Votive Tablet to the God Mithras (2nd cent. A.D.)
Of Indo-Iranian origin, the cult of Mithras competed with Christianity for hearts and minds in the waning Roman Empire. Mithras gave birth to all the variety of plants and animals in the universe when he killed the cosmic bull. The idea of a happy go lucky knight errant who wiped out evil wherever he found it appealed to the base of the Roman soldielry, who carried the cult throughout the Empire. It was strongest, however, in the border regions (where most of the soldiers where garrisoned), including Spain. Looking at this votive tablet, and at the specific way in which he's killing that bull, the connection with Iberian bull fighting is very obvious.
Votive Tablet to the God Mithras (2nd cent. A.D.)
Of Indo-Iranian origin, the cult of Mithras competed with Christianity for hearts and minds in the waning Roman Empire. Mithras gave birth to all the variety of plants and animals in the universe when he killed the cosmic bull. The idea of a happy go lucky knight errant who wiped out evil wherever he found it appealed to the base of the Roman soldielry, who carried the cult throughout the Empire. It was strongest, however, in the border regions (where most of the soldiers where garrisoned), including Spain. Looking at this votive tablet, and at the specific way in which he's killing that bull, the connection with Iberian bull fighting is very obvious.