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Locus

Roma

Archaeological evidence shows that the area around Rome has been inhabited since around 14,000 years ago. Excavations support the theory that Rome grew from pastoral settlements on the Palatine Hill, which was built over the area of the Roman Forum.
Champ de Mars du Tibre au portique de Pompée.

Champ de Mars du Tibre au portique de Pompée.
Pascal Radigue

Mithraic monuments of Roma

 

Mitreo di Santa Prisca

The Mithraeum of Santa Prisca houses remarkable frescoes showing the initiates in procession.

CIMRM 476

 

Mitreo di San Clemente

The Mithraeum under the Basilica of San Clemente made part of a notable Roman house.

CIMRM 338

 

Mitreo Barberini

The Barberini Mithraeum was discovered in 1936 in the garden of the Palazzo Barberini, owned by Conte A. Savorgnan di Brazza.

CIMRM 389

 

Mitreo del Circo Massimo

The Mithraeum of the Circus Maximus was discovered in 1931 during work carried out to create a storage area for the scenes and costumes of the Opera House within the Museums of Rome building.

CIMRM 434

 

Mithraeum of the Baths of Caracalla

The Mitreo delle terme di Caracalla is one of the largest temples dedicated to Mithras ever found in Rome.

CIMRM 457

 

Mitreo di Santo Stefano Rotondo

The Mitreo dei Castra Peregrinorum was discovered under the church of Santo Stefano Rotondo in Rome.

 

Mitreo del Campidoglio «lo perso»

This temple of Mithras on the north side of the Capitoline Hill in Rome no longer exists.

CIMRM 414

 

Mitreo dell’Esquilino

In a house from the time of Constantine, a Lararium was found with a statue of Isis-Fortuna. The Mithraeum was a door next to it, on a lower room.

CIMRM 356

 

Mitreo d'Orazio Muti

This Mithraic temple, now disappeared, is known thanks to the numerous remains recorded since 1594 in the 'Memorie di varie antichità trovate in diversi luoghi della città di Roma'.

 

Aion of Orazio Muti

This monument has been identified from ’Memorie di varie antichità trovate in diversi luoghi della città di Roma’, a book by Flaminio Vacca of 1594.

CIMRM 382

 

Procession Fresco from Santa Prisca

Figures in procession, each representing a different grade of Mithraic initiation, labeled with their respective titles.

CIMRM 480

 

Aion of Villa Albani

White marble statue of Lion-head god of time, formerly in the Villa Albani, nowadays in the Musei Vaticani.

CIMRM 545

See all Mithraic monuments in Roma →

Inscriptions from Roma

Procession Fresco from Santa Prisca

Nama [patribus] / ab oriente / ad occidente[m] / tutela Saturni. [Na]ma H[eliodromis] / tute[l]a S[ol]is. [Na]ma Persis / tutela [Mer]curis. Nama L[e]on[i]b[us] j tutela Iovis. Nama Militibus j tutela Mart[is]. Nama Nym[phis] j tutjela Veneris. [Nama coracibus tutla Lunae].
Honor to the Patres, from the east to the west, under the protection of Saturn. Honor to the Heliodromi, under the protection of the Sun. Honor to the Persae, under the protection of Mercurius. Honor to the Leones, under the protection of Jupiter. Honor to the Militares, under the protection of Mars. Honor to the Nymphi, under the protection of Venus. Honor to the Coraces, under the protection of Luna.

Tauroctony from the Villa Borghese

Nama Sebesio. / Deo Soli invict[o] Mitrhe [sic!] / C[aii] Aufidii Ianuarius [et…] Nam/a/ ne CS
Tribute to Sebesius.
To the invincible Sol god Mithras. Caius Aufidius Ianuarius [and Caius Aufidius ---].

Petrogeny from Santo Stefano Rotondo

Petram genetricem / Aur[elius] Bassinus aedituus / principiorum cast[rorum] pereg[rinorum] / dedicavit hoc in loco et d[ono] d[edit] / antistante A[ulo] Caedicio / Prisciano eq[uite] R[omano] patre
The Birth stone, Aurelius Bassinus, guardian of the headquarters [principia] of the Peregrine camp, dedicated in this place and donated it, with Aulus Caecidius Priscianus, Roman knight, Father [pater], as witness

Tauroctony from Circo Massimo

Deo Soli Invicto Mithrae Ti[tus] Cl[audius] Hermes ob votum dei typum d[onum] d[edit].
To the Sun god Mithra, Tiberius Claudius Hermes following a vow offers the image of the god.

Tauroctonia del Cortile del Belvedere

Soli invicto deo / Atimetus Aug[ustorum] n[ostrorum] ser[vus] act[uarius] praediorum Romaniarorum.
To Sol the unconquered god. Atimetus, slave of our Augusti, overseer of the public estates.

Slab of Sol Invictus

Soli invicto / pro salute imp[eratorum] / et genio n[umeri] / eq[uitum] sing[ula- rium] / eorum M. Ulp[ius] / Chresimus sace[rd[os]] / Iovis Dolich[eni] / v[otum] s[olvit] l[ibens] l[aetus] [m[erito]]
Dedicated to Sol Invictus and to the Genius of the Imperial Batavian horseguards [equites singulares] for the emperors' health, by M. Ulpius Chresimus, priest of Jupiter Dolichenus

Altar of Vettius Agrorius Praetextatus

D[is] M[anibus].
Vettius Agorius Praetextatus
augur, p[o]ntifex Vestae,
pontifex Sol[is], quindecemvir
curialis Herc[u]lis, sacratus
Libero et Eleusiniis, hierophanta,
neocorus, tauroboliatus,
pater patrum, in [r]e publica vero
quaestor candidatus,
pr[a]etorurbanus,
corrector Tusciae et Umbriae,
consularis Lusitaniae,
proconsule Achaiae,
praefectus urbi,
legatus a senatu missus V,
praefectus praetorio {II} Italiae et
Illyrici, consul ordinarius
designatus,
et Aconia Fabia Paulina, c[larissima] f[emina],
sacrata Cereri et Eleusiniis,
sacrata apud [A]eginam Hecatae,
tauroboliata, hierophantria.
hi coniuncti simul vixerunt ann[os] XL.
To the spirits of the departed (Dis Manibus).

Vettius Agorius Praetextatus,
augur, pontifex of Vesta,
pontifex of the Sun, member of the college of the fifteen (quindecemvir),
curial priest of Hercules, initiated into the rites of Liber and the Eleusinian mysteries, hierophant,
neocoros (temple warden), tauroboliated (initiated through the taurobolium),
father of fathers; and in public life:
quaestor designate,
urban praetor,
corrector of Tuscia and Umbria,
consular governor of Lusitania,
proconsul of Achaia,
prefect of the city,
legate sent by the Senate five times,
praetorian prefect of Italy and Illyricum,
designated ordinary consul;

and Aconia Fabia Paulina, most noble woman,
initiated into the rites of Ceres and the Eleusinian mysteries,
initiated to Hecate at Aegina,
tauroboliated, hierophantess.

They lived together in union for 40 years.

Tauroctony relief exposed at the Hermitage Museum

D[onum] deo invicto d[ederunt] / Marci Matti / Fortuna/tus / et Alexander / et Pardus / et Eficax / per Fl[avio] Alexandro patre.
They gave a gift to the god Invictus: the Marci Matti, Fortunatus, and Alexander, and Pardus, and Efficax, through Flavius Alexander, pater.

Tauroctony relief of the Esquiline

C[auto]p[ati] / Primus pater fecit.
Primus, pater, made (this) for Cautopates.

Mithraic Sol of Piazza Dante

C[auto]p[ati] Primus pater fecit.
Primus, pater, made (this) for Cautopates.

Inscription by Proficentius, Rome

Hic locus est felix sanctus piusque benignus / quem monuit Mithras mentemque dedit / Proficentio patri sacrorum / utque sibi spelaeum faceret dedicaretque / et celeri instansque operi reddit munera grata / quem bono auspicio suscepit anxia mente / ut possint syndexi hilares celebrare vota per aevm / hos versiculos generavit proficentius / pater dignissimus Mithrae // L[ucius] Castricius Probus d[onum] d[edit].
It is here a happy, pure and pious, beneficent place that Mithras indicated to Proficentius, Father of the rites [pater sacrorum], so that he could build a crypt [spelaeum] and dedicate it to him. And it is with celerity, without respite, that he accomplishes these precious missions undertaken under good auspices, so that the syndexi can, with joy, celebrate their vows, eternally.

These little verses were composed by Proficentius, a very worthy father of Mithras.

Altar from the Mitreo sotto la Basilica di San Lorenzo

Aebutius Restituti/anus qui et Proficen/tius antistes dei / Solis invicti Mithrae/ aram / d[onum] d[edit].
Aebutius Restitutianus, also Proficientius, high priest of the god of the invincible sun, gave the altar as a gift to Mithras.

See all inscriptions from Roma →

References

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