Mithraeum of Perge

TNMM 508

During the principate, auxiliary troops were regularly stationed in Pamphylia: the Cohors I Flavia Numidarum was in Perge in the second and third centuries; the Cohors Apula Civium Romanum resided in Side in the 1st century (35), the Cohors I Hispanorum, Cohors IV Raetorum, Cohors I Musulamiorum were also stationed in Pamphylia (36). It is also worth mentioning that near Perge is a mithraeum,(37) though Mithraism is recently considered not necessarily as a “soldier religion”, (38) it is well known that Mithras was one of the popular gods worshipped by soldiers. (39)
35. Bean 1965, 57 no. 155; Speidel 1976, 339-41; Bennett 2007, 137-9.
36. Bennett 2007, 136-41
37. Şahin (1999, 278 80, no.248) published an inscription found in front of the cave of mithraeum and dedicted to Helios Mithras by Marcus Luccius Crispus (Ἡλίῳ Μίθρ[ᾳ] | Μᾶρκος Λούκκιος Κρίσπος | ὑπὲρ τῆς ἱερᾶς βουλῆς καὶ δῆμου Περγα[ίων] | εὐξάμενο[ς] καθιέρωσεν μετὰ τῶν τέ[κνων]).
38. Stoll (2007, 468-9) claims that Mithras’ cult was not transferred from east to west and not a major religion in the terms of the military since amongst the soldier worshippers less than 20 percent were adherents of Mithraism. On the cult of Mithras see: Vermaseren 1956 – 1960; Merkelbach 1984; Clauss 1990.
39. For instance, RIB 1546 = CSIR I.6.122; RIB 1544 = CSIR I.6.121; RIB 1545 = CSIR I.6.123.