Altar of Tihaljina — The New Mithraeum

The New Mithraeum

13 Nov 2023

Updated on Nov 2023

TNMM 754 ↔ CIMRM 1889

This altar, found in Grude, near Tihaljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina, dates from the 2nd century AD, within the Antonine period. It bears an inscription dedicated to Mithras and the ’genii sacrorum Augustorum’ by a certain Pinnes, who served as ’immunis miles’ in the Cohors I Belgarum. The presence in Dalmatia of this cohort, composed mainly of ’peregrini’, underlines the integration of non-citizens in the Roman military.

D(eo) I(nvicto) M(ithrae) a[c Ge]/niis sac[r(orum)] / Augusto[r(um)] / Rus(---) Pin(nes) mi/les / co(hortis) prim(ae) / Bel(garum) immunis / libens merito / posuit.

Dating: not after Septimius Severus, under whom the Cohors I Belgica was probably transferred to Germania; therefore, likely during the reign of Marcus Aurelius with Lucius Verus or with Commodus. (B): CIMRM: Reading deviations.

CIL III 12810

D[eo] I[nvicto] M[ithrae] a[c Ge]/niis sac[r[orum]] / Augusto[r[um]] / Rus[---] Pin[nes] mi/les / co[hortis] prim[ae] / Bel[garum] immunis / libens merito / posuit.

To the Unconquered God Mithras, [and to] the spirits of the sacred [emperors], Rusticus Pinnes, a soldier of the Cohors Prima Belgica, exempt from duties, willingly and deservedly set this up.