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Monumentum

Mithraea of Heddernheim

Since 1826, four mithraea have been found at Nida-Heddernheim.
  • Tauroctonia del Mitreo de Heddernheim

    Tauroctonia del Mitreo de Heddernheim
    dierk schaefer 

  • Front view

    Front view
    Tertullian.org 

  • Rear view

    Rear view
    Tertullian.org 

  • Pivoting view

    Pivoting view
    Demasy Roger 

  • Restauration of the Aion from Hedderneheim

    Restauration of the Aion from Hedderneheim
    Arachne 

  • Restauration of the Aion from Hedderneheim

    Restauration of the Aion from Hedderneheim
    Arachne 

  • Preserved fragment of the Aion from Hedderneheim

    Preserved fragment of the Aion from Hedderneheim
    Vermaseren / Tertullian.org 

  • Frontal view from Aion of Heddernheim

    Frontal view from Aion of Heddernheim
    Arachne 

  • Front view of Petrogenesis altar of Nida

    Front view of Petrogenesis altar of Nida
    The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA) 

  • Right side of Petrogenesis altar of Nida

    Right side of Petrogenesis altar of Nida
    The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA) 

  • Right side of Petrogenesis altar of Nida

    Right side of Petrogenesis altar of Nida
    The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA) 

  • Eagle on the right side of the altar of Nida

    Eagle on the right side of the altar of Nida
    The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA) 

  • Key of Mithraeum III at Nida

    Key of Mithraeum III at Nida
    The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA) 

  • Tauroctony from Mithraeum III Heddernheim

    Tauroctony from Mithraeum III Heddernheim
    The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA) 

  • Cautes and Cautopates from Nida

    Cautes and Cautopates from Nida
    Musée Royale de Mariemont 

 
 
John Brant
7 May 2010
Updated on 11 May 2023
 

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Since January 1826, there have been four mithraea found at Nida-Heddernheim which is located in a section of the city of Frankfurt am Main. The excavation of the first mithraeum was made by Friedrich Gustav Habel. The major finds included a two sided cult relief that was on a pivot at the top and a socket at the bottom. The tauroctony is on the front side and shows Mithras slaying the bull. This is the best known tauroctony and is published in most books on Mithras. On the reverse side, Mithras and Sol are engaged in the communion feast. Sol is offering Mithras grapes.

Related monuments

Tauroctony from the Mithräum von Heddernheim

This relief is so well-known that it has been reproduced in nearly every handbook of archaeology and of history of religions.

Aion of Hedderneheim

The lion-headed statue of Hedderneheim is a reconstruction from fragments of two different sculptures.

Aion from Nida

This lion-headed figure from Nida, present-day Frankfurt-Heddernheim, holds a key and a shovel in his hands.

Altar with Mithras rock-birth of Nida

The Mithraic stele from Nida depicts the Mithras Petrogenesis and the gods Cautes, Cautopates, Heaven and Ocean.

 

Key of Mithraeum III at Nida

The key of Nida's Mithraeum III was decorated with a lion's head.

Tauroctony from the Mithraeum III of Nida

The relief of Mithras slaying the bull from Nida's Mithraeum III was found in two pieces in 1887, destroyed during an air raid on Frankfurt in 1944, and restored in 1986.

Cautes and Cautopates from Mithraeum III of Heddernheim

The two companions of Mithras carry a torch and a shepherd's staff at the third Mithraeum in Frankfurt-Heddernheim, formerly Nida.