This channel is a hidden gem in a sea of historical based content. I would like to see more about Ancient Roman and Greek religious practices and how they were performed. Once you get past the battles, the generals and intrigue I still want to see how an average roman worshiped, believed and went about the day. Thanks for the content!

Always come back to this one. Very well done. I appreciate the dispelling of modern misconceptions.

Unbiased, not bashing Christianity, and just simply informative, plain and simple. Thanks!!

Elah-ga-baal, Elagabalus, Heliogabalus... A sungod represented in form of a sunstone from Emesa is Syria, was syncretised with Sol at the end of the Severan dynasty by Alexander Caesar, after being introduced by Antoninus Caesar ( aka Elagabalus). Elagabalus's family held hereditary rights to the priesthood of the sun god Elagabal, of whom Elagabalus was the high priest at Emesa (modern Homs) in Roman Syria as part of the Arab Emesene dynasty. The deity's Latin name, "Elagabalus", is a Latinized version of the Arabic Ilāh ha-Gabal, from ilāh ("god") and gabal ("mountain"), meaning "God of the Mountain", the Emesene manifestation of Ba'al. Initially venerated at Emesa, the deity's cult spread to other parts of the Roman Empire in the 2nd century; a dedication has been found as far away as Woerden (in the Netherlands), near the Roman limes. The god was later imported to Rome and assimilated with the sun god known as Sol Indiges as early as the Roman Republic and as Sol Invictus during the late third century. In Greek, the sun god is Helios, hence Elagabal was later known as "Heliogabalus", a hybrid of "Helios" and "Elagabalus, but you're right that Sol was certainly popularised by Aurelian.

my left ear really enjoyed this video

Bro Aurelian is just too good to exist

My understanding was that Sol Invictus was a in the middle east when the romans got there. As more soldiers first, then generals, then emperors were were of middle eastern origins, it became more and more popular.

Interesting and enjoyable as ever. I am definitely going to visit Newcastle area this year later unless anything crops up. I never knew there was so much roman activity there and things to see. Living and mostly staying in the south country I tend to think of the North Country as a sort of fabulous terra incognita. I've been to Sheffield area so far and it wasn't a bit like in those Lowry type pictures but all the industry has gone of course. Not all but its not grimy and black now. My friend can tell how it was. But I meant to say that I DO believe that Christianity evolved from a fusion of the Mystery religions that were a big deal in the couple of centuries either side of AD1. The book by Freke & Gandy puts the idea that the Christ figure was the protagonist of a sacred drama in a Jewish form of the Mysteries (which are mostly mysteries to this day because almost nobody snitched),in the Disney show Beauty and the Beast (love that show) there is a transformation scene where the Beast spins around or something and seconds later is the Prince. That may sound a profane analogy but theatre folk have known how to do effects like that since the dawn of time. It seems to me that the odd and contradictory "facts" about a real life born person would've been cobbled together when the first generation was going and people forgot and thought it was a real person. I know people who would say I am speaking the words of Satan but it makes sense to me. I do think that if Jesus is an Idea,he's a very good idea and I do believe and trust in God. I'm not that keen on Jesus often reiterated advice to either give your money away (but you can't give it away until you've accrued it) or not seek it in the first place. Just doesn't work for me. OK if you know you're not going to need money after age 33 I suppose.

Calling a specific deity simply "sol invictus" is a bit of a misnomer. Sol Invictus is more so a title than a name. Many deities held the title such as Deus Sol Invictus, Sol Invictus Elagabal, and Mithras Sol Invictus.

The slaying of the bull is zodiacal and a reference to the age of Taurus ending and Mars and Aries ascendance? It seems "logical" to me, do you disagree, and if not why not mention the concept? I appreciate your work, simply a question.

Two fun facts for you: of the known members of the cult, about 10% were soldiers; the tauroctony in the Hancock museum is made of styrofoam. Thanks for the video. Always gratifying to see intelligent commentary on a favorite subject. #stillworshipingmithras

What do you make of the fact that the Bank of England was built on top of a Mithraic temple? Doesn't that prove that Mithraism survived through the centuries in some form or another?

That’s where your Pope hat originated

Keep your hands down.

Mithras very indo European!

Baldr. Sol is Baldr

I believe that the Mithras cult did not really die out it was reinvented as the Roman Catholic Church where many heathen gods were brought in and called dead saints.