating the Mithraic tauroctony scene

Details A new proposition for redating the Mithraic tauroctony scene A new proposition for redating the Mithraic tauroctony scene

Jul 2002

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002an....323..579b&link_type=abstract

Astronomische Nachrichten, vol. 323, no. 6, p. 579-580

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

1

Archaeoastronomy, History, Mithra, Redating Catastrophism

Scientific paper

Assuming that the figures of the central icon of the Mithraic cult - the scene of tauroctony (bull slaying) - represent equatorial constellations at the time when the spring equinox was placed somewhere between Taurus and Aries, it is difficult to explain why some equatorial constellations (Orion and Libra) were not included in the Mithraic icons A simulation of the sky at the times in which the spring equinox was in the constellation of Taurus, only a small area of spring equinox positions permits to exclude these two constellations, with all other representations of equatorial constellations (Taurus, Canis Minor, Hydra, Crater, Corvus, Scorpio) included. These positions of the spring equinox occurred at the beginning of the age of Taurus, and included Gemini as an equatorial constellation. Two of the main figures in the Mithraic icons are two identical figures, usually represented on the each side of the bull, wearing phrygian caps and holding torches. Their names, Cautes and Cautopates, and their looks may indicate that they represent the constellation of Gemini. In that case the main icon of Mithraic religion could represent an event that happened around 4000 BC, when the spring equinox entered the constellation of Taurus. Also, this position of equator contains Perseus as an equatorial constellation. Ulansey suggested that the god Mithras is identified with the constellation Perseus. In that case, all figures in the main scene would be equatorial constellations.

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