Mithräum von Schwarzerden
TNMM 90 ↔ CIMRM 1280
A Mithraeum situated in a rock (H. 6.00) the so-called Schäfershütte near St. Wendel near Schwarzerden. It has been restored since 1840.
In the description I follow Krencker’s acceptable reconstruction: on the rock wall is a relief. Holes on either side of it (not all of which are antique, however) point to a construction before the wall. The middle-upper holes may have served for the consolidation of a gable-roof.
The depth of the sanctuary is unknown. In front of the construction lies a meadow and a little further there is a brook. The sanctuary itself is constructed four meters above the level of the meadow and is vaulted. The side-walls are preserved to a height of about 3 meters; the vault was undoubtedly plastered. The Mithraeum has a central aisle (Br. 2.60) and two benches. In this manner the whole breadth of the sanctuary is 5.15 m which corresponds with the traces of the roof. To the left of the Mithraeum was a secondary room (Br. 3.70) which, however, was not the case on the east side.
On the north side of the former Roman settlement, on today’s Reichweiler district, in the 3rd century AD, a Mithraeum was built. Only the rock formation has survived from the original complex. The red sandstone rock formed the back wall of the temple. The rectangular openings of the beam supports are still clearly visible. In the last century, a stem with protective grille was built to protect the rock relief.
Only rudimentaryly recognizable on the severely damaged relief is the central Mithras motif of bull killing (Tauroctony), flanked by the torch bearers of Caute with the torch up and Cautopates with the torch down (symbolizing sunrise and sunset). Crossed torches can also be found in the coat of arms of black earths.
The Mithräum is located on Rhineland-Palatinate territory; however, the Saarland municipality of Freisen designed access to it at a small pond and the documentation boards on site. It is also a stopover of the Fritz-Wunderlich cycling and hiking trail.
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