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Monumentum

Inscription of Tellius Agatho in Mitreo delle Sette Sfere

This inscription found in the Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres mentions the Pater Marco Aemiliio Epaphrodito known from other monuments in Ostia.
 
The New Mithraeum
3 Feb 2022
Updated on Sep 2023

TNMM 487 ↔ CIMRM 248 & 249

L. Tullius Agatho / deo invicto Soli / Mithrae aram d(onum) d(edit) / eanque dedicavit ob / honore dei M. Aemilio Epaphrodito patre.

Inscription sur plaque quadrangulaire de marbre blanc (32,4 × 60,2 cm ; haut. lett. 2,6-6,5 cm).

L(ucius) Tullius Agatho / deo Inuicto Soli / Mithrae aram d(ono) d(edit) / eanque (sic) dedicauit ob / honore(m) dei, M(arco) Aemilio / Epaphrodito, patre.

Datation : fin iie-début iiie s., d’après la paléographie (EDR). Marchesini (2012-2013, 65-66) suppose qu’elle est postérieure aux deux précédentes, en raison de la forme des lettres.

M(arco) Aemilio / Epaphrodito / patre et sacerdote.

« Marcus Aemilius Epaphroditus étant pater et prêtre ».

Le prêtre apparaît également, en tant que pater, dans l’inscription précédente.

Datation : fin iie-début iiie s., d’après la paléographie (EDR). Elle pourrait être postérieure à la précédente, si on suppose que M. Aemilius Epaphroditus a revêtu la charge de prêtre après avoir accédé au grade de pater (Marchesini 2012-2013, 66).

—https://books.openedition.org/cdf/6576

White marble slab (32.5 x 60 cm) with inscription was found together with [TNMM 144], late 2nd – early 3rd century CE. Currently preserved in Rome, Musei Vaticani – Galleria Lapidaria (inv. 6992).

CIL XIV 62

L[ucius] Tullius Agatho / deo Inuicto Soli / Mithrae aram d[ono] d[edit] / eanque [sic] dedicauit ob / honore[m] dei, M[arco] Aemilio / Epaphrodito, patre.
Lucius Tullius Agatho donated the altar to the Undefeated Sun God Mithras and dedicated it in honour of the god, while Marcus Aemilius Epaphroditus was pater.

References

CIL XIV 62; MMM II No. 135. CIL XIV, 63 ; CIMRM I, 249 ; EDR143955 (Raffaella Marchesini) Inscription sur plaque de marbre blanc (19 × 38,5 cm ; haut. lett. 2,3 × 3 cm).

Related monuments

Mitreo delle Sette Sfere

The Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres (Sette Sfere) is of great importance for the understanding of the cult, because of its black-and-white mosaics depicting the planets, the zodiac and related elements.

Tauroctony from the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere

The relief of Mithras slaying the bull from the Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres was discovered in 1802 by Petirini by order of Pope Pius VII.

Inscription found in the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere

As this short inscription indicates, Aemilio Epaphorodito was both Pater and priest of the Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres.

Mosaic of Sette Sfere

The floor mosaic of the Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres, which gives its name to the temple, depicts a dagger.

 

Mosaic of Cautes and Cautopates in the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere

At the entrance to the Mithraeum of the Seven Sferes, Cautopates holds the torch with both hands and Cautes holds the torch in his right hand and a cock in his left.

Bench mosaics of the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere

Diana-Luna, Mercurius, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Mars are depicted in the mosaics on the benches of this mithraeuma.

Zodiac signs on the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere

The rich mosaics of the Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres include the the signs of the Zodiac.

Two tuff altars with jug decoration from the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere

Two small tuff altars walled into the corners of the benches, each bearing a representation of a jug, from the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere at Ostia.

 
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