Gaius Iulius
For the health of this man, a small altar was dedicated to the god Invictus in the Emerita Augusta.
Biography
of Gaius Iulius
- Gaius Iulius was a syndexios of the Casa del Mitreo de Mérida.
- Active c. 2nd half of 2nd century in Emerita Augusta, Lusitania (Hispania).
TNMP 11
The name of the dedicator is missing, as it would be unusual for Gaius Iulius, the beneficiary of the imprecation, to refer to himself in the third person. Pro salute is not a common formula in Mithraism, although it occurs four times in Hispania in connection with Deus Invictus or Sol Invictus, which would associate Deus Invictus with a salutary-medicinal function. It is noteworthy that in none of the four cases is the theonym Mithra explicitly mentioned. On the other hand, although the word Deo is above the moulding and therefore outside the epigraphic field, the size and shape of the letters do not give the impression that it was added later.
References
- House of Mithraeum. Turismo de Mérida
- La Casa del Mitreo. ArcheoAndrea
- Hispania Epigraphica. Altar of Gaius Iulius from Mérida in HE
- Mitra en Hispania. Altar of Gaius Iulius from Mérida in MEH
Mentions
Altar of Gaius Iulius from Mérida
TNMM 427
The small Mithraic altar found at Cerro de San Albin, Merida, bears an inscription to the health of a certain Caius Iulius.
Casa del Mitreo de Mérida
TNMM 29
Although the site at Cerro de San Albín is not a Mithraeum, archaeologists have found several monuments related to the cult of Mithras.