Biography
of Mercatorius Castrensis
- Mercatorius Castrensis is attested as a member of a Mithraic community (syndexios) at the Mithräum von Osterburken.
- Attested in the 231.
- Attested in Osterburken, Germania superior, Germania in 231 (TNMM 176).
TNMP 37
The donor's inscription on the base of the Osterburken Tauroctony relief reveals Mercatorius Castrensis built a sanctuary on his property. Stylistic features point the relief to the first third of the 3rd century AD.
—2022 Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg
J. Kajanto, The Latin Cognomina, Helsinki, 1965, p. 208 et 312, donne une origine géographico-sociale au surnom Castrensis qui signifie « né dans un camp », c'est-à-dire « fils de militaire ». Mais il y a peu de chances que ce surnom nous renseigne sur l'origine militaire de Mercatorius. D'après M. Clauss, Cultores Milhrae, p. 118, Mercatorius Castrensis est probablement un indigène, si l'on se base sur la formation de son nom.
—Blomart (1994)
References
- Gisèle Pineau (1994) ‘Mithra et Porphyre. Quand sculpture et philosophie se rejoignent’. Revue de l’histoire des religions, Tome 211, nº 4.
Attestations
Mithräum von Osterburken
TNMM 70
The Mithraeum of Osterburken could not be excavated bodily owing to the water of a well in the immediate neighbourhood. The monument had been covered carefully with sand.
Tauroctony from Osterburken
TNMM 176
Franz Cumont considers the bas relief of Osterburken ’the most remarkable of all the monuments of the cult of Mithras found up to now’.
