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Monumentum

Mithraeum of Sidon

The Mithraeum of Sidon may have escaped destruction because the Mithras worshippers walled up the entrance to the underground sanctuary.
  • Sculptures from Sidon at Musée du Louvre

    Sculptures from Sidon at Musée du Louvre
    1967 Musée du Louvre / Maurice et Pierre Chuzeville 

  • Relieve de la Tauroctonia de Sidón, Líbano

    Relieve de la Tauroctonia de Sidón, Líbano
    Galdo Trounchky 

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  • Frontal view of the lion-headed statue from Sidon

    Frontal view of the lion-headed statue from Sidon
    Coyau / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 

  • Head left-side view of the lion-headed statue from Sidon

    Head left-side view of the lion-headed statue from Sidon
    Coyau / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 

  • Central body view of the lion-headed statue from Sidon

    Central body view of the lion-headed statue from Sidon
    Coyau / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 

  • Head right-side view of the lion-headed statue from Sidon

    Head right-side view of the lion-headed statue from Sidon
    Coyau / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 

  • Base with inscription view of the lion-headed statue from Sidon

    Base with inscription view of the lion-headed statue from Sidon
    Wikinade / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 

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  • RMN 

  • RMN 

  • RMN 

  • RMN 

  • RMN 

  • Marble statuette of Hecate depicted as a triple goddess surrounded by dancers

    Marble statuette of Hecate depicted as a triple goddess surrounded by dancers
    Carole Raddato, CC BY-SA 2.0 

  • Front view of the Venus bronze of Sidon

    Front view of the Venus bronze of Sidon
    2009 RMN / Hervé Lewandowski 

  • Back view of the Venus bronze of Sidon

    Back view of the Venus bronze of Sidon
    2009 RMN / Hervé Lewandowski 

 
 
The New Mithraeum
15 May 2007
Updated on Sep 2023
 

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About the Mithraeum at Sidon (Saida), the article of the journalist Durighello, which has been published again by Reinach, does not give satisfactory explanation. Part of his statements, especially those about the finds, is based on the truth; according to de Ridder, however, one has 'demesurement grossi l'importance d'une decouverte reelle'. Beside the statues, niches are mentioned, in which they shall have been placed, and a tesselated floor.

According to the seleucid era the Mithraeum must have existed in the second century, assuming, however, the autonomic era of the city itself, the

Related monuments

Tauroctony relief of Sidon

The tauroctony relief of Sidon depicts the signs of the zodiac and the four seasons, among other familiar features.

Taurcotony sculpture from Sidon

The Mithras killing the bull sculpture from Sidon, currently Lebanon.

Lion-headed Aion from Sidon

The controversial Italian journalist Edmon Durighello discovered this marble statue of a young naked Aion in 1887.

Mithras carrying the bull

Sculpture depicting Mithras carrying a young bull on his shoulders.

 

Cautes of Sidon

The Sidon sculpture includes a dog jumping between Cautes's legs.

Cautopates of Sidon

Cautopates sculpture of Sidon features a snake near his left leg.

Cautes with an axe

The Cautes of Sidon who wields an axe also wears a piece of cloth on his left arm.

Second Cautes of Sidon holding an axe

In this case, a quiver has been attached to the tree-stump behind the torchbearer.

 

Hekataion of Sidon

The Hekataion of Sidon shows a triple Hekate surrounded by three dancing nymphs.

Bronze Venus of Sidon

There are two Venus from the Mithraeum of Sidon, one in bronze and the other in Parian marble.