A god that is dressed by the feet: Persian dress in Mythraic iconography

Abstract

Abstract: The iconographic representation of the god Mithra is linked to his image wearing a type of clothing that has traditionally been called "Oriental dress" or "Persian dress". Within this way of dressing, the presence of the trousers (anaxyrides) reached a certain prominence, due to its cultural impact. This garment had received a pejorative connotation from Greek times at the moment of defining the Achaemenian barbarian alterity and later this vision was assumed by the Romans, transferred to their enemies the Parthians. There are several contexts in which the followers of Mithra could assume their presence within the Mithraic context. We propose with this paper to clarify what really means this category and what could be the reaction that from the Mithraic cult was exercised before one of the pieces that were part of these clothes: the trousers.