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.
PublishedThe New Mithraeum
19 Jul 2009
Updated on 24 May 2021
Central corridor of the Mitreo degli Animali.
The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA)
The shrine seen from the south-east.
Roberto Piperno
Cabeza de Mitra
Naked man holding a knife and a shovel.
The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA)
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.
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.
The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA)
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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.
The brick altar was set against the back wall (w. 2.40). In the front part are three treads.