Backstone Mithras?

Ribchester, Lancashire - Temple to Mithras & dedication stone

The dedication stone from a Temple to Mithras was found inverted & being used as paving during excavations at Ribchester during the 19th century.

In the early 20th century and underground Temple to Mithras was discovered just outside Ribchester at Stydd.

Details and excavation drawings (with measurements) of the above can be found in:

JOURNEYS THROUGH BRIGANTIA, Vol 9, 'The Ribble Valley. John Dixon, AUSSTEIGER PUBLICATIONS 1993

The other Temple to Mithras you mention can be found in any book on the Roman Wall

LOWERGATE

x

Hi,
Firstly I am nether an archaeologist nor a megalithic nut however I an a tad (meaning ever so slightly) conversant with certain mind frames/consciousness paradigms and I would be very, very reluctant to put backstone as part of the mithras cult.


Regards
MM

Keep it in the family

LoWERGATE
The Lancashire Mystake

Howdo Dave!

erraticdave wrote:I recently came across some information regarding the worship of Mithras, among Roman troops stationed in Britain. Quite a bit of Mithras, worship involved caves, but some constructions were undertaken. A Temple/Mithraueum, exists near Hadrians’ wall. Looking at the pic’ in the link below, the site of most similarity that springs to mind, is the Backstone circle on Ilkley moor?
Anyone know of any drawings or measurements of the Backstone, structure that may be available?
Backstone, has been a bit of a mystery, in terms of its identification. So some comparison with the Carrawburgh structure, could prove interesting.
http://www.britannia.com/tours/hadrianswall/carrawburgh.html

Certainly not Backstone. But it does remind me somewhat of that there Druid's Altar up Ripon-way, made a coupla hundred years back by local folk after some rich-dood had been to Stonehenge and got the megalith-bug! Very similar...

erraticdave wrote:...Quite a bit of Mithras, worship involved caves...

And I'd have to say that sounds decidely shamanistic Dave! And if they didn't get up to that sorta stuff in this country (Romans or Britons for that matter), summat was very very wrong... I can imagine them there Southern-types not really going for the old cave-visionary-ASC stuff (wot with 'em all being puffs 'n' all), but that sorta thing would've been standard practice up here and further north.

Very kindly put Paulus

'speed & age do NOT mix well - as every undertaker knows' - The Grim Reaper

Hi Dave - There's no ground-plan for Backstone. We discovered the place om the 1980s and the site's been so badly damaged that, without detailed excavation, such a plan can't be in anyway accurate. If you're looking for Mithraic left-overs, seek out midsummer & Beltane festivity remains in relation to any prehistoric monuments - though check that the festivities are old ones in record-books as a lotta pagan stuff was revived. And then find adjacent Roman temple remains...

I know you don't like the word & its affiliations Dave, but a coupla books worth checking might be Celtic Heritage by Rees, and British Celts and their Gods under Rome by Webster.

Good luck!

x

... speed kills ... leave it alone

David, read only:

RELIGION IN ROMAN BRITAIN, Martin Henig, BATSFORD

j

Hi Folks,
Regarding the Mithra position....I am more inclined to postulate backstones connection with the lunar. The lunar aspect seems most appropriate (if one spends any time there at different phases) all so water (spring) just at the site. In fact if I was pushed I would postulate that it seems very much in the spirit of the crone.
Of course I have no real knowledge of archeology or megaliths.

Just a wee bit of experience and knowledge in other areas...so ignore or lambaste at your leisure?


Regards
MM

I detect a duality of flows that are disernable apart by their spin nature that creates clockwise or counter clockwise spiral vortexs.
This is found at well sites as to be where the out flowing spiral vortex is focussed down below the surface of the planet, this emmitance is commonly called feminine.( nine muses emmiting from the ground at apollos temple)

gravity does not exist as TOLD, it has nothing to do with mass at all, it is to do with the balance and meeting zones of the two opposite flow, imo.
In time, in a cyclic system I consider that these two opposite flows will rise and fall in comparison to each other, thus when the emmiting flow is very low down, it will be required to dig down into the earth to better access these flows, hence the mithrasums.
cropredy