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Monumentum

Mitreo di San Clemente

The Mithraeum under the Basilica of San Clemente made part of a notable Roman house.
  • Interior view of the Mithraeum of San Clemente.

    Interior view of the Mithraeum of San Clemente. 

  • Additional room besides the Mithraeum.

    Additional room besides the Mithraeum. 

  • Ancient postcard of the Mitreo di San Clemente.

    Ancient postcard of the Mitreo di San Clemente. 

  • Underground illustration of the Basilica di San Clemente with its Mithraeum

    Underground illustration of the Basilica di San Clemente with its Mithraeum
    Illustration by Erin Dreis 

  • Mithras rock-birth of San Clemente

    Mithras rock-birth of San Clemente
    Lieux sacrées, canal blog 

  • Altar of Mithraeum San Clemente

    Altar of Mithraeum San Clemente
    Tertulian.org 

 
The New Mithraeum
17 May 2007
Updated on Nov 2022

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In 1867 a Mithraeum was discovered in a notable Roman house, situated under the Basilica S. Clemente. As a continuous flow of water made further investigations impossible in the beginning, the excavations could only be continued in 1914 after the construction of a water-tunnel.

One enters the Mithraeum after descending a number of stairs and passing through a room in front of it. Then come the actual entry (Br. 1.50), which was constructed in later times when the Mithraeum was built. It shows the usual division into a plastered central aisle (Br. 2.15) and two benches, sloping towards the
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Related monuments

Petrogeny of San Clemente

Mithras birth from the knees upwards emerging from a rock and wearing as usual a Phrygian cap.

Altar from Mitreo di San Clemente

The altar of the Mithraeum of San Clemente bears the Tauroctony on the front, Cautes and Cautopates on the right and left sides and a serpent on the back.

Bust of Sol from San Clemente

This marble bust of Sol, found in the Mitreo di San Clemente, had five holes in the head where rays had been fixed.

Inscription of Sabinus from San Clemente

This marble slab, found in the Mithraeum of San Clemente, bears an inscription by a certain Aelius Sabinus for the health of the Emperor Antoninus Pius and his sons.