Biography
of Secundinius Amantius
- Secundinius Amantius was probably a Miles at the Mithräum von Mainz, with a recorded role as cornicularius praefecti legionis XXII Primigeniae.
- Attested in service with the Legio XXII Primigenia.
- Attested in the late 1st century.
- Attested at Mogontiacum, Germania superior, Germania in 151 – 230 (TNMM 513).
TNMP 146
Secundinius Amantius was a cornicularius attached to the office of the prefect of Legio XXII Primigenia at Mogontiacum (Mainz). He is known from a marble altar dedicated jointly to Mithras and Mars, erected ex voto with the permission of Primulus, pater of the local Mithraic community (TNMM 513; AE 1979, 425; Herz 1978; Clauss 1992; Bricault and Roy 2021).
As a cornicularius, Amantius was a principalis, a military administrator serving in the officium of the legionary prefect. Clauss (1992) accordingly identifies him as a cornicularius from the office of the praefectus legionis of the legion stationed at Mogontiacum.
The dedication to Mars may indicate that Amantius held the Mithraic grade of Miles, for which Mars is traditionally regarded as the tutelary deity, although the inscription itself does not explicitly give him this grade. The dedication was made permittente Primulo patre, “with the permission of Primulus the pater”, providing evidence for both men belonging to the same Mithraic community.
References
- Eric Rebillard, Jorg Rupke (2015) Group Identity and Religious Individuality in Late Antiquity.
- P. Herz (1978) Permittente Primulo patre, Journal of Mithraic Studies, II(2), p. 184-188.
- Philippe Roy & Laurent Bricault (2021) Les cultes de Mithra dans l’Empire romain.
- Roger Pearse (2016) CIMRM Supplement - Mithraeum. Ballplatz, Mainz, Germany.
Attestations
Altar to Mithras and Mars from Mainz
TNMM 513
This altar has been unusually dedicated to both gods Mithras and Mars at Mogontiacum, present-day Mainz.
Mithräum von Mainz
TNMM 359
The Mithraeum of Mainz, was discovered outside the Roman legionary fortress. Unfortunately the site was destroyed without being recorded.
