After Action Report: MithraCon 2026 Day 3

Sunday, April 26th, 2026
Around 8 a.m. - around 12 p.m.
Participants: Marcus Quintius Clavus
Sibylla Ambrosia Fulvia
Marcus Cassius Julianus
Titus Ovidius Nonus
Erica
David
Aulus Iulius Paterculus
   Most of us awakened a bit earlier on Sunday than on Saturday. M. Quintius Clavus, Sibylla Ambrosia Fulvia, M. Cassius Julianus, T. Ovidius Nonus, and I went to breakfast at Patricia's again, but our new friends had breakfast at the hotel, which was part of a package deal with their room. Patricia's was a bit busier than the day before, but not by too much. We expected larger crowds to be arriving when church services ended. Patricia remembered many of our orders from the previous day. During breakfast, Nonus mentioned plans to stop by Denny's on the way home, and this opened up discussion of restaurants in Maine, storms & flash floods, and visits to Salem, Massachusetts. Cassius again paid for breakfast.
   We returned to the room and met with Dave and Erica again. Dave had brought a number of art pieces he'd created himself, including larger & smaller tauroctonies etched on wood, leather book marks, including one depicting the Mithraic grades, and images of the face of Mithras surrounded by rays. Cassius liked this last image so much, he requested permission to put it on the t-shirts for the following year. Dave offered the pieces for sale at a generous "pay-what-you-want" price. Nonus purchased a larger tauroctony, Cassius purchased everything not already bought by others and then gave much of it away.
   Those of us who'd been staying in the shared rooms packed up. Sibylla started the drive home, while the rest of us, including David & Erica, headed to the Yale University Art Gallery. While walking we talked. Erica told me about her hobbies; I mentioned reading some poetry by William McGonagall (https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/william-mcgonagall). We noted an independent bookstore along the way which had seen visits in previous years.
   At the museum, we looked at the Classical artwork and the finds from Dura Europos, but also ventured into some other exhibits. Next to the Classical exhibit was a gallery of early modern currency; of particular interest was a series of coins struck with the image of Liberty/Libertas. I left the group briefly in order to make a call and stumbled into a room of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican artwork, which I encouraged the others to check out, and they also appreciated the works we saw.
    At last we bid each other goodbye. Cassius had let me store the leftover fruit in his car when we'd packed up the room, so we headed back together. We stopped at the bookstore along the way. Cassius made a number of purchases, and I collected two books from the "Free Books" bin, one of which was Murder on the Appian Way by Steven Saylor. I thought some of our other friends were browsing there around the same time, though we didn't actually greet one another.
   Cassius and I said our farewells back at the hotel parking lot, both agreeing that we looked forward to seeing everyone again in the near future.

After Action Report: MithraCon 2026 Day 2

Saturday, April 25th, 2026
Around 8 a.m. - around 10 p.m.
Participants: Marcus Quintius Clavus
Sibylla Ambrosia Fulvia
Marcus Cassius Julianus
Titus Ovidius Nonus
Aulus Iulius Paterculus
David
Erica
   M. Quintius Clavus woke up well before most of the rest of us. A bit after Sibylla Ambrosia Fulvia had also awakened, Quintius dropped by to check on everyone else. Within a few minutes we had all showered and were ready to go to breakfast at Patricia's, the restaurant next to the hotel. It was bit less packed than usual, probably because we'd arrived early.
   Patricia herself remembered our group and was surprised it had been a year already. I asked whether Patricia's was older than MithraCon. Sibylla (who was the only one to have attended the conference since it first began) didn't know, as the earliest MithraCons had taken place in a different location. M. Cassius Julianus generously treated everyone to breakfast.
   Sibylla remained at the hotel room while the rest of us headed down to the Sterling Memorial Library. Once we arrived at the library, we headed off in different directions. Quintius had already renewed his library pass online and headed off to do research. Cassius went to the desk to renew his pass. T. Ovidius Nonus & I examined an exhibit of errata (https://events.yale.edu/event/beauties-of-my-style-errata-and-the-printed-mistake) (emendations appended to books to correct printers' errors). Nonus afterwards walked to the Yale Peabody Museum, while I went to the Bass Library downstairs.
   In the Bass Library, a display showed students who'd worked at the library were being honored by each receiving a nameplate in a book of choice. A Classics student had selected the Thebiad by Statius. I looked through a number of different collections while in the Bass Library: in the graphic novels section, I attempted to find the graphic novel adaption of 1177 B.C., which Quintius had recommended the preceding night, mentioning to us that he had gone to a talk at which he'd had his copy signed by the illustrator.
   At the Peabody, Nonus told some other visitors about Mithraism when they were discussing sun gods. He later took an Uber back to the hotel due to the rain. 
   After stopping at The Yale Bookstore, I returned to the room, only to find some new people had joined us and were engaged in conversation with Sibylla & Quintius. They introduced themselves as Erica & David. David had been informed of MithraCon through Reddit (where he'd also posted an etching he'd made of the tauroctony (https://www.reddit.com/r/Mithras/comments/1s2kd58/tauroctony_designed_and_etched_by_me/) and the two of them had decided to come up to check it out. It had required some detective work on their part, as the hotel staff didn't know about MithraCon when asked. They finally met Sibylla in the lobby wearing her MithraCon t-shirt. David told us that the person who'd told him about the conference had tried to attend as well, but had gotten discouraged at not being able to find us and left.
   Quintius told us that Cassius was still at the library because he'd found a book in Italian he was trying to scan into Word for ease of translation. We talked about various topics until Cassius and Nonus returned, and carried on when they came back. Erica & Sibylla both had experience in the medical field which gave them shared material for conversation. We talked about the Masons and about different Christian denominations. David shared a song (https://soundcloud.com/user-430526764/oh-mithras?si=79ffaab719cc4943adfdab8f9101f9bf&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing) which a friend of his, a talented musician, had set to music at Dave's request. Cassius recommended Andrew Fear's book and highlighted the shortcomings of the book he'd brought with him.
   We decided it was time for dinner. Sibylla had brought chicken & Caesar salad, Quintius almonds & dried fruit, Cassius plenty of stuffed grape leaves. Nonus brought lupini beans which he'd been saving for this occasion. I brought fresh fruit: grapes, apples, & a pineapple*. Cassius sent a photo of the pineapple to Pattie.
   Nonus read us his carefully researched essay on the gladiatorial diet, which he'd finished and sent to be graded that very weekend. One key point he made was that gladiators were not vegetarians, as we know from direct literary evidence, but that it appeared that way because the vast quantities of beans in their diet reduced the amount of nitrogen in their remains.
   David had handmade phrygian caps which he gave us to wear for a group photo. We discussed the gladiatorial reenactors who'd once been in New England.
   After we'd cleared away the dishes and leftovers, some left the room while a Raven grade initiation took place. After that was complete, Nonus, Cassius, and I talked a bit longer about polytheistic religion before going to sleep.   

* This was a nod to Vermaseren's identification of a sculpted object included on a Mithraic statue as a pineapple, which we had seen and commented upon the previous.

After Action Report: MithraCon 2026 Day 1

Friday, April 24th, 2026
Around 3 p.m. - around midnight
Participants: Sibylla Ambrosia Fulvia
Marcus Cassius Julianus
Marcus Quintius Clavus
Aulus Iulius Paterculus
Titus Ovidius Nonus
   I arrived somewhat after 6 p.m., asked at the front desk, and was given the room numbers for the conference, along with a key card. Sibylla Ambrosia Fulvia, M. Cassius Julianus, & M. Quintius Clavus had already been talking for some time. Sibylla had arrived first in the early afternoon to set things up. Cassius, who had arrived afterwards, had set up a tauroctony in one corner of the room, consisting of both a canvas image of the bull-slaying and a bronze statue of the same, set up on a table. On the counter on the other side of the room, he'd brought some of his small antiquities for sale in their portable display case.
   We spent only a little further time speaking up in the room before deciding to head down to dinner. We passed through the lobby, where Sibylla told the staff that T. Ovidius Nonus was expected to arrive later that night, giving them his macronational name. Across the street, we had dinner in the same Japanese restaurant where we'd eaten the previous year. While waiting for and during the meal, we discussed various topics. Cassius told us about an antique urn he'd purchased as part of his antiquities trading business, only realizing after it arrived that it was enormous. Sibylla told us about the farmer's markets which were soon to resume, her process for inventing new spice blends, and the fact that really hot spice blends had to be made by her colleagues, as even mixing them exposed the mixer to their heat.
   At the end of the meal, the waiter brought us an unexpected treat - eight French-style macarons. We had a few with the tea which had been shared by the table and brought the rest up to the room.
   We stayed up talking a while longer. Cassius gave out t-shirts with an image of the taurontony on them. Cassius also offered to give away his extra copy of a book on Mithraism which he had accidentally bought twice, but he reviewed the book so unfavourably that no one wanted it even for free. Then we set up the beds. I went down to the lobby & lingered there until after 11 p.m. Nonus arrived a bit afterwards.

Book Review: Mystery Cults of the Ancient World by Hugh Bowden

     This is a fairly comprehensive overview of mystery religion in ancient Greco-Roman world, ranging from the best known (e.g. the Eleusinian Mysteries, the cults of Isis & Mithras) to the obscure (e.g. mysteries at Andania and Lycosura). The definition of "mystery cult" used by the author is broad and flexible, so as to include both one-time initiation rites and recurring (often ecstatic) ceremonies like those dedicated to Dionysus/Bacchus and Magna Mater. One chapter is even dedicated to the gold tablets found in certain tombs, which Bowden suggests may not have been linked to any ceremony in which the deceased had participated in life at all (despite the opinion of others that these were specifically buried with Orphic initiates).

     If there is a flaw in this text, it may be that Bowden is a bit too confident at times in reconstructing the broad outlines of some of the better-known rites, but all of his conjectures are grounded in either literary or archaeological evidence, frequently both. He does admit uncertainty at times and at least mentions some of the scholarly theories he rejects, such as the use of mind-altering substances by participants in the mysteries of Eleusis. Where there is a clear gap in evidence, this is disclosed as well.

    Particularly in the introduction and final chapter, Bowden draws interesting comparisons with contemporary religions, especially those Christian churches in which snake-handling is practiced. While such comparisons could be overstated (which Bowden is careful not to do), they do seem to provide some insight, as does Bowden's contrast between "doctrinal" and "imagistic" forms of religion.

    On the subject of images, this book had many, some in colour.

    Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of mystery cults.

Solsitium 2772 - December 21st, 2019

Attendees:
Sibylla Ambrosia Fulvia (Hostess)
Marcus Quintius Clavus
Aulus Iulius Paterculus
Cindy (Arrived Later)

        Around noon, Sibylla, Quintius, & I met at Sibylla's house. For the first part of the meeting, we sat by the fire discussing Roman topics. On the table in front of us were a number of snacks, including hard-boiled eggs, dried fruit with nuts, bread, and assorted olives.
        Quintius presented his collection of Ancient History magazines to us, including issues on Africa, ancient cities, and the Etruscans. He shared the steps which had to be taken to obtain copies, as they are published in Europe, and some of the features which made them such valuable reading. In particular, he pointed out that they do not recycle old artwork, as many publishers do, but instead commission new art to the highest standard of historical accuracy. Sibylla and I were temporarily distracted from the conversation by looking over these beautiful magazines with interest.
        Sibylla outlined the progress of her various theses on Mithraism, of which her article for the American Meteor Society in particular had advanced a great deal since we last met and was basically ready for publication. In connection with this topic, I asked two questions: firstly whether we were in touch with the creator of the
mithraism.info website. Secondly, I asked whether the fact that the Mithraic Liturgy had been scribed by a man for his daughter, as I had recently heard, had any bearing on what we should think about the gender-exclusivity of Mithraic rites, as what this document meant overall. Sibylla answered that she had not looked at the Liturgy in
depth, but that other Mithraists used it, including Patti, an attendee of MithraCon. Quintius mentioned a recent post by Patti on Roman Army Talk concerning the Roman Mithras as opposed to the Zoroastrian aspect of the god.
        Cindy, a friend and housemate of Sibylla, arrived at the house and joined us by the fire for a time. She opened a discussion on the presentation of the ancient world, as well as medieval times, in film. As it happened, one of the articles in the magazines Quintius had brought turned on this very topic, and we thought over what it had to say as well. Quintius commented on the excellence of the film Alexander, partly due to the creation of new period-appropriate props rather than recycling items from other movies of approximately (meaning "within a thousand
years") the same time period, one of the flaws the article had pointed out in the film it reviewed.
        We then went into the dining room for the main meal of the evening. In addition to all the items remaining from the spread by the fire, there was ham provided by Sibylla, and a kind of casserole made of eggs, vegetables, garum, and asafoetida made by Quintius. After that we served a nut tart with honey which I baked the night before. At the table, Sibylla and Quintius discussed events by the Society of Creative Anachronism, particularly a craft contest of which Sibylla was to be a judge. CT State Latin Day was also brought up.
        After dinner, Cindy retired for the night and the rest of us returned to our places beside the fire. We discussed ecological depletion in the Roman empire: the extinction of the European lion, of silphium, etc. We also brought up Cato the Younger, on whom there was a bit of disagreement. Quintius argued that he took political obstinacy to an
extreme and was himself partly responsible for the end of the Republic. I found him to be an admirable figure, although perhaps one whom it would be difficult to live with in practice. Both of us recommended the biography Rome's Last Citizen to Sibylla, who was not as familiar with this particular figure.

After Action Report: MithraCon 2019

Friday, April 12th, 2019
Participants:
Sibylla Ambrosia Fulvia (Hostess)
Marcus Quintius Clavus
Marcus Cassius Julianus
Mercuria Cassia
Ed
Wenna
Aulus Iulius Paterculus
   Quintius & I arrived to find Sibylla, Cassius, and Mercuria already in the room and deep in discussion.
   We left for dinner almost immediately. The Afghani restaurant where we had eaten the previous year had closed, so we ate the "Basil" restaurant (a Thai/Chinese/Japanese fusion establishment) next door instead. Cassius passed out laminated fact sheets on the interactions between Rome and China in antiquity, which we read in appreciative silence. Soon after our orders arrived, Ed and Wenna joined the group.
  There was some disscussion on general topics, MithraCons past, and what restaurant we might visit next year, but much of our attention was occupied by the food in front of us, which were in generous portions accompanied by pots of tea for the table. Reactions on the food itself varied.
  After dinner, Ed and Wenna said their farewells and the rest of us returned to the room to engage in further conversation. Sibylla shared insights gained from another year's reasearch into Mithraism. Cassius contributed more insights from his Masonic experience; Mercuria fact-checked information online, discovering some additional details, of which even Cassius had not been aware.
  Sibylla mentioned the recent reintroduction of the priesthood training by Cn. Lentulus and the possibility that Sibylla might organize an official Mithraic cult to be recognized by Nova Roma.
  Cassius caught us up with some of the progress made by Byzantium Novum over the previous year.
  Cassius also presented us with T-shirts which had been made at his copy shop, which showed a beautiful image of the Rockbirth of Mithras.

Saturday, April 13th, 2019
Additional Participants:
Alex
Adam
   The following day we enjoyed the now traditional breakfast at Patricia’s, the diner less than a block from the hotel. Mercuria was sadly not able to join us at breakfast due to headache, but later arrived at the Sterling library for a day of intense research. When the library finally closed, we exited to find a group of students practicing improv of the steps ahead of the library entrance.
   Afterwards, we split into two groups, head to the Yale Barnes & Nobles and the hotel. We re-united in an hour or two in the hotel room over a feast including stuffed grape leaves, fruit, bread, chicken, lettuce, and large quantities of cheese, followed by raspberry and apple tarts brought down from Maine. Our discussion touched on a number of topics including the modern U.S. navy, before turning to the research we had done in the library during the day. Sibylla had a long list on Mithraism which she had ordered to Sterling in advance. Cassius told us about two particular books he had recently purchased, Pictish Mithraism, which postulated a link between Pictish carved
standing stones and Mithraism and The Trail of Mithras  which examined a supposed line of Mithraea running
across the Roman Empire and the churches later built above some of them. I had read selections from books on various topics, including the infinity problem in quantum physics, the lives of Laura Ingalls
and Rose Wilder, the novels of Steven King, and Greek tragedy.
  Alex & Adam arrived partway through our discussion of library research. Conversation turned to how Alex had
come to join us: as it turned out, he had been entranced by the Mithraeum when he began working as at the Yale Art Gallery and been told by a fellow employee about the conference which visited each year. We discussed Mithraism for some time after that; in particular details of initiation which it appeared could be deduced from the
mosaic and frescos at the Felicissima Mithraeum and the "Mithraic liturgy".

Sunday, April 14th, 2018
  We returned for Patricia's for a second excellent breakfast, this time with Mercuria as part of the group. Quintius was not with us, as he had returned home the previous night. Discussion turned mainly upon life in New England and personal interests, including research into runes by both Mercuria and Sibylla.
  On our way to the art gallery, we passed an interesting used bookstore, but although the sign said "Open", it was actually closed. Someone joked that on the way back the sign would say "Closed", but the store would be open.
  We arrived at the gallery somewhat early, and hence had time to tour not only the Classical wing of the gallery but a section devoted to coins of assorted eras and another devoted to Byzantine art. Alex soon joined us at looking over the items in the Classical wing, and particularly the Dura Europe exhibit. This exhibit had been somewhat
diminished, as certain items were on loan elsewhere, but the Mithraeum was still intact. Sibylla spoke about the items before us both with Alex and with some other patrons of the gallery. After a little while, Cassius and Mercuria left, followed soon after by Alex. Quintius joined Sibylla and me shortly afterwards. We had coffee & tea together, followed by a visit to the bookstore we had passed earlier, which was indeed open and had an adequate collection of Classics-related books.

Roman Day 2018

  Marcus Audens has written up the following minutes for a meeting taking place in Nova Britannia. A few minor modifications have been made by me based on comments made by Sibylla A. Fulvia and myself on the draft sent by M. Audens:
Pictures and Minutes - The Roman Day's Event was held at the Home of  Sibylla A. Fulvia in Haddam, CT.
Purpose of the Meeting was Roman Presentations , and a discussion on Nova Britannia Business.
Lady Sibylla A. Fulvia was the hostess. 
Attendees were:
  - Lady  Sibylla A. Fulvia;
  - Lady Valentina
  - Lady Mathews (visitor);
  - Senator Marcus Cassius Julianus;
  - Master Paterculus;
  - Consul Gaius Claudius Quadratus;
  - Optio, Quintius Johanson, Legio III (Cyrenaica);
  - Home Owner,Nelson Struck (visitor);
  - Senator Marcus Minucius Audens.

   The Meeting was brought to order at about 10:00 A.M. and the first Presentation given by Master Paterculus, its subject being the Greek Philosophy of Plato's "Republic".  His presentation was to present to the members the factors of the Greek Philosopher Plato in regard to the philosophy of complete control of all phases and activities of normal like by an all-powerful ruler, and gain from those present their views and ideas about such a government.

  The second presentation was provided by Senator /NR Co-Founder Marcus Cassius Julianus.  His presentation was entitled "The Kingdom of Soissons."  Handouts of the  historical information regarding the subject were distributed to all present (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Soissons).

  The third Presentation was concerning a large variety of spices.  Lady Sibylla A. Fulvia had a large container of each spice , and she passed each spice around the group for anyone to smell and taste as desired while the lady gave the details about how the spice was used, the origin, and other useful information about each spice.

   The fourth Presentation was given by Senator Marcus Audens entitled "Ancient/Medieval Maritime Merchant Routes and Ships."  The presentation was accompanied by  fifteen of the presenter's ship drawings , and five maps showing maritime merchant routes.  The presentation encompassed ship styles, ship sail rigs, hull construction, and primary use of various style of ships in different marine settings and places.

   The fifth presentation was by Consul Quadratus about his coin collection from two distinct Roman periods; 1.  The Second Triumvirate; 2. The Year of the Twelve Caesars.

   The sixth Presentation was by Lady Sibylla A. Fulvia and was entitled, "Leonotcephalus, and how Mithras was sent in a meteorite to a lower plane,"  The presentation was in regard to the God Mithras, and the showing of a statuette of his messenger from Heaven to Earth, by using a key to unlock the celestial globe, and allow Mithras to pass through encased in a meteor in order to reach earth.  The presentation included details and other lesser Gods and goddesses and their participation in the religous story of Mithras.

   There was also a display, of Roman Coins and artifacts provided for viewing by Senator Marcus Cassius.

   Following  the first  few Presentations the group was called to a very nice Roman Dinner, which featured Roast Chicken, Olives, Figs, Apricots, Loaf Bread, Garbanzo Bean/Pomegranate Salad, Deviled Eggs, Ancient Roman Cheese Cake, Lemonade, and Red Wine.

  Following the last presentation the group came to the discussion period.  The first item brought by Consul Quadratus, was the desire to conduct some kind of quiz on the NR Communication network.  The problem was that any simple quiz questions regarding the Roman Republic and Early Empire would be easily answered using one of the Computer answering services (Wiki, Google, etc.)  The question regarding the quiz, recieved one answer from Marcus Audens.  The contest would be to write the ending to one of several one page stories.  The best ending would be the winner!  Other suggestions included writing an essay or short story as a team.

   This discussion evolved into the question about what is needed if anyone in Nova Britannia wished to create a Roman Event.  After some discussion a simple set of suggested requirements for putting together an event,   These requirements were studied, questioned, adjusted, and finally voted upon and accepted unanimously.   It was strongly suggested that the subject of any quiz or contest be limited to a High school level of information, and that the set of suggested requirements should be sent to the NR Communication network on a cycle of somewhere in the vicinity of a three-to six month period. This list of requirements will be furnished for the Event minutes review By Senator Marcus Cassius.

The pictures of the event are as follow:

1. Consul Quadratus and Lady Sibylla A. Fulvia;

2. Paterculus, Lady Sibylla A. Fulvia, Nelson Struck (Home Owner/Guest), Optio, Quintius Johanson, Legio III (Cyrenaica);

3. Paterculus, Optio, Quintius Johanson, Legio III (Cyrenaica);

4. Lady Sibylla A. Fulvia,  Consul Quadratus, Senator Marcus Cassius, Paterculus;

5. Lady Sibylla A. Fulvia, Lady Valentina, Paterculus, Marcus Audens;

6. Lady Sibylla A. Fulvia, Consul Quadratus;

7. Statuette - Leontocephalus;

8. Senator Marcus Cassius.

Respectfully Submitted.
  Marcus Audens

After Action Report: MithraCon 2018

Friday, April 6th, 2018
Participants:
Sibylla Ambrosia Fulvia (Hostess)
Marcus Quintius Clavus
Marcus Cassius Julianus
Ed
Wenna
Aulus Iulius Paterculus
Quintius & I arrived by car. During the ride, we had a fair amount of discussion. Among other things, Quintius had mentioned recent and upcoming Roman (and Bronze Age) reenactments he was involved in including a “Heroes & Villains” day and CT State Latin Day. He had also recommended a novel, Trampling in the Land of Woe, featuring Alexander the Great & Hephaestion as major characters.
Sibylla had already checked in and set up the room, while Cassius had been delayed by snowstorm along the way down from Maine. We spoke for a little in the room before heading to dinner, and Cassius shared some amazing T-shirts & book bags produced at his copy shop. They depicted the leontecephalus, the lion-headed deity with a role in Mithraism.
Dinner was expected to be at an Indian restaurant, but, to our surprise, it had been replaced by an Afghani establishment. As we had a reservation, we decided to stay and Sibylla called in the two other attendees, Ed & Wenna, who were likewise confused when they arrived.
Much discussion took place during dinner, including of fiction in which large groups of people are sent through time. The restaurant itself had great food, and occasioned some conversation on the interaction between Afghanistan and the Classical world.
After dinner, four of us returned to the hotel, where discussion continued back in the room until around 11 p.m. Sibylla gave a talk about the seven grades of Mithraic initiation and we also touched on other subjects.
Saturday, April 7th, 2018
Additional Participants:
Elizabeth
Mockingbird
The following day we had breakfast at Patricia’s, a restaurant next to the hotel which had become a tradition. Sibylla showed some pictures of a recent trip to northern Italy, including some of historic buildings.
Next, there followed several hours of research at the Sterling library (and at the linked Bass library for part of the group). Sibylla did research for an upcoming work on runes. Cassius found texts on a number of in ancient history and religion. Quintius was researching Alexander, including biography and one analysis of a popular movie. I found a few (basic) works on the Roman military, and book on ancient influences on A Song of Ice & Fire/Game of Thrones.
After the library, Quintus & Cassius went to Yale bookstore, while Sibylla & I returned to the hotel. Shortly thereafter, the group reunited for dinner, joined by Mockingbird & Elizabeth. The was plenty of food, including dates, figs, almonds, grapes, carrots, Caesar salad, olives, feta cheese, and roast chicken. Elizabeth had even
brought homemade spelt bread. After the appetizers and entrée were complete, Cassius also produced some apple turnovers.
Discussion that evening began with more details from Sibylla on Mithraic grades. Everyone discussed their research at the library.
Mockingbird analyzed possible relation of Stonehenge to the phases of the moon. Quintius pointed out different strands in the Bible, and Cassius mentioned upcoming projects related to Etruscans & Hittites.
There were many other subjects which came up as well. Mockingbird and Elizabeth went home soon after dinner was complete, but the discussion again carried on until around 11.
Sunday, April 8th, 2018
Additional Participant: Tera Perry
Since Patricia’s was closed on Sunday for Orthodox Easter, we had breakfast downstairs in the Marriott’s own bistro. After that we packed up the room and conversed in the lobby until shortly before the Yale Art Gallery was set to open.
Tera met us at the gallery, and we toured the Classical wing of the gallery as a group. There had been a few changes since our last visit, and there were some insights into the art, such as Tera’s observation on the development of perspective over time.
In the Dura Europa exhibit, we studied the different artistic styles and modes of dress. Quintius and Tera each commented on the cultural influences visible. Sibylla talked with several groups touring the gallery about Mithraism. We took a picture of the Mithraeum & part of the group to put on the internet before heading home.

MithraCon Reminder

   Just a reminder to everyone that MithraCon, the New Haven event which for the past 15 years has been devoted to the contemplation of all things Mithraic, is on its way. Don't forget to sign up!

EDIT: MithraCon 15 has been postponed until next year.

Date Set for Next Year's MithraCon

   The 15th MithraCon, the annual convention of Mithraic enthusiasts held in New Haven, has just been scheduled for April 11-13 of next year.
   Having been to this year's convention, I recommend the event to anyone able to afford the registration fee, provided of course that they have an interest in the study of Mithraism. Even without being very familiar with this topic, I was still able to participate in the various activities and other participants were glad answer my questions about the ancient mystery cult.