In Timaeus, Plato talks about the world soul as shaped like an X. The world soul is exactly what it sounds like, the soul of the cosmos(which Plato considered a god in itself). And the source of lesser individual souls.
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This is the pole and celestial equator. It forms a big X running through the Earth. Though another theory is that the visible X in the heavens referred to the Milky Way crossed with the zodiacal light. At certain times of year it was easily seen in the past.
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This makes it more understandable as to what Plato was referring to. What gets really interesting is that from Justin Martyr onward, Christians insisted that Plato got this from THEM. Christ's cross was literally imprinted on the Cosmos.
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I recommend this article for further context as far as early Christianity goes.
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And this for how these concepts influenced Mithraism.
mysterium.com/mithras.html
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Here is an example from a Mithraeum. The god labeled Arimanius(some say it is the time god Aion) standing on top of the sphere and X.
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Aion(Time) holding the Zodiac wheel. Earth and the 4 Seasons sit below him. An image of how things work in the world.
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Phanes. The primordial god born from the cosmic egg at the beginning. Who set things in motion when before all was still. Shown here with the zodiac again. He is standing on part of his egg here.
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The topic of how cosmology and astrology influenced ancient religion is a deep rabbit hole. I would say it is about impossible to understand religion, without knowing about these topics.
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Here Mithras can be seen holding a sphere and putting his other hand on the zodiac.
Here are images of the Milky Way and zodiacal light. It does look like a big X in the heavens.
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Coin celebrating the divinity of Augustus, meaning it was likely minted shortly after he died. Another example of this motif.
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