Biography
of Kamerios
- Kamerios is attested as a Pater at the Mithraeum of Dura Europos.
- Attested in the 1st half of 3rd century.
- Attested in Dura Europos, Syria-Coele, Syria in 169 – 256 (TNMM 614).
- Attested in Dura Europos, Syria-Coele, Syria in 1st half of 3rd century (TNMM 467).
TNMP 75
Kamerios was a Mithraist active at Dura Europos during the first half of the third century CE. He is securely attested by two graffiti from the local Mithraeum, one acclaiming him as an immaculate Miles (ΝΑΜΑ Καμερίω στρατιώτῃ ἀκερίῳ) (TNMM 467) and another wishing long life to Pater Kamerios (TNMM 614), the highest grade within the Mithraic hierarchy. These inscriptions show that he attained the rank of Pater and may indicate a progression through successive grades of initiation.
Francis further suggested that an unpublished graffito (IMDur 108) referred to the same individual as a Nymphus, which, if correct, would make Kamerios one of the rare Mithraists whose advancement from Nymphus to Miles and ultimately to Pater can be traced epigraphically. Since the text of IMDur 108 has never been fully published, however, this reconstruction remains hypothetical (Francis 1975, 441; Gordon 2001, 203–204; Fuller 2015).
References
- Shrine to the God Mithras (Mithraeum).
- Frank Edward Brown, Michael Ivanovich Rostovtzeff & Charles Bradford Welles (eds.) (1939) The Excavations at Dura-Europos. Preliminary Report of the Seventh and Eighth Seasons of Work, 1933–1934 and 1934–1935.
- Eugene David Francis (1975) Mithraic graffiti from Dura-Europos..
- Franz-Valéry-Marie Cumont & Eric David Francis. ‘The Dura Mithraeum’. Mithraic Studies. Proceedings of the First International Congress of Mithraic Studies, Vol. 1, pp. 151–214.
- Lucinda Dirven (2025) ‘Dura-Europos: Past, Present, Future’. Dura-Europos: Past, Present, Future, pp 148-169.
- Lucinda Dirven (2025) ‘Dura-Europos: Past, Present, Future’. Dura-Europos: Past, Present, Future, pp 148-169, pp. 148–169.
- Michael J. Fuller (2015) Graffiti from Mithraeum at Dura Europos.
- Michael J. Fuller (2015) The Shrine of the Holy God Mithras at Dura-Europos: A Study of Religious Interaction in Roman Syria..
Attestations
Graffiti to Kamerios from Dura Europos Mithraeum
TNMM 467
The text mentions a certain Kamerios, described as immaculate miles.
Mithraeum of Dura Europos
TNMM 34
The most emblematic of the Syrian Mithraea was discovered in 1933 by a team led by the Russian historian Mikhaïl Rostovtzeff.
Scratched words of Kamerios
TNMM 614
'Hail to Kamerios the Pater' can be read on one of the walls of the mithraeum at Dura Europos.