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To all Romans
#1
I must extend a Happy New Year to all of you. Let me explain.<br>
<br>
The Persian Tradition, going back thousands of years, is to Celebrate the New Year on the second Winter changes to Spring. Now, obviously this is much easier to do with modern timing keeping methods, so we literally do it down to the second. But the Tradition for all Mithrix and Zoroastrians is to celebrate the coming of the new year with a party and libations and celebration the moment we go from the season of winter to spring.<br>
<br>
Mithrix is an offshoot religion of Zoroastrianism. Main difference is that we believe that Mithra is one of the Angels so to speak in Zoroastrianism and Mithrix believe that he is the god. We believe that he is subject to Ahura Mazda and Mithrix believe he is Ahura Mazda. It would be as if Jesus was not the son of God but God himself. Most of the other aspects of the religions are the same.<br>
<br>
Now, obviously as it moved into Roman Europe other changes were made to it, much the same as other religions have gone through their changes. But here are some interesting aspects for you to have fun with, especially since tonight is the new year, around 10:30.<br>
<br>
The cross which is a wholly Zoroastrian symbol, that Zoroastrians themselves nolonger adhere to, is a very powerful symbol for Ancient Zoroastrians and Mithrix. Mithra was born on a holiday today that we celebrate as Christmas. His birthday was later replaced by the Romans with the Birthday of Jesus. We celebrated the birthday of Mithra to a virgin couple. We also celebrate is passing near the time of Easter as well. His crucifiction was on a tree that we today use as the christmas tree, for his sould keeps it ever green. There is a major holiday to Mithra called the Mehregan celebration in fall. It is when the month and the day both carry the name Mithra.<br>
<br>
But in the New Year, all pay homage to life being brought to the world again in the coming of spring. The main signs of fire, water, air and earth are all sacred parts of this tradition. Both Mithrix and Zoroastrians participate in such rituals.<br>
<br>
Therefore, as with the present Zoroastrians, and a few Mithrix that I have known, we celebrate the coming New Year.<br>
<br>
So, from a Sassanian to my Roman friends, Shadzi va Shadbash (happiness to you and be happy) and may the graces of Mithra protect all of you in the coming new year, except when we Sassanians face you on the Field of battle. Then may you fall, but in all of your splendor and glory as the noble soldiers that you are.<br>
<br>
Ardeshir<br>
Happy New Year to all of you.<br>
p.s. Persians had a special tradition of using a drinking cup called a Rython, or as we pronounce it ree-ton which could only be placed down on its side. This means that your cup must never be set down, until the libation has been properly consumed by you. Good drinking to all of you and in good health. <p></p><i></i>
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#2
Wow Sassanian, a Shadzi va Shadbash to you also. Nice tid bit of info. <p></p><i></i>
aka: Julio Peña
Quote:"audaces Fortuna iuvat"
- shouted by Turnus in Virgil\'s Aeneid in book X just before he is utterly destroyed by Aeneas\' Trojans.
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#3
A happy Novruz to you as well, Ardeshir.<br>
<br>
Mithras (Greek form of Mithra) was a very popular god amongst the Roman military (Rome had some 700 mithraea and Ostia had some more), and there are many (disconcerting) details that are shared by Christianity and Mithraism, which van be found [url=http://essenes.net/m55.htm" target="top]here[/url] and I will mention but a few:<br>
- Initiates of the Mysteries of Mithras were purified by baptism. Tertullian, a third century Christian from North Africa, complains that the Devil was imitating the Christians' divine mysteries because initiates of the Mithraic religion were baptised in this way.<br>
<br>
- At the level of initiation called Miles or soldier, the mystae of Mithras were symbolically branded, the priest making the sign of the cross upon their foreheads to redeem their sins and to mark them as soldiers of Mithras ready to fight the Good Fight. Christians use the expressions soldiers of Christ and put on the armour of light, somewhat inappropriate metaphors for a religion of love, one might think, but entirely appropriate to their Mithraic origins.<br>
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- Mithras had 12 disciples.<br>
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- The Mithraic sacred meal was essentially identical to the Christian Eucharist. Justin Martyr complained that Satan had copied the Christian Eucharist because the adherents of Mithras also partook of consecrated bread and water symbolic of the incarnate god's body. The bread consisted of small round cakesâ€â€Â
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
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#4
"It would be as if Jesus was not the son of God but God himself."<br>
It happened exactly like that over here, Sassasian.<br>
Round the 5th century AD, you had those who said Jesus was "consubstantial" to God the Father, hence God himself and those who said that Jesus was just the Son of God , hence not "consubstantial" at all.<br>
That slight disagreement was to cause several interesting riots and massacres --some happening in places of worship-- and the emperor had to intervene to calm things down.<br>
Ah... Romans..<br>
It looks like the debate went somewhat more peacefully in Persia.<br>
Eventually the Christians came up with the present day official doctrine of the Holy Trinity: a single god in three manifestations: the Father, the Son and the Holy spirit.<br>
...And may Epona the Good Godess protect you and your horses.<br>
<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=antoninuslucretius@romanarmytalk>Antoninus Lucretius</A> <IMG HEIGHT=10 WIDTH=10 SRC="http://lucretius.homestead.com/files/Cesar_triste.jpg" BORDER=0> at: 3/20/04 3:52 am<br></i>
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#5
Ardeshir-- from where are you posting?<br>
<br>
Cheers<br>
Jenny <p></p><i></i>
Cheers,
Jenny
Founder, Roman Army Talk and RomanArmy.com

We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend.
-- Robert Louis Stevenson
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#6
Hello Jenny, I live in the Los Angeles area.<br>
<br>
Ardeshir <p></p><i></i>
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#7
Re-reading your post above, I'm gathering you are Zoroastrian? Might you be of Persian descent?<br>
<br>
It's nice to see a Sassanid reenactor here! You could probably do double duty as a Sarmatian auxiliary with a few uniform modifications, and fall in with a Roman group in your area. Do you ride?<br>
<br>
Cheers,<br>
Jenny <p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub45.ezboard.com/bromanarmytalk.showUserPublicProfile?gid=jrscline>JRSCline</A> at: 3/24/04 7:59 am<br></i>
Cheers,
Jenny
Founder, Roman Army Talk and RomanArmy.com

We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend.
-- Robert Louis Stevenson
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#8
Hi Ardeshir,<br>
<br>
I believe there should be some Late Romans who you could re-enact in your area?<br>
Interested?<br>
<br>
Valete,<br>
Valerius/Robert <p></p><i></i>
Robert Vermaat
MODERATOR
FECTIO Late Romans
THE CAUSE OF WAR MUST BE JUST
(Maurikios-Strategikon, book VIII.2: Maxim 12)
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#9
Hello Robert and Jenny,<br>
<br>
Well, Saramations were an Iranian people and much of their armor and Sassanian armor and Parthian armor, if not all of it, were the same. As for re-enactors, well, Im getting involved with the Legion in my area. Great people and all of those that I have met are extremely well versed in their Roman interests. Which is a wonderful thing.<br>
<br>
What has been a problem for me has been my polo. Most of the games occupy almost all if not all of my weekends, which is when they participate in their functions. But Im really looking forward to getting more involved with them.<br>
<br>
I am really enjoying getting involved with the Roman group and meeting all of you. It puts the Persian Stuff for me in a 3-D world. Makes it come more to life when you can stand next to your counterparts.<br>
<br>
Ardeshir <p></p><i></i>
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#10
<br>
I really hope I'll can invite you to my next events: it would be great to show a REAL (modern) persian cataphract at the charge, and a so trained one! Real time machine stuff!<br>
<br>
Vale,<br>
Titus <p></p><i></i>
TITVS/Daniele Sabatini

... Tu modo nascenti puero, quo ferrea primum
desinet ac toto surget Gens Aurea mundo,
casta faue Lucina; tuus iam regnat Apollo ...


Vergilius, Bucolicae, ecloga IV, 4-10
[Image: PRIMANI_ban2.gif]
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#11
God that would be so great. Where do you hold your events?<br>
<br>
Ardeshir <p></p><i></i>
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#12
<br>
So far, in Rome neighborourhood<br>
<p></p><i></i>
TITVS/Daniele Sabatini

... Tu modo nascenti puero, quo ferrea primum
desinet ac toto surget Gens Aurea mundo,
casta faue Lucina; tuus iam regnat Apollo ...


Vergilius, Bucolicae, ecloga IV, 4-10
[Image: PRIMANI_ban2.gif]
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