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Locus

Emerita Augusta

Emerita Augusta was founded in 25 BC by order of the Emperor Augustus to protect a pass and a bridge over the Guadiana River. The city became the capital of the province of Lusitania and one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire.

Mithraic monuments of Emerita Augusta

 

Cerro de San Albín

Although the site at Cerro de San Albín is not a Mithraeum, archaeologists have found several monuments related to the cult of Mithras.

CIMRM 772

 

Aion of Mérida

The Aion-Chronos of Mérida was found near the bullring of the current city, once capital of the Roman province Hispania Ulterior.

CIMRM 777

 

Lion-headed figure of Mérida

The lion-headed figure, Aion, from Mérida, wears oriental knickers fastened at the waist by a cinch strap.

CIMRM 776

 

Cautopates from Casa del Mitreo of Mérida

The sculpture of the solar god is signed by its author, Demetrios.

CIMRM 773

 

Naked figure from Mérida

This sculpture may be a naked dadophorus, probably Cautopates.

CIMRM 775

 

Mitreo de la calle Espronceda

The Mithraeum at Espronceda Street, in Merida, was discovered in 2000. It is a semi-subterranean temple.

 

Feast from Mérida

This scene of a feast from Mérida shows three persons at a table with other people standing beside them, one holding a bull’s head on a plate.

CIMRM 782

 

Altar of Merida consecrated by Marcus Valerius Secundus

This altar is dedicated to the birth of Mithras by a frumentarius of the Legio VII Geminae.

CIMRM 793

 

Mercury of Mérida

The statue of Mercury in Merida bears a dedication from the Roman Pater of a community in the city in 155.

CIMRM 780

 

Cautes from Mérida

This nude male figure, found at Cerro de San Albín, Mérida, has been identified as Cautes.

 

Venus pudica of Mérida

The Venus pudica of Merida stands next to the young Amor riding a dolplhin.

CIMRM 784

 

Isis de Mérida

The Isis of Merida is covered by a long dress that reaches down to her feet.

See all Mithraic monuments in Emerita Augusta →

Inscriptions from Emerita Augusta

Cautopates from Casa del Mitreo of Mérida

Invicto sacrum C. Curius Avitus / Acci[o] Hedychro pa[tre].
Δημήτριος ἐποίει
Dedicated to the invincible. Caius Curius Avitus, Accius Hedychrus being Father.
Demetros made it.

Altar of Merida consecrated by Marcus Valerius Secundus

Ann[o] Col[oniae] CLXXX / aram genesis / Inuicti Mithrae / M[arcus] Val[erius] Secundus / fr[umentarius] Leg[ionis] VII Gem[inae] dono / ponendam merito curauit / G[aio] Accio Hedychro patre.
In the year 180 of the Colony, Marcus Valerius Secundus, frumentarius of the Legion VII Gemina, took care of placing the altar of the birth of the Invictus Mithras, as a due offering, being pater Gaius Accius Hedychrus.

Mercury of Mérida

Ann[o] col[oniae] CLXXX / invicto deo Mithrae / sacr[um] / G[aius] Accius Hedychrus / Pater / a[nimo] [libente] plosuit].
In the colony's 180th year. Consecrated to the invincible god Mithras. Gaius Accius Hedychrus, Father, willingly deposited this.

Altar by Caius Aemilius Superaius of Merida

Deo / Invicto / C[aius] Camilius / Superat[us] / a[nimo] l[ibens] p[osuit].
To the Unconquered God, Caius Camilius Superatus willingly and gladly placed [this].

Altar of Gaius Iulius from Mérida

Deo / Invicto / pro salute / Cai Iuli / […].
Al Dios Invicto. Por la salud de Gaius Iulius […].

Oceaunus of Mérida

G[aius] Acc[ius] Hedychrus / p[ater] patrum
Gaius Accius Hedychrus pater patrum

Altar of Mérida from Quintio

Inuicto Deo / Quintio Flaui / Baetici Conim/brig[ensis] ser[uus] / pro sa[lute] Coutii Lupi
Al Dios Invicto. El conimbrigense Quintio, esclavo de Flavius Baeticus, por la salud de Coutius Lupus.

Altar by Hector Corneliorum of Mérida

... Invict[o Mithrae] / Hector Cornelior[um] / ex visu.
To the Invictus [Mithrae], Hector of the Cornelians, by a vision.

References

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