Mithraeum of Ša‘āra

The archaeological research carried out since May 2000 at the ancient village of Sa’ãra in the Lagãt has provided the opportunity to revisit the study of a group of rock-cut structures, whose unique characteristics in southern Syria had, until now, remained unexplained. A thorough analysis of the architecture of the "eastern building" now leads to its classification as a mithraeum, a conclusion confirmed by the deciphering of the iconographic programme on its arch. Expanding the scope of the work to the entire area allows us to conclude that this building was part of a larger religious com…