Altar of Stertinius Carpus from the Ponte Emilio Area, Rome

The New Mithraeum

30 Oct 2022

Updated on Jun 2026

TNMM 542 ↔ CIMRM 510

Basis marmorea. Trans Tiberim apud Aemilium pontem in ripa.

Soli invicto / Mithrae / pro salute Commodi / Antonini Aug(usti) domini n(ostri) /
M. Aurel(ius) Stertinius / Carpus una cum Carpo / proc(uratore) k(astrensi) patre et Her/mioneo et Balbino fratribus v(otum) s(olvit) f(eliciter).

176-192 A.D.

This altar was dedicated to the god Mithras for the health of the emperor Commodus by Marcus Aurelius Stertinius Carpus and his father Carpus, along with Hermioneus and Balbinus. The inscription was first recorded by Stephanus Pighius (1520-1604) in the late 16th century as on the banks of the Tiber River near the Pons Aemilius, presently the Ponte Rotto, in Rome.

First reported by Stephanus Pighius (1520-1604) as on the banks of the Tiber River near the Ponte Rotto, Rome; Villa Carpegna, Rome, by 1699; Don Marcello Massarenti Collection, Rome, by 1894, [mode of acquisition unknown] [marble no. 53]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1902, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

CIL VI 727

Soli Invicto / Mithrae / pro salute Commod[i] / Antonini Aug[usti] domin[i] n[ostri] / M[arcus] Aurel[ius] Stertinius / Carpus una cum Carpo / proc[uratore] k[astrensi] patre et Her/mioneo et Balbino / fratribus / v[otum] s[olvit] f[eliciter].

To the Unconquerable Sun, Mithras, for the health of our lord Commodus Antoninus Augustus, Marcus Aurelius Stertinius Carpus, together with pater Carpus, the procurator castrensis, and his brothers Hermioneus and Balbinus, happily fulfilled the vow.

References

CIL VI 727; MMM II No. 34.

The Walters Art Museum (2022) Votive Altar to Mithras.