MITHRA;
this a Name which the Persi∣ans, Parthians, and several other Eastern Na∣tions gave to Apollo, because of the Ornament about his Head, wherewith they represented him: He was also reverenced among the Romans, as appears by several Inscriptions:
Soli invicto Mithrae. Numini invicto soli Mithrae.They celebrated the Ceremonies used at his Worship in Caves and Subterranean Places, and they usually sacrificed a Bull to him. Socrates and Sozomen say, That in the Reign of Julian the Apostate and Theodosius, the Cave of Mithra, that was at Alexandria, was opened, that they found it full of Mens Sculls, that had been there sacrificed unto him: This Worship of Apollo Mithra is one of the ancientest used among Men, and the Maltese Greeks learnt it of the Phoenici∣ans, who before them were Masters of the I∣sland. Eustathius derives the Word Mitre from the Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which signifies a Weaver's Woof, being a broad Welt, wherewith they tied his Head: Vossius derives it from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which signifies to tie; because the Mitre was an Or∣nament which they tied round the Head: But Scaliger deduces it from a Syriack Word, that sig∣nifies a Band or Line; and others from the Word Mithri, which is Syriac, and is as much as to say Lord: And in Conformity to this Sentiment, the Mitre was a Sign of Dominion or Royal Ma∣jesty.