Was Jesus new?  Was Jesus unique?  Let's talk about the Pagan godman Adonis. Pikachu hasn't got to this one yet, so see the straight dope here first. Also a good time to tell you that he left out "mysteries" and "heroes" in his back and forth links above, and I can't find one for "others," so be sure and click the first two in the menu under the tabs if you want to read them.

They say, at any rate, that the deed that was done to Adon by the boar [i.e. the death of the God] occurred in their land, and in memory of that misfortune every year they beat their breasts and mourn and perform the ceremonies, making solemn lamentations throughout the country. And when the breast-beating and weeping is at end, first they make offerings to Adonis as if to a dead person; and then, on the next day, they proclaim that he is alive and fetch him forth into the air...  [Lucian, On the Syrian Goddess, Ch. 6 -- here's a hint: Lucian wrote hundreds of years after the life of Jesus]

And in the land of Byblos is another marvel, a river flowing out of Mount Lebanon into the sea, which is called the Adon. Every year it becomes blood-red, losing its natural hue, and when it flows into the sea, it reddens a large part of it; and this is a signal for mourning to the inhabitants of By-blos. For they say that on those days, Adon is being wounded up on Mt. Lebanon, and his blood as it comes into the water alters the river and gives the stream his name.

  [Lucian, On the Syrian Goddess, Ch. 8 -- Ditto. Too little, too late for Pikachu.]