Après Lux perpetua de Franz Cumont : quelle eschatologie dans les « cultes orientaux » à mystères ?

Abstract

This chapter explains the two international congresses organized by U. Bianchi, respectively on the religious-historical specificity of the Mysteries of Mithras, and the soteriology of oriental cults in the Roman Empire. It considers Greek mystery cults or religious traditions of Eastern origin during the Hellenistic and Imperial periods. The chapter also mentions the tendency to associate the pagan mysteries insurance of a spiritual and eschatological salvation, in the context of a relationship and an analogy with Christianity. The chapter also talks about a deification of the insider, obtained by assimilation to the god died and rose again. On Mithraism, it reports the very balanced interpretation of R. Gordon, who emphasizes the eschatological component of worship of a savior god which requires faithful high ethical rules. The original text of the chapter is in French. Keywords: Hellenistic period; Imperial period; Mysteries of Mithras; oriental cults; religious-historical specificity; soteriology