_Mithras_, the Persian Saviour, and mediator between God and man, was believed by the inhabitants of Persia, Asia Minor and Armenia, to have been put to death, _and to have risen again from the dead_. In their mysteries, the body of a young man, apparently dead, was exhibited, which was feigned to be restored to life. By his sufferings he was believed to have worked their salvation, and on this account he was called their "_Saviour_." His priests watched his tomb to the midnight of the veil of the 25th of March, _with loud cries, and in darkness_; when all at once the lights burst forth from all parts, and the priest cried: "_Rejoice, Oh sacred Initiated, your god is risen. His death, his pains, his sufferings, have worked our salvation._"[223:2] Mons. Dupuis, speaking of the resurrection of this god, says: "It is chiefly in the religion of _Mithras_. . . . that we find mostly these features of analogy with the death and resurrection of Christ, and with the mysteries of the Christians. _Mithras_, who was also born on the 25th of December, like Christ, died as he did; and he had his sepulchre, over which his disciples came to shed tears. During the night, the priests carried his image to a tomb, expressly prepared for him; he was laid out on a litter, like the Phœnician _Adonis_. "These funeral ceremonies, like those on Good Friday (in Roman Catholic churches), were accompanied with funeral dirges and groans of the priests; after having spent some time with these expressions of feigned grief; after having lighted the sacred _flambeau_, or their paschal candle, and anointed the image with _chrism_ or perfumes, one of them came forward and pronounced with the gravest mien these words: '_Be of good cheer, sacred band of Initiates, your god has risen from the dead. His pains and his sufferings shall be your salvation._'"[223:3] In King's "_Gnostics and their Remains_" (Plate XI.), may be seen the representation of a bronze medal, or rather disk, engraved in the coarsest manner, on which is to be seen a female figure, standing in the attitude of adoration, the object of which is expressed by the inscription--ORTVS SALVAT, "_The Rising of the Saviour_"--_i. e._, of _Mithras_.[224:1] "This medal" (says Mr. King), "doubtless had accompanied the interment of some individual initiated into the Mithraic mysteries; and is certainly the most curious relic of that faith that has come under my notice."[224:2]