recognize the beginnings of the later Mithraic rites and mysteries for which the cult of Mithra, centuries afterwards, became famous. Mithra demands that his sacrifice shall be performed with out-and-out devotion. Ahura Mazda says unto Zarathushtra that if a sacrifice is offered unto Mithra by a holy and righteous priest, Mithra will be satisfied, and will straightway come to the dwelling of the supplicant, but if it is performed by an unholy priest, it is rejected, no matter how long has been the sacrifice, nor how many bundles of the sacred twigs are consecrated.[1] Mithra promptly comes to help when he is satisfied.[2] He brings sovereignty for him who has piously offered him libations,[3] and gives him a good abode with desirable possessions.[4] He is to be offered sacrifices around and within countries, in and above countries, under and before and behind countries.[5]
Mithra's boons. He is constantly spoken of as giving happy and joyful abode, to the Aryan peoples. Many indeed are the boons asked for from Mithra by his votaries, who always approach him with love, homage and sacrifice. He is generally invoked to come to the faithful for help, freedom, joy, mercy, healing, victory, well-being, and sanctification. The masters of the house, clan, town, and country invoke him for help, so do the poor, when wronged, look to him for the redress of their grievances.[6] The husbandman solicits that rich pasture may never fail him. Horsemen sacrifice unto him even from on horseback and beg swiftness for their teams, vigour for their bodies, and might for overthrowing their adversaries.[7] Neither the spear of the foe nor his arrow hits the man whom Mithra helps,[8] for he guards and protects man from behind and in front.[9] Mithra furthers the possessions of man, he gives flocks of cattle, male offspring, chariots, spacious mansions, and prosperity;[10] he is therefore entreated to grant riches, courage, victory, good name and fame, felicity, wisdom, and strength to smite the adversaries.[11] The worshipper prays that just as the sun, rising from beyond the Alburz, reaches the height, so may he, with his ascending prayer, rise above the will of Angra Mainyu and ap-
