Mithraeum IV of Aquincum

TNMM 85 ↔ CIMRM 1767

A Mithraeum discovered near the southern town-wall between a rectangular building and a building with an apse.

The entrance of the Mithraeum (L. 17.00 Br. 9.00) is on the east side. Before the sanctuary proper are two smaller rooms, the pronaos and the apparatorium. The temple is divided into a central aisle and two benches, extending to the back wall. Before this wall an elevation (Br. 2.00 D. 0.40) with a niche. At the southern side of the apparatorium is another room (L. 7.90 Br. 5.90). Some fragments of line painting were found but no sculptures.

On the foundations of this first-period Mithraeum new slightly changed sanctuary was built. The pronaos and the apparatorium were made into one large room and the cult-room proper was enlarged as well. The two benches now ended at a distance of two mtrs from the back wall. The walls of the benches and of the sanctuary were painted and a new stuccoed cult-niche with a cult-statue was erected.

The room on the south side was renewed. The finds are in the National Museum at Budapest, but as there has not yet been a definite publication, I cannot go into further details.

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Consists of single anteroom and cella with a rectangular room attached to southest side of the shrine and accessed from a door in the anteroom. Shallow central aisle only one foot below ground level. The tauroctony statue group was recovered in fragments and was able to be almost completely restored. The dedication of the group was made by a certain Symphorus and the shrine has been named after him.

Visible remains: The shrine has recently been restored to public view (2004) and, while well presented, is very clinicial and heavily restored. The back wall in particular has been partially rebuilt with the original meagre remains topped by a line of red tiles (the method used at aquincum to differentiate original material from reconstruction).

Orientation E-W. 10m x 18m.

Sculptures: The tauroctony is on display inside the Aquincum Museum.