Trebius Alfius

Trebius Alfius was a Pater of the Mithraic community at Virunum in Noricum. He appears on the community’s bronze album among the first new members added after the restoration of its Mithraeum in 183 CE (TNMM 375; Piccottini 1994; Beck 1998; Scherrer 2024).

Alfius was not one of the original 34 members who financed the reconstruction. He was admitted with the first subsequent group, probably in 184, and his name was already accompanied by the title pat(er). Beck (1998) consequently observed that Alfius appears to have been recruited as a Pater from outside the existing membership rather than promoted from within it. It has further been suggested that he had attained the grade in another Mithraic community before joining that of Virunum, which, if correct, would provide evidence that Mithraic grades could be recognised between different communities.

Piccottini (1994) proposed identifying him with Marcus Trebius Alfius, an equestrian, praefectus iure dicundo at Aquileia and conductor ferrariarum Noricarum, attested by CIL III 4788. He also suggested that Trebius Zoticus, one of the original Patres of the Virunum community, was Alfius’ freedman. Beck (1998), however, considered the identification uncertain, noting that CIL III 4788 probably dates to around 157 CE. The identification of the Mithraic Pater with the equestrian mining contractor must therefore remain hypothetical.