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Monumentum

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.
Sketch of the figures on the Sette Sfere mosaic.
Sketch of the figures on the Sette Sfere mosaic.Paschetto
 
The New Mithraeum
18 Sep 2023
Updated on May 2026

TNMM 609 ↔ CIMRM 241

On the front of the l. bench:

1) A standing dressed Diana-Luna with crescent on her forehead (B). In her left she holds an arrow and in her right a fruit (apple?) (Becatti, Pl. VII, 2).

2) Standing, naked Mercurius, with a caduceus in his r.h. and a rabdos in his l.h. (C) (Becatti, Pl. VIII, 4).

3) Standing Jupiter, with naked breast, holding a thunderbolt in his r. hand and a sceptre in his l.h. (D). Head lost (Becatti, Pl. VIII, 1).

On the front of the r. bench:

4) Standing bearded Saturn us, whose head is covered by a velum (E) (Becatti, Pl. VIII, 2).

5) Standing Venus with a velum, flying over her head (F) (Becatti, Pl. VIII, 3).

6) Armed Mars in a helmet. His r.h. rests on a shield; in his l.h. a lance (C) (Becatti, Pl. VII, 1).

Each ofthe figures is represented in a niche.

References

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.

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.

 

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.

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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