Mithraeum of Burham

TNMM 592 ↔ CIMRM 808

An underground room, discovered between Wouldham and Burham old church on the East side of the Medway (1894).

The vaulted cave (H. 4.70 Br. 7.50 D. 4.70), hewn out in the rock, is of an elliptic design. In it a room was constructed of limestone, the entrance (H. 4.20 Br. 3.60) of which is situated on the East side. Behind this entrance a passage has been made in zigzag-fashion by means of two small limestone walls.

In the back-wall, there are three niches side by side, whereas in the North side- wall a long, narrow opening had been made, through which the light could enter. In the floor of this room a well rises.

These data have created the impression, that here at Burham a Mithras-sanctuary should have been found. In that case the niches in the back-wall should have contained the reliefs. Also the existence of the well is in favour of this theory. But no single find has been made, which could have given a definite solution. Later on the room was filled up with all kinds of refuse. Among other thing, bones of horses, oxen, deer, swine and sheep were found, together with many fragments of Roman pottery.

CIMRM II 808

Jessup in Arch Cant LXX, 1956, 168ff made another study of the site of the underground chamber on the bank of the Medway at Burham. 'Mr. Jamo's plan shows a rectangular building of about 41 feet by 19 feet which was sunk about 15 feet deep into the face of a small cliff bordering the east bank of the river. The southern wall is shown with a wide return angle at its western end, which can be amply confirmed from the photographs available, but the zig-zag entrance is conjectural and seems quite unwarranted. In addition to the three niches on the interior of the eastern wall there was a battered splay in the north wall and some indication that the roof had been a barrel vault. A causeway of hard chalk led from the entrance towards the river where remains of a substantial timber-fronted wharf were uncovered. A small window looked directly into the river front.' Mr. Jessup is of the opinion that we have to do with 'a cellar for storing the wine and oil imported by its owner, and perhaps corn for export. Whether the niches were intended for the storage of goods or more probably, for lamps to light the cellar can only at present be a matter for interested speculation.'

Comments

Terri Julians

I am interested in this as my 87 year old friend grew up in Burham and remembers a track she used to walk which her school teacher told her was where they found the Roman temple to Mithras.
I am anxious to find out as much as I can for her.