“Pieta” in Christianity and Holy “Cattle Slaughtering” in Mithraism

Volume 4, Issue 11
Spring 2016
Pages 15-20

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Abstract
Pieta have had a special place in Christian art depicting suffers of Mary and Jesus as the mother cradling the body of son, and carrying him on the knees. Old samples of pieta scenes have seen in the context of triangular arrangements which reminds the reliefs of Mehr killing cattle or religious victim in Mithraic temple which was existed centuries before the formation of Christian art and architecture. Religious scene of pieta in a triangular church sanctuary – evoking caves – of which the sun and the stars show off on it’s ceiling, repeatedly have been portrayed. The influence of cattle slaughtering on pieta’s scene, is one of the important and well-known manifestations which represents the consistency of belief and ritual art across the time, it also verifies the transformation of Mehr religion in Christianity.

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