The New Mithraeum

This is actually in San Giovanni al Timavo, a little way along from Duino itself.

If you are in the area you can take a guided tour of the temple and it's surrounding area. This tour is described in detail on this page:

http://www.duinotourism.it/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=1212:il-mitreo&Itemid=7&lang=en

There is also much more info here: http://www.gssg.it/index.php?module=subjects&func=printpage&pageid=28&scope=all (in italian)

According to wikipedia, mithraists always preferred natural caves to building things or expanding existing things so probably this area, known as the Carso, or Karst, is perfect for the original construction and long term preservation of this kind of temple in caves. They must have jumped for joy when they heard there was a mysterious river that popped out of the ground. I can't think of a better place for a mithra temple 🙂

I’m trying to understand the few remaining vestiges of Mithras. Barberini’s fresco proves that the Platonic chiasm actually existed and was even depicted (Capricorn on the left). Furthermore, the solstices were linked to the descent or ascent of souls (metempsychosis). As for Oceanus, it’s very interesting because Freud describes "the oceanic character of the unconscious." Therefore, Oceanus is a profound and unfathomable archetype. Mithras, who represents Light, is victorious over Oceanus (the conscious dominates the unconscious). Thus, Oceanus is the archetype that feeds the opposite of the sun, namely the moon. The mysterious moon represents Spiritus Epithumia and is fueled by the deep unconscious Oceanus. Therefore, the moon also represents our unconscious psyche. In contrast, the goddess Terra has her feet on the ground (conscious). Therefore, she is the realistic, down-to-earth archetype that feeds the sun god. This is to say that the opposition between sun and moon, or Anima and Spiritus, was very psychological. In this way, Plato described human psychology.