Lambaesis

Since the earliest evidence, the dedication of the legionary legate A. Iulius Piso, who was governor of Numidia between 176 and 180, dedications by high-ranking senators and equestrians can be observed in Lambaesis. Piso had previously been active in the Marcomannic Wars on the Danube during an extremely successful career.

M. Valerius Maximianus, who governed the province from 183 to 185, came from the Danube region; he donated two altars. An earlier dedication to Mithras from Apulum in Dacia is known to have been made by him.

The other governors of the years 230 to 232, C. Fabius Fabianus Vetilius Lucilianus, can be included here, for whose benefit an actarius et notarius dedicated an altar to Mithras.
The list of knightly praesides provinciae is opened by Aurelius Decimus, who held the office from 284 to 285. Valerius Florus, who held the office in 303, is known to us from literary sources as a judge in trials against Christians.

With such a remarkable list of provincial governors, it is not surprising that their example radiated out to their subordinates within the officium and the legion. The actarius et notarius has already been mentioned.

For the troops, the princeps legionis can be cited, who had a mithraeum built at his own expense during the reign of Elagabalus in 218/222. The occasion may have been his promotion from centurio legionis to princeps, which he mentioned in the inscription. Two decades later, it was a praefectus legionis who had his altar built in the years 235/238. It is also striking that he came from Carnuntum on the Danube. However, at that time the Mithras cult was already established in Lambaesis.

The public character of the dedications of high state officials to Mithras is emphasised by the location of the shrine. It was situated near the Capitol, directly next to an Aesculap temple. It is possible that the large epistyle found in Lambaesis, with the dedication Deo Invicto Mithrae, crowned the door to the Mithraeum.

From Lambaesis, the soldiers undoubtedly contributed significantly to spreading the cult throughout the province.

—Clauss (1992) Cultores Mithrae

Mithraic monuments of Lambaesis

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People attested in Lambaesis

Publius Numidius Decens

Marcus Valerius Maximianus
(183 – 185)

Celsianus
(222 – 235)

Marcus Aurelius Sabinus
(235 – 238)

Marcus Aurelius Decimus
(285)

Valerius Florus
(303)