Monumentum
Altar of Carrawburgh by Antonius Proculus
One of the three altars to Mithras found at the Mithraeum of Carrawburgh fort.
Altar from Carrawburgh.The New Mithraeum / Jona Lendering (CC BY-SA)
The New Mithraeum
16 Mar 2022
Updated on May 2026
TNMM 527 ↔ CIMRM 845
Altar in sandstone (H. 1.17 Br. 0.53). The capital with focus and bolsters.
Deo inv(icto) M(ithrae) / L(ucius) Antonius / Proculus / Praef(ectus) coh(ortis) I Bat(avorum) / Antoninianae / v(otum) s(olvit) l(ibens) m(erito).
Antoninianae: between 212-222 A.D.
CIMRM II 845
Richmond in Bruce-Mitford, 76 and fig. 26.
Main inscription
Deo Inv[icto] M[ithrae] / L[ucius] Antonius / Proculus / praef[ectus] coh[ortis] I Bat[avorum] Antoninianae / v[otum] s[olvit] l[ibens] m[erito].
To the Invincible god Mithras Lucius Antonius Proculus, prefect of the First Cohort of Batavians Antoniniana, willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow.
References
IRS XL, 1950, 114f and PI. XIII; Richmond-Gillam, 48f and PI. XI, A; ILN 1951, 455.
- Vermaseren, Maarten Jozef (1956) Corpus Inscriptionum et Monumentorum Religionis Mithriacae
Comments
Batava Auxiliary Units where stationed at Xanten and Kalkar until they where transfered in disgrace (after the Batava uprising 69/70AD) to the Vindolanda area.
I was just checking the connection and if the same Batavian Cohort had maybe built and used the two temples and had maybe brought the cult to the area of north England
I have been pleasantly surprised to read this inscription proving a Betavian connection to Mitras at Carrawburgh.
The Altar found at Kalkar (not in situ.) is unfortunately dated after the official exodus of the Batavians although the Temple itself has not been found or excavated and the founding of the temple could possibly of an earlier date!