Brothers active in Ostia
Mithraic monuments of Ostia
Mitreo delle terme di Mitra
The Mithraeum of the terms of Mithras takes its name from being installed in the service area of the Baths of Mithras.
CIMRM 229
Mitreo delle Pareti Dipinte
The House of the Mithraeum of the Painted Walls was built in the second half of the 2nd century BC (opus incertum) and modified during the Augustan period.
CIMRM 264
Mitreo degli Animali
The Mithraeum of the Animals was decorated with a mosaic depicting a naked man, a cock, a raven, an scorpion, a snake and the head of the bull.
CIMRM 278
Mitreo delle Sette Porte
The name of the Mithraeum of the Seven Gates refers to the doors depicted in the mosaic that decorates the floor, symbolising the seven planets through which the souls of the initiates have to pass.
CIMRM 287
Mitreo del caseggiato di Diana
The Mithraeum of the House of Diana was installed in two Antonine halls, northeast corner of the House of Diana, in the late 2nd or early 3rd century.
CIMRM 216
Mitreo di Lucrezio Menandro
The Mithraeum of Lucretius Menander was installed in the early 3rd century in an alley to the east of a Hadrianic building named after the solar god temple.
CIMRM 224
Mitreo di Felicissimo
The Mithraeum Felicissimus has a floor mosaic depicting the seven mithraic grades.
CIMRM 299
Mitreo dei Serpenti
The Mithraeum of the Snakes preserves paintings of serpents, representing Genius Loci, part of an older private sanctuary, which were respected in the temple of Mithras.
CIMRM 294
Mitreo delle Sette Sfere
The Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres is of great importance for the understanding of the cult, because of its black-and-white mosaics depicting the planets, the zodiac and related elements.
CIMRM 239
Sabazeo
The Mithraeum was found in one of the rooms of the Horrea built in the years 120 - 125 AD. The installation of the shrine may have taken place in the first half of the third century.
CIMRM 300
Mitreo di Fructosus
The Mithraeum of Frutosus was in a temple assigned to the guild of the stuppatores.
CIMRM 226
Mitreo presso Porta Romana
The Mithraeum near Porta Romana was connected to a Sacello, but the door was blocked.
Mitreo Aldobrandini
The Mithraeum of Aldobrandini was excavated in 1924 by G. Calza on the premises belonging to the Aldobrandini family.
CIMRM 232
Mitreo della Planta Pedis
The floor of the central aisle of the Mithraeum of the Footprint in Ostia has a mosaic depicting a snake and a footprint.
CIMRM 272
Mitreo del Palazzo Imperiale
A mosaic of Silvanus, dated to the time of Commodus, was found in a niche in a nearby room of the Mithraeum in the Imperial Palace at Ostia.
CIMRM 250
Mitreo Fagan
The Mitreo Fagan revealed remarkable sculptures of leon-headed figures now exposed at the Vatican Museum.
CIMRM 309
Frescoes with standing figures of Mitreo delle Pareti Dipinte
The frescoes depict several figures dressed in different garments associated with the Mithraic degrees.
CIMRM 268
Tauroctony marble from Mitreo Fagan
This sculpture of Mithras killing the bull was dedicated to the ’incomprehensible god’ by a certain priest called Gaius Valerius Heracles.
CIMRM 310
Tauroctony of the Mitreo delle terme di Mitra
The person who commanded the sculpture may have been M. Umbilius Criton, documented in the Mitreo della Planta Pedis.
CIMRM 230
Aion of Mitreo Fagan
The marble Aion from the lost Mithraeum Fagan, Ostia, now presides the entrance to the Vatican Library.
CIMRM 312
Bronze inscription from Aldobrandini
This plaque, now on display in the British Museum, may have come from the Aldobrandini Mithraeum in Ostia.
CIMRM 234
Tauroctony of the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere
The relief of Mithras slaying the bull from the Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres was discovered in 1802 by Petirini by order of Pope Pius VII.
CIMRM 245
Mosaic of the Mitreo di Felicissimo
The Felicissimo Mithraeum has a floor mosaic depicting the seven mithraic grades.
CIMRM 299
Mosaics from Mitreo degli Animali
Several figures related to the Mysteries of Mithras are depicted on the mosaics of the Mithraeum of the Animals.
CIMRM 279
Mithraeum of the Coloured Marble
The Mitreo dei Marmi Colorati takes its name after the discovery of a black-and-white mosaic of Pan fighting with Eros.
Mithraic brooch of Ostia
In the Mithraic bronze brooch found in Ostia, Cautes and Cautopates have been replaced by a nightingale and a cock.
CIMRM 318
Aion relief of Mitreo Fagan
This white marble relief depicting a lion-headed figure from Ostia is now exposed at the Musei Vaticani.
CIMRM 314
Inscription of Fructosus in Ostia
The inscription is carved into two pieces of marble cornice.
CIMRM 228
Altar with inscription of Mitreo del Palazzo Imperiale
This is one of several marble inscriptions made by a certain Caelius Ermeros, who was the antistes of the Mithraeum of the Imperial Palace.
CIMRM 259
Inscription found in the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere
As this short inscription indicates, Aemilio Epaphorodito was both Pater and priest of the Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres.
CIMRM 249
Fragment with inscription to Arimanius Casa di Diana
The image of the god Arimanius to which this monument refers has not yet been found.
CIMRM 221
Basin with inscription from Mitreo della Planta Pedis
The dedicator of this marble basin could be the same person who offered the sculpture of Mithras slaying the bull in the Mitreo delle Terme di Mitra.
CIMRM 275
Inscription of Tellius Agatho in Mitreo delle Sette Sfere
This inscription found in the Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres mentions the Pater Marco Aemiliio Epaphrodito known from other monuments in Ostia.
CIMRM 248
Inscriptions of Caseggiato di Diana
This marble slab found near the Casa de Diana in Ostia bears two inscription with several names of brothers of a same community
CIMRM 223
Inscription of Lucius Sempronius
Slab marble indicates that Lucius Sempronius has donated a throne to the Mitreo delle Pareti Dipinte.
CIMRM 266
Mosaic of Fructus from the Mitreo del Sabazeo
The mosaic bears an inscription indicating the name of the owner.
CIMRM 301
Mosaic of Silvanus from Ostia
This unusual mosaic representation of the god Silvanus was found in the Mithreaum of the so-called Imperial Palace in Ostia.
CIMRM 252
Floor mosaic of Mitreo del Palazzo Imperiale
It bears an inscription repeated on each side of the podia.
CIMRM 251
Altar of the Mitreo della Planta Pedis
The altar includes a slab with an inscription for the salvation of two emperors.
CIMRM 273
Basin of Mitreo della Planta Pedis
This marble basin found in the Mithraeum of the Footprint bears an inscription of a certain Umbilius Criton, associated with a monumental tauroctonic sculpture also found in Ostia.
CIMRM 275
Mitreo Sacellum delle Tre Navate
The Mithraeum in the Chapel of the Three Naves was not linked to the cult of Mithras until recently because of a mosaic showing a pig, in the belief that it was an animal unfit for consumption in a temple of Eastern origin.
Coin of Valerian and Sol
This coin was deposited in the upper level of the throne in the cult niche of the Mitreo della Planta Pedis.
CIMRM 277
Inscription of Mitreo Aldobrandini by Sextus
This inscription found in the Mithraeum Aldobrandini informs us of certain restorations carried out in the temple during a second phase of development.
CIMRM 233
Altar at Caseggiato di Diana
This altar was originally consecrated to Hercules and was rededicated to Mithras by Callinicus in the Mithraeum of the House of Diana.
CIMRM 219
Cippus from the Mitreo delle Pareti Dipinte
This small monument bear the inscriptions of a certain Caelius Ermeros, antistes at the Mithraeum of the Painted Walls.
CIMRM 269
Mosaic of Sette Sfere
The floor mosaic of the Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres, which gives its name to the temple, depicts a dagger.
CIMRM 240
Mosaic of Cautes and Cautopates in the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere
At the entrance to the Mithraeum of the Seven Sferes, Cautopates holds the torch with both hands and Cautes holds the torch in his right hand and a cock in his left.
CIMRM 243
Bench mosaics of the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere
Diana-Luna, Mercurius, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Mars are depicted in the mosaics on the benches of this mithraeuma.
CIMRM 241
Zodiac signs on the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere
The rich mosaics of the Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres include the the signs of the Zodiac.
CIMRM 242
Graffito from the Mitreo del Cassegiato di Diana
This graffito seems to be an account of offerings made by Mithras worshippers in the Cassegiato di Diana
CIMRM 112
Inscription of Hermes to Silvanus
This inscription, found in the Mitreo della Planta Pedis, among some other monuments in Ostia, suggests a link between Mithras and Silvanus.
CIMRM 276
Relief of Silvanus
This 3rd century marble relief of Silvanus is the only sculpture found in Mitreo Aldobrandini.
CIMRM 236
Cautes and Cautopates of Ostia found in 1939
This marble of Cautes was found together with his partner Cautopates in Ostia in 1939.
CIMRM 296
Hermae of the Mitreo del Caseggiato di Diana
A bearded Bacchus and another hermes as a woman, both crowned with vine tendrils, were walled into the base of a niche.
CIMRM 217
Graffito of the Mitreo del Caseggiato di Diana
In the cult niche of the Mitreo del Caseggiato di Diana there is a list of words that could indicate names and measurements.
CIMRM 218
Fragment of a Tauroctony from Ostia
This elliptical terracotta fragment from Ostia depicts Mithras as a bullkiller.
CIMRM 316
Cippus of Antoninus from Ostia
This small white marble cippus bears an inscription of a certain Pater Antoninus to Cautes.
CIMRM 270
Mitreo della domus dei capitelli
Archaeologists discovered the 20th temple dedicated to Mithras in Ostia during the restoration of the domus del capitello di stucco in 2022.
Inscriptions of Ostia
p(ecunia) p(osuit).
L(ucius) Sextius Karus et.
And Lucius Sextius Karus.
Tauroctony marble from Mitreo Fagan
Tauroctony of the Mitreo delle terme di Mitra
Bronze inscription from Aldobrandini
A. Decimius A(uli) f(ilius) Pal(atina) Decimianus aedem / cum suo pronao ipsumque deum solem Mithra / et marmoribus et omni cultu sua p(ecunia) restituit. //
M. Aemilio / Epaphrodito / patre et sacerdote.
Tauroctony of the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere
Mosaic of the Mitreo di Felicissimo
Inscription of Fructosus in Ostia
Altar with inscription of Mitreo del Palazzo Imperiale
Inscription found in the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere
Fragment with inscription to Arimanius Casa di Diana
Basin with inscription from Mitreo della Planta Pedis
Inscription of Tellius Agatho in Mitreo delle Sette Sfere
M. M. Caer[ellius Hiero]/nimus et C[allinic]/us sacerdo[tes et antisti]/es Solis [invic(ti) Mithrae] / thronum / fec(erunt).
Marcus Caerellius Hieronimus and Marcus Caerellius Callinicus, priests and antistes of Sol invincible Mithras, made the throne.
Inscriptions of Caseggiato di Diana
Inscription of Lucius Sempronius
Mosaic of Fructus from the Mitreo del Sabazeo
Floor mosaic of Mitreo del Palazzo Imperiale
Altar of the Mitreo della Planta Pedis
Basin of Mitreo della Planta Pedis
q(uod) s(upra) s(criptum) est / et praesepia marmoravit p(edes) LXVIII idem s(ua) p(ecunia).
Inscription of Mitreo Aldobrandini by Sextus
Cippus from the Mitreo delle Pareti Dipinte
Graffito from the Mitreo del Cassegiato di Diana
Inscription of Hermes to Silvanus
ULAS M﹡V
BABENUS SMΛXS
BECTON BINU XII
PROCLUS BINU ﹡II
ERMES DUX ﹡III
FORTUNIU ADA NDA
MAXIMUS BINU ﹡II.
Graffito of the Mitreo del Caseggiato di Diana
[An]tonin[us] / pater / Cauti.
Pater Antoninus to Cautes.
References
- Alain Blomart (1995) Frugifer : Une divinité mithraique léontocéphale décrite par Arnobe
- Arnobius (310) Adversus nationes (Against the Pagans)
- Bricault; Roy (2021) Les cultes de Mithra dans l'Empire Romain
- Epigraphic Database Heidelberg. Inscription of Mitreo Aldobrandini by Sextus in EDH
- Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss / Slaby. Aion relief of Mitreo Fagan in EDCS
- Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss / Slaby. Cippus of Antoninus from Ostia in EDCS
- Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss / Slaby. Inscription of Hermes to Silvanus in EDCS
- Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss / Slaby. Inscription of Mitreo Aldobrandini by Sextus in EDCS
- Epigraphik-Datenbank Clauss / Slaby. Mitreo del Palazzo Imperiale in EDCS
- Franz Cumont (1945) Rapport sur une mission à Rome
- Françoise Van Haeperen (2019) Fana, templa, delubra. Corpus dei luoghi di culto dell'Italia antica
- Informazioni di servizio (2022) Attività del Parco: il dio Mitra in stucco emerge dagli scavi di Ostia antica
- Jan Theo Bakker (2017) The City Walls of Ancient Ostia
- Manfred Clauss (1992) Cultores Mithrae. Die Anhangerschaft Des Mithras-Kultes
- Ostia Antica (2020) Regio I - Insula III - Mitreo del Caseggiato di Diana (I,III,3-4)
- Ostia Antica (2020) Regio V - Insula VI - Mitreo dei Serpenti (V,VI,6)
- Ostia-Antic (2020) Regio V - Insula IX - Mitreo di Felicissimus (V,IX,1)
- Ostia-Antica.org (2021) Regio I - Insula III - Mitreo di Menandro (I,III,5)
- Ostia-Antica.org (2020) Regio I - Insula X - Tempio Collegiale and Mitreo di Fructosus (I,X,4)
- Ostia-Antica.org (2020) Regio I - Mitreo del Palazzo Imperiale
- Ostia-Antica.org (2022) Regio II - Insula I - Mitreo Aldobrandini (II,I,2) and Torre sul Tevere (II,I,3)
- Ostia-Antica.org (2020) Regio III - Insula I - Domus and Mitreo delle Pareti Dipinte (III,I,6)
- Ostia-Antica.org (2020) Regio III - Insula XVII - Caseggiato del Mitreo della Planta Pedis (III,XVII,2) and Mitreo
- Ostia-Antica.org (2020) Regio IV - Insula II - Mitreo degli Animali (IV,II,11)
- Ostia-antica.org (2020) Regio II - Insula II - Mitreo presso Porta Romana (II,II,5)
- Ostia-antica.org. Regio II - Insula VIII - Mitreo delle Sette Sfere (II,VIII,6)
- VAN HAEPEREN, Françoise (2019) Fana, templa, delubra. Corpus dei luoghi di culto dell'Italia antica
- Vittoria Canciani (2022) Archaeological Evidence of the Cult of Mithras in Ancient Italy
- jthb (2022) Domus dei Capitelli di Stucco (V,VII,4-5) (House of the Stuccoed Capitals)
- Regio I - Insula XVII - Mitreo delle Terme del Mitra (I,XVII,2) - Ostia-antica.org
- Regio I - Mitreo Fagan - Ostia-Antica.org
- Regio IV - Insula IX - Caupona del Dio Pan e Mitreo dei Marmi Colorati (IV,IX,5) - Ostia-Antica.org