Title: From body to space and time : perceiving space and time in the Mithras cult
Source document: Sacra. 2012, vol. 10, iss. 1, pp. 33-47
Extent
33-47
-
ISSN1214-5351 (print)2336-4483 (online)
Stable URL (handle): https://hdl.handle.net/11222.digilib/124459
Type: Article
Language
License: Not specified license
Notice: These citations are automatically created and might not follow citation rules properly.
Abstract(s)
This article investigates the possible ways in which Mithraists perceived the major categories of space and time in their ritual context. Merleau-Ponty's approach to the perception of space offers an appropriate theoretical framework for understanding how initiates used to perceive and experience the sacred space of the mithraeum. Further, the Lakoff and Johnson approach to the metaphorization and conventional conceptions of time is applied illustrating the way in which the initiates into the mithraic mysteries perceived and conceptualized time. In particular, it is suggested that conventional metaphorical mappings, imbuing the conceptual systems of Mithraists, functioned as a means of conceptualization of the initiatory experience in relation to the perception of space and time.
References
[1] Porphyry. (1969). De Antro Nympharum. Buffalo: State University of New York Press.
[2] Ptolemy. (1998). Tetrabiblos (ed. R. F. Egleston). Cambridge – London: Harvard University Press – W. Heinemann.
[3] Beck, R. L. (1976). "The Seat of Mithras at the Equinoxes: Porphyry, De Antro Nympharum 24." Journal of Mithraic Studies 1, 95–98. (Repr. in Beck 2004: 129–132).
[4] Beck, R. L. (1984). "Mithraism since Franz Cumont." Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt II, 17/4, 2002–2115.
[5] Beck, R. L. (1994a). "Cosmic Models: Some Uses of Hellenistic Science in Roman Religion." In: Barnes, T. D. (ed.), The Sciences in Greco-Roman Society (Apeiron: A Journal for Ancient Philosophy and Science 27/4). Edmonton: Academic Printing & Publishing, 99–117. (Repr. in Beck 2004: 335–353).
[6] Beck, R. L. (1994b). "In the Place of the Lion: Mithras in the Tauroctony." In: Hinnells, J. R. (ed.), Studies in Mithraism. Rome: Bretchneider, 29–50. (Repr. in Beck 2004, 267–291)
[7] Beck, R. L. (1998). "The Mysteries of Mithras: A New Account of their Genesis." Journal of Roman Studies 88, 115–128. (Repr. in Beck 2004: 31–44). | DOI 10.1017/S0075435800044130
[8] Beck, R. L. (2000). "Ritual, Myth, Doctrine, and Initiation in the Mysteries of Mithras: New Evidence from a Cult Vessel." Journal of Roman Studies 90, 145–180. (Repr. in Beck 2004: 55–92). | DOI 10.1017/S0075435800031373
[9] Beck, R. L. (2004). Beck on Mithraism: Collected Works with New Essays. Aldershot: Ashgate.
[10] Beck, R. L. (2006). The Religion of the Mithras Cult in the Roman Empire. Mysteries of the Unconquered Sun. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
[11] Clauss, M. (2000). The roman cult of Mithras: the god and his mysteries. Edinburgh: Edinburgh Univ. Press.
[12] Gordon, R. L. (1976). "The sacred geography of a Mithraeum; the example of Sette Sfere." Journal of Mithraic Studies 1/2, 119–165. (Repr. in Gordon 1996: ch. VI).
[13] Gordon, R. L. (1988). "Authority, salvation and mystery in the Mysteries of Mithras." In: Huskinson, J. M., Beard, M. & Reynolds, J. M. (eds.), Image and Mystery in the Roman World: Three papers Given in Memory of Jocelyn Toynbee. Cambridge: Newnham College, 45–80. (Repr. in Gordon, 1996: ch. IV).
[14] Gordon, R. L. (1996). Image and Value in the Graeco-Roman World: Studies in Mithraism and Religious Art (Variorum Collected Studies CS551). Aldershot: Variorum.
[15] Horn, H. G. (1994). "Das Mainzer Mithrasgefäß." Mainzer Archäologische ZeitschriftI, 45–80.
[16] Lakoff, G. & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors We Live By. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
[17] Lakoff, G. & Johnson, M. (1999). Philosophy in the Flesh: Embodied Mind and its Challenge to Western Thought. New York: Basic Books.
[18] Merkelbach, R. (1995). "Das Mainzer Mithrasgefäß." Mainzer Archäologische Zeitschrift 108, 1–6.
[19] Merleau-Ponty, M. (2002). Phenomenology of Perception (trans. Colin Smith). London – New York: Routledge.
[20] Tilley, C. (2004). "From Body to Place to Landscape: A Phenomenological Perspective." In: Tilley, C. & Bennett, W. (eds.), Materiality of Stone: Explorations in Landscape Phenomenology. Oxford: Berg.
[2] Ptolemy. (1998). Tetrabiblos (ed. R. F. Egleston). Cambridge – London: Harvard University Press – W. Heinemann.
[3] Beck, R. L. (1976). "The Seat of Mithras at the Equinoxes: Porphyry, De Antro Nympharum 24." Journal of Mithraic Studies 1, 95–98. (Repr. in Beck 2004: 129–132).
[4] Beck, R. L. (1984). "Mithraism since Franz Cumont." Aufstieg und Niedergang der römischen Welt II, 17/4, 2002–2115.
[5] Beck, R. L. (1994a). "Cosmic Models: Some Uses of Hellenistic Science in Roman Religion." In: Barnes, T. D. (ed.), The Sciences in Greco-Roman Society (Apeiron: A Journal for Ancient Philosophy and Science 27/4). Edmonton: Academic Printing & Publishing, 99–117. (Repr. in Beck 2004: 335–353).
[6] Beck, R. L. (1994b). "In the Place of the Lion: Mithras in the Tauroctony." In: Hinnells, J. R. (ed.), Studies in Mithraism. Rome: Bretchneider, 29–50. (Repr. in Beck 2004, 267–291)
[7] Beck, R. L. (1998). "The Mysteries of Mithras: A New Account of their Genesis." Journal of Roman Studies 88, 115–128. (Repr. in Beck 2004: 31–44). | DOI 10.1017/S0075435800044130
[8] Beck, R. L. (2000). "Ritual, Myth, Doctrine, and Initiation in the Mysteries of Mithras: New Evidence from a Cult Vessel." Journal of Roman Studies 90, 145–180. (Repr. in Beck 2004: 55–92). | DOI 10.1017/S0075435800031373
[9] Beck, R. L. (2004). Beck on Mithraism: Collected Works with New Essays. Aldershot: Ashgate.
[10] Beck, R. L. (2006). The Religion of the Mithras Cult in the Roman Empire. Mysteries of the Unconquered Sun. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
[11] Clauss, M. (2000). The roman cult of Mithras: the god and his mysteries. Edinburgh: Edinburgh Univ. Press.
[12] Gordon, R. L. (1976). "The sacred geography of a Mithraeum; the example of Sette Sfere." Journal of Mithraic Studies 1/2, 119–165. (Repr. in Gordon 1996: ch. VI).
[13] Gordon, R. L. (1988). "Authority, salvation and mystery in the Mysteries of Mithras." In: Huskinson, J. M., Beard, M. & Reynolds, J. M. (eds.), Image and Mystery in the Roman World: Three papers Given in Memory of Jocelyn Toynbee. Cambridge: Newnham College, 45–80. (Repr. in Gordon, 1996: ch. IV).
[14] Gordon, R. L. (1996). Image and Value in the Graeco-Roman World: Studies in Mithraism and Religious Art (Variorum Collected Studies CS551). Aldershot: Variorum.
[15] Horn, H. G. (1994). "Das Mainzer Mithrasgefäß." Mainzer Archäologische ZeitschriftI, 45–80.
[16] Lakoff, G. & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors We Live By. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
[17] Lakoff, G. & Johnson, M. (1999). Philosophy in the Flesh: Embodied Mind and its Challenge to Western Thought. New York: Basic Books.
[18] Merkelbach, R. (1995). "Das Mainzer Mithrasgefäß." Mainzer Archäologische Zeitschrift 108, 1–6.
[19] Merleau-Ponty, M. (2002). Phenomenology of Perception (trans. Colin Smith). London – New York: Routledge.
[20] Tilley, C. (2004). "From Body to Place to Landscape: A Phenomenological Perspective." In: Tilley, C. & Bennett, W. (eds.), Materiality of Stone: Explorations in Landscape Phenomenology. Oxford: Berg.