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Monumentum

Incensiary vessel of Dieburg

The vessel to burn incense from the Mithraeum of Dieburg is similar to those found in other Roman cities of Germany.
Incense vessel from Dieburg

Incense vessel from Dieburg
The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA)

 
The New Mithraeum
17 Jan 2022
Updated on Nov 2023

TNMM 409 ↔ CIMRM 1269

This terracotta cultic vessel was discovered in 1926 in a Mithraeum at Dieburg. Formed with two ansae and a narrow base, it has a lip that extends into the interior with a flat stub perforated by eight holes set at an equal distance from each other. This distinctive feature enables the vessel to be interpreted as an incense-burner or a censer, partially filled with sand that was covered with ashes on which incense or fragrant herbs were placed. This vessel for incense from Dieburg is by no means a unique discovery. Vessels of this type have been unearthed at other Mithraea, in Germania Inferior (Cologne and Tienen), and Germania Superior (Riegel and Koenigshoffen). These objects, which are also found in other contexts (a military camp at Mainz, for example), were used to purify a space during ceremonies. At Mithraea this practice was the responsibility of worshippers with the rank of Lion: we are informed of this by two graffiti from the Mithraeum at Santa Prisca in Rome.

References

Related monuments

Mithräum von Dieburg

There are references to two places of worship from Dieburg, whereby the Mithraeum, discovered in 1926.

Two-sided relief of Dieburg

The relief of Dieburg shows Mithras riding a horse as main figure, surrounded by several scenes of the myth.

Mithras with bow from Dieburg

Statue in yellow sandstone found in the pit of the Mithraeum of Dieburg, showing Mithras standing beside an altar with bow and arrow, accompanied by a vase and associated with the water miracle.

Male figure with offerings from Dieburg

A standing half naked man makes offerings to an altar while holding a cornucopia in his other hand.

 

Statue of a mother goddess with child

This unusual statue in Mithraic iconography of a mother nursing a child was found in the vestibule of the Mithraeum of Dieburg.

 
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