Mitreo delle Sette Porte

TNMM 4 ↔ CIMRM 287

Mithraeum (Reg. IV, Is. V, 13), built in a magazine ('Mitreo delle sette porte'); 160-170 A.D.

The sanctuary (L. 7.05 Br. 5.80) has the entrance (Br. 2.00) opposite the cult-niche and has the normal division into a central aisle (Br. 2.00) and two side-benches (H. 0.50 Br. 1.80), which are as long as the side-walls. The l. podium has at its end a small base (H. 0.50 Br. 0.35 D. 0.50). Both benches have ledges, decorated with mosaic (Br. 0.37) and they have at their beginnings small pilasters equally decorated with mosaic. More or less in the middle of each bench there is the usual niche (H. 0.30 Br. 0.35 D. 0.25). In both niches there were small altars. At a distance of 1.80 mtrs from the back wall there is, in the floor, a circular ritual oasin (diam. 0.25 D. 0.25) between two square marble slabs which each had a hole from which a lead-pipe emerged. In front of the cult-niche there is, on a circular marble base (diam. 0.56), a white stuccoed altar (H. 0045 Br. 0.50). In its frontside is a pierced crescent, which was covered with glass (fragments of which are preserved).

Before the semicircular cult-niche is a platform (H. 0.80 Br. 1.50 D. 0.30) with a ledge on its front side. The niche was decorated with stucco; traces of blue and red are preserved.
The side walls were equally painted: above a diamond shaped yellow band there are on a white background two palms between two rows of bushes (Becatti, PI. XXII).

Approximately at the end, the south-wall is divided into an upper and a lower part by red lines. In the upper part, there is a blue disc over a green ground. The disc is yellowish-red in its centre. The lower part has a geometric ornament in red and yellow.

Of the paintings on the western wall on either side of the entrance only those on the left are preserved. This part of the wall is divided into four sections: the two lower ones are respectively decorated with a bush and a geometric ornament, the upper two probably with small trees.