THE MYSTERIES OF MITHRA
154
communion with the monstrous which they worshipped, or that, in enveloping themselves in the pelts of their flayed victims, they conceived these bloody tunics
^7\ entered into idols v
v
-
to possess
some purifying
virtue.
To the primitive titles of Raven and Lion others were afterward added for the purpose of attaining the sacred number seven. The seven degrees of initiation through which the was forced to pass in order to acquire wisdom and purity, answered to the seven planetary spheres which the soul was forced to traverse in order to reach the abode of the blessed.* After having been Raven, the initiates were promoted to the rank of
-mystic /
\s
/
I
perfect
Occult (Kpv(f)io<i). hidden by some visible to the
The members veil,
of this class,
probably remained
rest of the congregation.
in-
To
them
(pstendere\ constituted a solemn Soldier (miles) formed part of the sacred militia of the invincible god and waged war under his directions on the powers of evil. The dignity of Persian recalled the first origin of the Mazdean religion, and he who obtained
exhibit act.
The
assumed during the sacred ceremonies the Oriental custom of donning the Phrygian cap, which had also been bestowed on Mithra. The latter having been identified with the Sun, his servitors invested themselves with the name of Runners of the Sun ( HXioSpojuoi); lastly, the title Fathers was borrowed from the Greek it
"
"
*See supra,
p. 144.