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Mithras

a contested god of the Twelve Worlds

Mithras was a god worshipped by a minority among the Twelve Worlds, outside the established faith in the Lords of Kobol. Persecution of his followers became a concern after the Battle of the Ionian Nebula.

By Tom G

Mithras was a god worshipped by a minority among the people of the Twelve Worlds. His followers stood outside the established worship of the Lords of Kobol, and state-sanctioned persecution of his followers became a concern in the weeks after the Battle of the Ionian Nebula. (Battlestar Galactica, "Escape Velocity")

Worship and the Mithrasaries#

Mithras was a god worshipped by a minority of the people of the Twelve Worlds. Mithraism is only ever mentioned in passing, as a faith separate from the worship of the Lords of Kobol, and the show never depicts its rites. Mithras worshippers, known as Mithrasaries, come up in a Quorum debate in connection with Gemenon and with delegate Reza Chronides's own colony. (Battlestar Galactica, "Escape Velocity")

Persecution#

State-sanctioned persecution of the Mithrasaries became a point of concern within the Quorum of Twelve after the Battle of the Ionian Nebula. President Roslin had pushed through Emergency Provision 17, which barred the Cult of Baltar from gathering in groups larger than twelve. Reza Chronides objected that a measure like that could just as easily be turned on the Mithraists, and that Baltar's followers weren't so different from them. The provision was rescinded before the episode was out. (Battlestar Galactica, "Escape Velocity")

Frequently asked questions

Who was Mithras?
Mithras was a god worshipped by a minority of the people of the Twelve Worlds. Mithraism stood apart from the established worship of the Lords of Kobol and is only mentioned in passing in the reimagined series.
Who were the Mithrasaries?
Mithras worshippers were known as Mithrasaries. They come up in a Quorum debate in connection with Gemenon and with delegate Reza Chronides's own colony.
Why did persecution of the Mithrasaries become a concern?
State-sanctioned persecution of the Mithrasaries became a point of concern in the Quorum of Twelve after the Battle of the Ionian Nebula, when Roslin's Emergency Provision 17 restricted gatherings of the Cult of Baltar and delegates feared it could be used against other faiths.

Sources

  • EpisodeBattlestar Galactica, "Escape Velocity", Season 4, Episode 4 (2008)

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