Religious Research

Religious Research

The Symbolism of the Horse in Mithraism: An Examination of its Role and Importance in Ancient Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Author
PhD Candidate in Islamic Period Archaeology, Department of Archaeology, Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, Iran
10.22034/jrr.2025.523387.2281
Abstract
The reflection of ancient beliefs and rituals through metonymy (kināyah), allusion (talmīḥ), and symbolism is one of the prominent features of Persian literary works — both in classical texts and in folk literature. Among various symbols, the horse holds a special place in ancient Iranian culture; a place that is manifested both in its practical functions in wars and important missions, and in its symbolic representations in religious literature (Vedic and Zoroastrian) as the mount of gods and angels. The importance of the horse in the Mithraic cult — a cult that later spread to Europe and influenced the way of life of Roman knights — is clearly evident.
This research, aiming to investigate and analyze the signification of the horse symbol in the Mithraic cult and to explain its status in ancient Iran, answers the following questions: 1) "What meanings and connotations did the horse symbol have in the Mithraic cult?" 2) "On what basis was the importance of the horse founded in Persian (i.e. ancient Iranian) culture?" This study, drawing on the oldest historical reports, examines the region of Cilicia in Asia Minor as one of the main centers of Mithraism. The research findings indicate that in the myths of Persia (i.e. ancient Iran), beyond the symbolic duality of death and life found in many cultures and religions, the horse also appeared as a symbol of the sun and victory. In conclusion, the present research finds that in ethnic and mythological beliefs, the horse was considered a symbol of family nobility and readiness to serve in both peace and war.
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