Mitra Mitra ( Proto-Indo-Iranian , nominative Mitras ) was an important Indo-Iranian divinity , thought to be a guardian of oaths and agreements . Following the prehistoric cultural split of Indian and Iranian cultures , names descended from *Mitra were used for the following divine or holy figures : Mitra ( Sanskrit Mitrá- , Mitráḥ ) , a deity ( asura ) who appears frequently in the ancient Indian text of the Rigveda . Mithra ( Avestan Miθra- , Miθrō ) , a yazata mentioned in the Zoroastrian sacred scripture of the Avesta , whose modern Persian equivalent is Mehr . Mithras , the principal deity of the religion of Mithraism , was derived from a form of Mithra that had been reinterpreted and very considerably changed in Greco-Roman culture . Etymology The Indo-Iranian word mitra- could mean either `` covenant , contract , oath , or treaty '' , or `` friend '' . A general meaning of `` alliance '' might adequately explain both alternatives . The second sense tends to be emphasized in Indic sources , the first sense in Iranian . The word is from a root mi- `` to bind '' , with the `` tool suffix '' -tra- ( compare man-tra- ) , a contract is thus described as a `` means of binding '' ( compare Ishara ) . Early history The first extant record of Mitra , in the form mi-it-ra- , is in the inscribed peace treaty between Hittites and the Hurrian kingdom of the Mitanni in the area southeast of Lake Van , c. 1400 BC . There Mitra appears as one of five deities invoked as witnesses and keepers of the pact , with gods whose names are equivalent to the Vedic Varuna , Indra and the twin horsemen , the Nasatyas , all of whom the rulers of the Mitanni apparently worshipped. ( Campbell 256 ) . Vedic Mitra Main article : Mitra ( Vedic ) Vedic Mitra is a prominent deity of the Rigveda distinguished by a relationship to Varuna , the protector of rta . Together with Varuna , he counted among the Adityas , a group of solar deities , also in later Vedic texts . Vedic Mitra is the patron divinity of honesty , friendship , contracts and meetings . Iranian Mithra Main article : Mithra In Zoroastrianism , Mithra is a protector of human welfare and a member of the trinity of ahuras , protectors of asha . He appears in the younger Yashts of the Avesta , where he is said `` to be as worthy of sacrifice and as worthy of prayer as ( Ahura Mazda ) `` ( Campbell 257 ) . He is called `` Judge of Souls '' and is assigned the domain of human welfare , aiding in the destruction of evil and the administration of the world . He is thus a divinity of air and light , and truth and loyalty . He protects souls and accompanies them to paradise . He promotes vegetation and increase , rewards the good with prosperity and annihilates the bad . He is later associated with the Sun and identified as the progeny of the feminine yazata Anahita `` the wide-expanding and health-giving '' . Mithras Main article : Mithras Mithra was adopted by the Greeks and Romans as Mithras , chief figure in the mystery religion of Mithraism . At first identified with the Sun-god Helios by the Greeks , the syncretic Mithra-Helios was transformed into the god Mithras during the 2nd century BC , probably at Pergamon . This new cult was taken to Rome around the 1st century BC and was dispersed throughout the Roman Empire and embraced by the Emperor Commodus and 3rd century emperors . Popular among the Roman military , Mithraism was spread as far north as Hadrian 's Wall and the Germanic Limes . Other uses of `` Mitra '' Mitra in Herodotus ' Histories ( I.131 ) is given as a Persian name for Aphrodite . Mitra in Robert E. Howard 's Hyborian Age stories is the name of the most popular of the `` Hyborian '' deities . Mitra is a genus of Neogastropod snail in the family Mitridae . mitra ( μἱτρα ) is also Greek for a headband or turban , whose modern descendant is the episcopal mitre . See also Vedic religion Zoroastrianism Mithraism References On Mitra : Dumézil , Georges ( 1990 ) . Mitra-Varuna : An Essay on Two Indo-European Representations of Sovereignty . Cambridge : Zone Books . ISBN 0-942299-13-2 . Campbell , Joseph ( 1964 ) . Occidental Mythology : The Masks of God . New York : Penguin Group . ISBN 0-14-004306-3 . On Mithra : Malandra , William ( 1983 ) . An Introduction to Ancient Iranian Religion . Minneapolis : University of Minnesota Press . ISBN 0-8166-1115-7 . List of CAIS articles on ancient Iranian calendars , customs , festivals & rituals List of CAIS articles on ancient Iranian mythology On Mithras : Cumont , Franz ( 1903 ) . The Mysteries of Mithra . Chicago : Open Court . Fingrut , David ( 1993 ) . `` The Legacy of the Roman Empire 's Final Pagan State Religion `` . ( high-school level paper , but good summary of Cumont ) Categories : Hindu gods | Rigvedic deities | Adityas | Zoroastrianism | Persian mythology | Hurrian deities | Legal history In other languages : Dansk | Deutsch | Español | فارسی | Italiano | עברית | Nederlands | 日本語 | Polski | Português | Română | Slovenščina | Svenska Mitrá- , Mitráḥ Mitra ( Vedic ) Mithra Mithras Dumézil Georges Mitra-Varuna : An Essay on Two Indo-European Representations of Sovereignty 1990 ISBN 0-942299-13-2 Zone Books Cambridge Campbell Joseph Occidental Mythology : The Masks of God 1964 Penguin Group New York ISBN 0-14-004306-3 Malandra William 1983 ISBN 0-8166-1115-7 An Introduction to Ancient Iranian Religion Minneapolis University of Minnesota Press Cumont Franz 1903 Open Court Chicago The Mysteries of Mithra Fingrut , David 1993 The Legacy of the Roman Empire 's Final Pagan State Religion http : //penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Periods/Roman/Topics/Religion/Mithraism/David_Fingrut**.html # MITHRAISM 