A terracotta figurine of Mithra. I-III centuries AD, from the Hoghmik sanctuary complex
"...For the solution of our problem, it is important to refer to the Hellenistic temple complex of Hoghmik, located to the north of Gyumri. Here, we shall focus on two buildings among the complex’s numerous rooms and auxiliary structures.
The first is Room No. 1 (Fig. 7), which measures approximately 13 m in length and 9 m in width. Along the southern wall runs an elongated stone mastaba, approximately 0.5 m in both height and width, constructed on a pavement about 2 m wide. A second mastaba was built along another wall, although it is interrupted in two places. In the center of the room, between the two mastabas, stood a poorly preserved altar. In the northwestern corner, archaeologists uncovered a stone box containing burnt animal remains, probably those of a goat. In front of the box, along the edge of the wall, a rectangular opening was identified, which was probably intended for an idol.
The room itself is divided into three sections by four pairs of columns. The four central columns are positioned at some distance from one another, leaving sufficient space for a garret—a feature characteristic of the main room of the traditional Armenian house. Two sanctuaries and an iwan were also erected adjacent to the building.
Our initial suggestion was that the three east-oriented sections of the room were dedicated to the supreme gods of the Armenian pantheon. These structures were built in the 2nd century BC and remained in use for approximately four centuries, until the adoption of Christianity as the state religion of
Armenia.
Approximately twenty meters north of these structures, another room was uncovered containing evidence of numerous animal sacrifices, as well as mastabas, altars, and idols. Between these buildings, in one of the rooms, archaeologists discovered a clay figurine identified as Mihr-Mithra (Fig. 7c)."
Source:
Hayk Hakobyan - ON THE ORIGIN OF ROMAN MITHREUMS
https://fundamentalarmenology.am/datas/pdfs/624.pdf
![A terracotta figurine of Mithra. I-III centuries AD, from the Hoghmik sanctuary complex
"...For the solution of our problem, it is important to refer to the Hellenistic temple complex of Hoghmik, located to the north of Gyumri. Here, we shall focus on two buildings among the complex’s numerous rooms and auxiliary structures.
The first is Room No. 1 (Fig. 7), which measures approximately 13 m in length and 9 m in width. Along the southern wall runs an elongated stone mastaba, approximately 0.5 m in both height and width, constructed on a pavement about 2 m wide. A second mastaba was built along another wall, although it is interrupted in two places. In the center of the room, between the two mastabas, stood a poorly preserved altar. In the northwestern corner, archaeologists uncovered a stone box containing burnt animal remains, probably those of a goat. In front of the box, along the edge of the wall, a rectangular opening was identified, which was probably intended for an idol.
The room itself is divided into three sections by four pairs of columns. The four central columns are positioned at some distance from one another, leaving sufficient space for a garret—a feature characteristic of the main room of the traditional Armenian house. Two sanctuaries and an iwan were also erected adjacent to the building.
Our initial suggestion was that the three east-oriented sections of the room were dedicated to the supreme gods of the Armenian pantheon. These structures were built in the 2nd century BC and remained in use for approximately four centuries, until the adoption of Christianity as the state religion of Armenia.
Approximately twenty meters north of these structures, another room was uncovered containing evidence of numerous animal sacrifices, as well as mastabas, altars, and idols. Between these buildings, in one of the rooms, archaeologists discovered a clay figurine identified as Mihr-Mithra (Fig. 7c)."
Source:
Hayk Hakobyan - ON THE ORIGIN OF ROMAN MITHREUMS [ref:6aa3afffde57d]](https://www.mithraeum.eu/album/post/ca17d863e2a3b0b1.png)
