Mitreo del Palazzo Imperiale
TNMM 97 ↔ CIMRM 250 & 251
Near the 'Terme Marittime' (Bloch, Bolli lat., 278 = BCR LXVI, 1938, 146) in a room of a large palace (Palazzo Imperiale) a Mithraeum was excavated in 1860-1861 (Reg. III, Is. VIII).
Before the main-entrance, there was a small apartment, which must have served as a pronaos. In it was a mosaic of Silvanus (see infra) and an altar (now lost). In the middle of the apartment the remnants of a 'chimney' ('cammino') were found, probably behind an altar. On entering the sanctuary, one notices a peculiar altar.
The Mithraeum itself (L. 16.70 Br. 5.25) is divided into three parts: the central aisle, the floor of which is covered with a black and white mosaic, and the two benches. Two inscriptions have been engraved (No. 251), in the floor along the benches. Three steps lead to the benches on the side of the entrance. About the middle two statues of torchbearers were erected.
At the back of the sanctuary four steps lead to an elevated (H. 1.00) altarniche, between two projecting walls. In this niche stood a statue of Mithras as a bullkiller behind a small altar, itself resting on a brick base walled in in the middle of the first and second steps. On either side of the niche there was a gallery. The opening gave entry, while from the other gallery one could enter the palaestra of the Therms. Both entries, however, were walled up later on. The walls of the Mithraeum were painted red. Little lamps must have been placed, around the main-altar, where several small marble columns with broadened bases were found as well as on the ledges of the benches.
CIMRM 251
Two identical inscriptions on the floor ofthe Mithraeum.
CIL XIV 56; MMM II No. 131.
Soli invict(o) Mit(hrae) d(onum) d(edit) L. Agrius Calendio.
Main inscription
References
About these excavations there is a manuscript in the Archivio dello Stato di Roma with the title Eseavazioni di Ostia, Sez. 5, Titolo I, fase. 5, written by Visconti; Giornale di Roma 8 Maggio 1861 and 2 Giugno 1862; C. L. Visconti in Ann. 1st. 36, 1864, 147ff with Tav. K, 1; Wolff, Romerkastell, 85ff with PI. IV, 5; MMM II 240ff No. 83 and fig. 71; Paschetto in Bilyehnis I, 1912, 469ff = Ostia, 389ff; Becatti, Mitrei Ostia, 53ff with fig. 11 and PI. IX. See fig. 74.
- Vermaseren, Maarten Jozef (1956) Corpus Inscriptionum et Monumentorum Religionis Mithriacae
- Ostia-Antica.org (2020) Regio I - Mitreo del Palazzo Imperiale.
