I seem to remember earlier discussion of this. Looking on various web sites, Mithra was incorporated into Zoroastrianism as one of the holy immortals aiding Ahura Mazda: "Mithra was a moral god, ... His primary responsibility was to the rightness of the action", "Lord of the Contract". He of course was popular later in Rome as Mithras, born on December 25th, controls precession of the equinox (Ulansey), kills the bull of the previous age, whose blood is drunk by worshippers (replaced by bread and wine if bull is not on the menu).
| David Duffy (MBBS PhD) ,-_|\
| email: davidD at qimr.edu.au ph: INT+61+7+3362-0217 fax: -0101 / *
| Epidemiology Unit, Queensland Institute of Medical Research \,-./
| 300 Herston Rd, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia GPG 4D0B994A v
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