The Mystery of Mithras: A Pagan Christmas?
The Ancients24 Des 2020

The Mystery of Mithras: A Pagan Christmas?

The clichéd Christmas: white snow, hot fires, mulled wine and a feast. This might not be the case were the holiday not to fall on 25 December and, although many things have been missed in 2020, the usual questions of whether this is the right date arrived reliably on time. So, for this episode, Tristan spoke to Professor Matthew McCarty to find out whether Christmas Day was really placed in December to supplant non-Christian worship, in particular that of Mithras. Matthew is Assistant Professor of Roman Archaeology at the University of British Columbia. He has been directing the field excavation of a mithraeum in Apulum (Romania), the first scientifically excavated mithraeum in the province of Dacia. In this festive episode, he shares his insight into the social dynamics of ritual practices in the sanctuary at Apulum and elsewhere.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episoder(599)

The First Dogs

The First Dogs

For millennia dogs have been undoubtedly man’s best friend. But when did humans first start keeping dogs as pets? The fascinating story of how ancient hunter gatherers first domesticated our now belov...

1 Feb 202440min

Hermes: Messenger of the Gods

Hermes: Messenger of the Gods

Famed as the herald of the Greek gods, Hermes is the ‘jack of all trades’ when it comes to the pantheon of Mount Olympus. Known for his trademark winged sandals and snake encircled sceptre, he is the ...

28 Jan 202447min

Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great

This is everything you need to know about the famed conqueror Alexander the Great. Alongside Dan Snow, host of Dan Snow's History Hit, Tristan and Dan follow Alexander on a whistle-stop tour from his ...

24 Jan 202454min

Lascaux Cave: Ice Age Art

Lascaux Cave: Ice Age Art

Lascaux Cave is an Ice Age wonder. Its walls and ceilings are adorned with stunning depictions of bison, aurochs and deer painted by hunter-gatherers 20,000 years ago using all kinds of pigments from ...

21 Jan 202451min

Cicero

Cicero

Marcus Tullius Cicero is one of the most famous orators in ancient history, and a central figure during the final years of the Roman Republic.To explore his life and career, Tristan is joined by Dr He...

17 Jan 202436min

The Bronze Age Collapse

The Bronze Age Collapse

The Bronze Age Collapse was one of the most cataclysmic events in human history. Over just a few decades, civilisations across the Mediterranean from Greece and Egypt to Mesopotamia and Babylon abrupt...

13 Jan 202451min

The First Irish

The First Irish

Over 10,000 years ago, many believe Ireland was a place where hunter-gatherers roamed. A place where the earliest human communities exchanged prizes of the hunt and crafted primitive tools to aid thei...

10 Jan 202440min

Jericho

Jericho

The ancient city of Jericho is often thought to be the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the world. Made famous by the biblical tale of its conquest by Joshua, it is situated a stones throw ...

6 Jan 202441min

Populært innen Historie

rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
henrettelsespodden
rss-katastrofe
rss-historiske-romanser
historier-som-endret-norge
rss-benadet
historier-som-endret-verden
rss-nadelose-nordmenn-gestapo
sektledere
aftenposten-historie
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
historiepodden
rss-frontkjemperne
med-egne-oyne
rss-gamle-greier
undersattene
vare-historier
taakeprat
sannhet-eller-konspirasjon
historiepodden-ww2