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Monumentum

Mitreo delle Sette Sfere

The Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres is of great importance for the understanding of the cult, because of its black-and-white mosaics depicting the planets, the zodiac and related elements.
  • General view of the Mitraeum of the Seven Spheres

    General view of the Mitraeum of the Seven Spheres
    The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA) 

  • Corridor of the Mitraeum of the Seven Sphere

    Corridor of the Mitraeum of the Seven Sphere
    The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA) 

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  • Detail of the corridor, Mitraeum of the Seven Spheres

    Detail of the corridor, Mitraeum of the Seven Spheres
    The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA) 

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  • Tauroctonia del Mitreo delle Sette Sfere, Ostia

    Tauroctonia del Mitreo delle Sette Sfere, Ostia
    Musei Vaticani 

  • Tauroctonia del Mitreo delle Sette Sfere, Ostia

    Tauroctonia del Mitreo delle Sette Sfere, Ostia 

  • Dagger mosaic at the entrance of the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere

    Dagger mosaic at the entrance of the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere
    Warburg Institute 

  • Cautes mosaic in Mitreo delle Sette Sfere

    Cautes mosaic in Mitreo delle Sette Sfere
    The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-NC-SA) 

  • Sketch of the figures on the Sette Sfere mosaic.

    Sketch of the figures on the Sette Sfere mosaic.
    Paschetto 

  • Sketch of the astronomical signs.

    Sketch of the astronomical signs.
    Gordon 1976 

 
 
The New Mithraeum
27 Apr 2010
Updated on 18 Sep 2023
 

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Vermaseren

Mithraeum, discovered by Lanciani in 1885-1886 (Reg. II, Is. VII, 6). Second half of the second cent. A.D.

The Mithraeum was built in a rectangular room on the Western side of the Domus of Apuleius with which it communicates through a corridor. It is, however, uncertain whether already in antiquity the house communicated with the sanctuary. Entering the sanctuary (L. 11.20 Br. 4.95), one finds the usual division of central aisle (Br. 1.70), leading to the dais, and two sloping side-benches (Br. 1.50-1.65 H. 0.75-0.

Related monuments

Tauroctony of the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere

The relief of Mithras slaying the bull from the Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres was discovered in 1802 by Petirini by order of Pope Pius VII.

Inscription found in the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere

As this short inscription indicates, Aemilio Epaphorodito was both Pater and priest of the Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres.

Inscription of Tellius Agatho in Mitreo delle Sette Sfere

This inscription found in the Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres mentions the Pater Marco Aemiliio Epaphrodito known from other monuments in Ostia.

Mosaic of Sette Sfere

The floor mosaic of the Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres, which gives its name to the temple, depicts a dagger.

 

Mosaic of Cautes and Cautopates in the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere

At the entrance to the Mithraeum of the Seven Sferes, Cautopates holds the torch with both hands and Cautes holds the torch in his right hand and a cock in his left.

Bench mosaics of the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere

Diana-Luna, Mercurius, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Mars are depicted in the mosaics on the benches of this mithraeuma.

Zodiac signs on the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere

The rich mosaics of the Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres include the the signs of the Zodiac.