Mithräum von Neuenheim

TNMM 48 ↔ CIMRM 1282

A Mithraeum discovered in 1838 opposite Heidelberg on the eastern slope of the Heiligenberg, which is situated on the r. side of the main road and near the entrance to the village of Neuenheim.

Cumont already clearly showed that Creuzer's description is full of hyposthese and lacks reliable facts. Many of his data about the construction of the sanctuary are not dependable. According to Creuzer the brick walls preserved at a height of 0.80 m must have belonged to a single room (L. 3.20 Br. 2.50) before which were two columns. But it is certain that there was only one column which served as a Jupiter column and which did not stand on this spot. This column in sandstone (H. 3.50 diam. 0.37) is ornamented with vine-tendrils and with leaves and fruit. The Corinthian capital has a double row of acanthus leaves and has four volutes between which are four busts of goddesses with long hairs.

We only know a small part of the sanctuary, in the immediate neighbourhood of which was a well.

One coin is of Marcus Aurelius (159 A.D.) and another is of the younger Faustina (175 A.D.).