Peter Mark Adams - Ritual & Epiphany in the Mysteries of Mithras

What experiences awaited initiates within the secret rites of Mithras? In this lecture from Occulture Conference 2025, Peter Mark Adams explores the ritual performance and visionary symbolism of the ancient Mithraic mysteries. Recorded at Occulture Conference 2025, this talk examines the esoteric dimensions of the Roman Cult of Mithras, focusing on how its visual culture reflects the transformative experiences of initiation. Through the analysis of ritual imagery, frescoes, and sculptural depictions, the lecture investigates how Mithraic ceremonies were designed to produce powerful states of revelation and altered perception. Particular attention is given to the initiatory frescoes of the Capua Vetere mithraeum, which depict stages of ritual testing, symbolic violence, and visionary encounter. These images provide rare insight into how initiates may have experienced the rites as a process leading toward epiphany and expanded consciousness. The lecture also examines representations of the mysterious deity Aeon/Kronos, whose imagery expresses cosmic time, cyclical renewal, and the transcendence of ordinary reality. Through this iconography, the Mithraic mysteries can be understood as guiding initiates toward a state of non-dual awareness and profound symbolic transformation. By bringing together art history, ritual studies, and the anthropology of religion, this talk sheds light on how ancient mystery traditions used imagery, performance, and mythic symbolism to induce powerful spiritual experiences. About the speaker: Peter Mark Adams is an author, poet, and essayist specializing in the ethnography of mystery ritual, sacred landscapes, esotericism, consciousness, and healing. A graduate in Philosophy, he pursues advanced studies in iconology, Renaissance art, and material culture with the Warburg Institute’s School of Advanced Studies, and studies Middle Egyptian texts with Dr. Colleen Darnell. He is an Associate Member of the European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism (ESSWE). His non-fiction is published by Scarlet Imprint, Theion Publishing, and Inner Traditions, and his literary work appears in the journal Reliquiae. About Occulture Conference: Occulture Conference brings together artists, researchers, and practitioners to explore the intersections of culture, esotericism, politics, and contemporary spiritual practice. Learn more at: 👉 https://www.occultureconference.com Keywords: Mithras, Mithraic mysteries, mystery cults, ancient initiation rites, Mithraic ritual, Aeon Kronos, Roman religion, sacred iconography, esoteric traditions, Occulture Conference 2025, Peter Mark Adams