Was Mithra Born of a Virgin Mother?

This paper provides evidence that the pre-Christian Persian, Armenian and Asian Minor goddess Anahita was considered both a virgin and a mother, at some point viewed as having given birth parthenogenetically to the Perso-Armenian god Mithra.

For evidence the author draws upon ancient texts and traditions, often preceding the common era by centuries to millennia, as well as the opinions of credentialed modern authorities. The thesis presented here also demonstrates that certain motifs and traditions found within Christianity in reality predate that faith and possibly served as a source thereof.

Table of Contents

Was the Persian Goddess Anahita the Pre-Christian Virgin Mother of Mithra? Introduction The Achaemenians Goddess of Venus and the Moon Cybele and Nana Anahita, Immaculate Virgin and Mother of the Gods Mithra's Mother? The 'Rock-Born' and 'Mountain-Born' The Zoroastrian Virgin-Born Savior The Epic of Sasun The History of Vartan Mitra, Born of the Virgin Aditi Macho Mithraism Conclusion Bibliography Endnotes