Mithra
/ˈmɪθ.rə/noun
Mithra is an ancient Indo-Iranian deity associated with covenants, truth, friendship, and the rising sun.
Did you know?In Zoroastrian tradition, Mithra is described as overseeing ten thousand ears and a thousand eyes, making him an almost inescapable guardian of sworn truth.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-Iranian
Proto-Indo-Iranian
*Mitra
“A bond, agreement, or allied power; the reconstructed ancestor of the divine name”
Vedic Period
Sanskrit
Mitra
“A deity of friendship, contracts, harmony, and cosmic order, appearing alongside Varuna”
c. 1000–500 BCE
Avestan
Miθra
“A divine guardian of agreements and truth who punishes oath-breakers”
c. 500 BCE
Old Persian
Miθra
“A royal Iranian god invoked alongside Ahura Mazda and Anahita”
1st–4th Century CE
Latin
Mithras
“The Roman form of the Iranian god, worshiped in initiatory mystery cults, especially among soldiers”
Modern English
English
Mithra
“A historical name for the Indo-Iranian deity, also used in scholarship to distinguish him from Roman Mithras”