Wanted to expand on connections the article contained as well as add in information that was not shown. Mithras connection would go under the Sol Invictus and connection to deities and Constantine would go after the connection to deities following the connection to emperors.
Connection to Mithras
Sol appears many times in depictions of Mithras, such as the Tauroctony of Mithras killing the bull, and looking at Sol over his shoulder[1]. They appear in other scenes together from Mithras ascending behind Sol's chariot, shaking hands and some depictions of Sol kneeling to Mithras[2]. Mithras was known as Sol Invictus even though Sol is a separate deity, a paradoxical relationship where they are each other but separate[3]. They are separate deities but due to some similarities a connection between them can be created which can lead to one over taking the other.
Connection to Emperors
The Cult of Sol as it grew and Sol took on attributes of other solar deities, is thought that Sol began to be used as a way to display imperial power. There is some discussion around if the "radiate" crown shown on some emperor's portraits minted on coins in the 3rd Century is a connection to Sol.[4]
Constantine was thought to before he converted to Christianity he was a force in the advancement of the Cult of Sol to the height of it's popularity. The commission to mint coins in the 4th Century that depict Sol on one side[5]. Constantine himself wore the "radiate crown" as well though there are arguments that it was to represent the "Holy Nails" and not Sol, arguments exist for both[6]
- ^ Clauss, Manfred; Gordon, Richard (2017-09-25). "The Roman Cult of Mithras". doi:10.4324/9781315085333.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Beck, Roger (2020-11-06). Beck on Mithraism. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-351-57433-4.
- ^ Clauss, Manfred; Gordon, Richard (2017-09-25). "The Roman Cult of Mithras". doi:10.4324/9781315085333.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "Biblical Artifacts Ancient Coins and Artifacts from the Holy Land". www.biblicalartifacts.com. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
- ^ "Biblical Artifacts Ancient Coins and Artifacts from the Holy Land". www.biblicalartifacts.com. Retrieved 2020-11-20.
- ^ "Political Talismans? Residual 'Pagan' Statues In Late Antique Public Space", The Archaeology of Late Antique 'Paganism', BRILL, pp. 437–477, 2011-01-01, ISBN 978-90-04-21039-4, retrieved 2020-12-07