Mithra, an ancient deity, is believed to have originated before the 3rd millennium BCE. The exact time of Mithra’s origins is uncertain, but it is believed to have occurred when migratory groups known as Indo-Iranians and Indo-Aryans started settling in the regions of Iran and Northern India respectively.
The Indo-Iranians, an ancient group of people, migrated from the steppes of Central Asia and gradually settled in present-day Iran. They brought with them their religious beliefs and practices, which included the worship of various deities, including Mithra.
Similarly, the Indo-Aryans, another migratory group, settled in the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent. They also had their own set of religious beliefs and practices, which may have included the worship of Mithra or similar deities.
The worship of Mithra is closely associated with the ancient Persian religion known as Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrianism, which emerged in the 6th century BCE, incorporated elements from earlier Indo-Iranian religious traditions, including the worship of Mithra.
Mithra is often depicted as a solar deity, associated with light, truth, and justice. The worship of Mithra spread to different parts of the ancient world, including the Roman Empire, where it became known as Mithraism or the Mithraic mysteries. Mithraism was a mystery religion that gained popularity among the Roman military and eventually became one of the major religious movements in the empire.
The exact age of Mithra as a deity is difficult to determine due to the lack of written records from the early periods of Indo-Iranian and Indo-Aryan settlements. However, based on archaeological evidence and textual references, it is believed that the worship of Mithra predates the emergence of Zoroastrianism and can be traced back to the prehistoric times of the Indo-Iranians and Indo-Aryans.
Mithra is an ancient deity whose origins can be traced back to the time when migratory groups like the Indo-Iranians and Indo-Aryans settled in Iran and Northern India respectively. While the exact age of Mithra as a deity is uncertain, it is believed to have originated before the 3rd millennium BCE and has played a significant role in the religious beliefs and practices of various ancient civilizations.