Plaque of Astorga

TNMM 734

The interpretation of "Invictus Deus" in Roman religious inscriptions has been the subject of considerable scholarly debate, particularly with regard to its relationship with the deity Serapis. A noteworthy perspective is that of Antonio García y Bellido, who, influenced by the inscriptions found in the Baths of Caracalla, argues that "Invictus Deus" serves as an epithet for Serapis. This interpretation is based primarily on an inscription in which the name of Serapis is replaced by that of Mithras, accompanied by descriptors such as "aneiketos" and "kosmokrator", terms that denote an invincible and world-ruling entity.

Laurent Bricault questions the identification of "Invictus Deus" with Mithras, highlighting examples where "invicto" is restored in inscriptions dedicated to Serapis and arguing that there is no direct reference to Mithras (Bricault, p. 687). The positioning of "Invicto Deo" above the moulding of the epigraphic field suggests not just an epithet but a prominence that could imply a more autonomous deity, possibly Mithras himself. This is further complicated by the fact that Isis is mentioned in these inscriptions without an accompanying epithet, an unusual choice if "Invictus Deus" were simply another name for Serapis.

Given the context of the Severan period, it seems more appropriate to interpret "Deus Invictus" as a separate deity, possibly referring to Mithras in the mind of the dedicatee, with his common name of the period. This understanding helps to elucidate the religious and ideological shifts taking place in provincial settings such as Lucus Augusti, where "Deus Invictus" is explicitly equated with Mithras. Such insights contribute to a broader understanding of the ideological integration and development of the imperial cult in the provincial territories of the Roman Empire.