Dedication inscription from Koenigshoffen Mithraeum

TNMM 253 ↔ CIMRM 1361

This moulded marble plaque was discovered in 1911, along with another that is identical in terms of its contents but has a slightly different layout, in the Mithraeum of the Koenigshoffen quarter of modern Strasbourg, at the site of the vicus canabarum located along the access route to the legionary camp of ancient Argentorate These two plaques, today broken, were originally affixed to one side or the other of the cult relief, which has been found in multiple fragments scattered about the sanctuary. From all the evidence, this Mithraeum was deliberately destroyed before being burned in the second half of the 3rd century.

The plaque bears an inscription of six lines which permits it to be dated to the reign of Severus Alexander, between 222 and 235 C.E. In lines 4 and 5 the name Alexandriana, adopted by the legio VIll Augusta in honour of the emperor, was damaged by a hammer, perhaps at the time of the military uprising that followed this sovereign's death in 235.

In h(onorem) d(omus) d(ivinae) deo invic/to M(ithrae) C(aius) Celsinius / Matutinus veter(anus) / leg(ionis) VIll Aug(ustae) [[Alex]]/[[andrianae]] typ/um de suo repinx(it).

In honour of the divine house, to the invincible god Mithras. Caius Celsinius Matutinus, veteran of legio VIII Augusta [[Alexandriana]], repainted this relief at his own expense.

The worshipper is a veteran of the legio VIll Augusta, established by Caesar and stationed in Argentorate beginning in the 1st century C.E. This act of making a dedication commemorates the financing of the restoration of the coloured paint in the Mithraeum's cult relief, which was confirmed by observable traces of polychromy. The occasion for this undertaking was most likely an expansion of the sanctuary attested during the reign of Severus Alexander.