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Monumentum

Mitreo degli Animali

The Mithraeum of the Animals was decorated with a mosaic depicting a naked man, a cock, a raven, an scorpion, a snake and the head of the bull.
  • The shrine seen from the south-east.

    The shrine seen from the south-east.
    Roberto Piperno 

  • Central corridor of the Mitreo degli Animali.

    Central corridor of the Mitreo degli Animali.
    The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA) 

  • Cabeza de Mitra

    Cabeza de Mitra 

  • Naked man holding a knife and a shovel.

    Naked man holding a knife and a shovel.
    The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA) 

  • A scorpion from the Mithraeum of the Animals.

    A scorpion from the Mithraeum of the Animals.
    The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA) 

  • A snake with a comb from the Mithraeum of the Animals.

    A snake with a comb from the Mithraeum of the Animals. 

  • The bull's head and tail from the Mithraeum of the Animals.

    The bull's head and tail from the Mithraeum of the Animals.
    The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA) 

  • Central corridor of the Mitreo degli Animali.

    Central corridor of the Mitreo degli Animali.
    The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA) 

 
 
The New Mithraeum
19 Jul 2009
Updated on May 2021
 

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The Mithraeum of the Animals was excavated by C.L. Visconti in 1867. It was set against the wall surrounding the Campus of the Magna Mater, in a hall with three rows of brick piers and pilasters. The shrine was entered through two openings between the piers (a third opening was blocked by a thin wall of opus latericium). Next to the altar is a secondary entrance. Podia were found only in the back part, in front of the altar (l. 4.50, w. 1.50).

The brick altar was set against the back wall (w. 2.40). In the front part are three treads. In the centre of the second tread is a rectangular

On…

Related monuments

Head of Mithras from the Mitreo degli Animali

The head of Mithras had seven holes made for fastening rays.

Mosaics from Mitreo degli Animali

Several figures related to the Mysteries of Mithras are depicted on the mosaics of the Mithraeum of the Animals.