The material documented in Dalmatia illustrates the circulation of Mithraic cults across the eastern Adriatic and the western Balkans. Urban centres, coastal routes and imperial communication networks contributed to the diffusion of religious practices throughout the province.
People attested in Dalmatia
Places in Dalmatia
Arba
The island settlement of Arba occupied a strategic position along the eastern Adriatic maritime routes.
Arupium
The settlement of Arupium formed part of the mountainous inland communications network of Roman Dalmatia.
Bihać
Bihać lies in the Una valley and is associated with archaeological remains from the Dalmatian hinterland.
Boka Kotorska
The Bay of Kotor formed an important maritime zone linking the Adriatic coast with the inland Balkans.
Brattia
The island of Brattia, modern Brač, formed part of the Adriatic maritime landscape of Dalmatia.
Burnum
Burnum served as an important legionary centre controlling routes between the Adriatic coast and the Dalmatian interior.
Carevac
The locality of Carevac is associated with archaeological discoveries from the inland territory of Dalmatia.
Danilo
Danilo occupied an important position in the hinterland of the central Dalmatian coast near Šibenik.
Epidaurum
Epidaurum, modern Cavtat, was a major coastal centre in southern Dalmatia near the approaches to the Adriatic.
Inscriptions from Dalmatia
Two-sided relief from Konjic
Deo Soli inv[ict]o Meter[ae].
To the god Sun invincible Mithras.
Mithraic meal from Proložac, Croatia
Invicto Mithre Stati[i] ursus / et Ursinus pat[er] et fil[ius] v[otum] l[ibentes] p[osuerunt].
To the invincible Mithras, Statius Ursus and Statius Ursinus, father and son, took this vow willingly.
Tauroctony from Golubić
Aure/lius / Ma/ximus /Pant[a]die/[nus].
Mithraic exvoto of Dalmatia
D[eo] inv[icto] Mlithrael / L[ucius] Corn[elius] Apalaus/tus pro s[atute] M[arci] Vivi / Cresti amic[i] kariss[imi] / ex voto p[osuit].
To the invincible god Mithras, Lucius Cornelius Apalaustus, for the health of his dearest friend Marcus Vivius Crestus, placed [here] as a votive.
Altar of Senj made by the slave Hermes
I[nvicto] M[ithrae] / spelaeum cum / omne impen/sa Hermes C[aii] / Antoni[i] Rufi / praef[ecti] veh[iculorum] et / cond[uctoris] p[ublici] p[ortorii]/ ser[vus] vilic[us] Fortu/nat[us or -ianus] fecit.
To the invincible god Mithras, Hermes, estate manager and slave of Caius Antonius Rufus, prefect of roads and customs collector, [gave] the spelaeum, with all of the [related] expenses, [and] Fortunat[us or -ianus] made it.
Altar from Skelani by Hostilius
Tran[situi ?] / dei M[ithr[ae]] / Host[ilius[?]] / [.]oni[---].
To the transit of the god Mithras, Hostilius...
Altar of Tihaljina
D[eo] I[nvicto] M[ithrae] a[c Ge]/niis sac[r[orum]] / Augusto[r[um]] / Rus[---] Pin[nes] mi/les / co[hortis] prim[ae] / Bel[garum] immunis / libens merito / posuit.
To the Unconquered God Mithras, [and to] the spirits of the sacred [emperors], Rusticus Pinnes, a soldier of the Cohors Prima Belgica, exempt from duties, willingly and deservedly set this up.
Altars of Jajce
Invi[cto].
Invincible.
Altar with donor lists from Solin
[DD(ominis) nn(ostris) Dio]cletiano VIII et Maximiano VII Augg(ustis) co(n)ss(ulibus) // Aur(elio) Valen/tiniano v(iro) p(erfectissimo) bis pr(a)efect/o Kalendis Febr(uariis) mns/travimus at(!) Tritons / Aur(elius) Mercurius / Aur(elius) Secundinus / Aur(elius) Fortunius / Aur(elius) Severianus / Aur(elius) Sarmatio / Aur(elius) Antonius / Aur(elius) Ursus / Iul(ius) Secundus / Aur(elius) Uranius / Aur(elius) Fore(n)sis // DD(ominis) nn(ostris) Consta/ntino Aug(usto) V [et] [[[Li]cinio]] iuniore Caesare co(n)s(ulibus) / Aur(elio) Xen[o]ne bis // pr(a)efecto Kal(endis) Febr(u)ari(i)s / mnstrabimus(!) / at(!) Tritones / Aur(elius) Lucentius / Aur(elius) [---]ius / A[ur(elius) G]regorius / Aur(elius) [F]irminus / Aur(elius) Ma[rce]llinus / [Au]r(elius) Dalmatius / [---] Valentinus // Aur(elius) Vincentius / Aur(elius) Messor // [---]PECVS // [---]ORVS // Dominis nostris C[o]/nstantino Augusto / {s}et Constantino noi//[l]issimo Caesare / pr(a)efe{i}to Quin ili//o Faintilo at(!) Triton(es) / [K]alenis Febr(u)ariis / Aur(elius) Martinus / [A]ur(elius) Donatus / V[ari]us Terent(i)anus / Aur(elius) [S]tercorius / Aur(elius) Exuperius / Aur(elius) Terentianus / Aur(elius) Alexander / Aur(elius) (H)eracl(i)a[nus] / Aur(elius) Reditus // Aur(elius) Maurenu[s] / Aur(elius) Balbinu[s] // Aur(elius) Euticiu[s] // Aur(elius) Leuntiu[s] / Aur(elius) Senat[or] // Ministri ad Trit(ones) / Ael(ius) Valerianus / Varius Sabinus / Iulius Silvius / Aur(elius) Fortunius / Papirius Crescent(i---) / Claud(ius) Barbian(us) / Dirrut[ius] Crescent(i---) / Aelius Dalmat(ius) / ex permissu Noc/turni Novelli / patroni collegi(i) // fel(iciter).
Under our lords Diocletian, consul for the eighth time, and Maximian, consul for the seventh time. Under Aurelius Valentinianus, vir perfectissimus, prefect for the second time, on the Kalends of February, we served among the Tritones: Aurelius Mercurius, Aurelius Secundinus, Aurelius Fortunius, Aurelius Severianus, Aurelius Sarmatio, Aurelius Antonius, Aurelius Ursus, Julius Secundus, Aurelius Uranius, Aurelius Forensis.
Under our lords Constantine Augustus, consul for the fifth time, and Licinius Junior Caesar, consuls. Under Aurelius Xenon, prefect for the second time, on the Kalends of February, we served among the Tritones: Aurelius Lucentius, Aurelius [---]ius, Aurelius Gregorius, Aurelius Firminus, Aurelius Marcellinus, Aurelius Dalmatius, [---] Valentinus, Aurelius Vincentius, Aurelius Messor.
Under our lords Constantine Augustus and Constantine, most noble Caesar, under the prefect Quintilius Faintillus, among the Tritones, on the Kalends of February: Aurelius Martinus, Aurelius Donatus, Varius Terentianus, Aurelius Stercorius, Aurelius Exuperius, Aurelius Terentianus, Aurelius Alexander, Aurelius Heraclianus, Aurelius Reditus, Aurelius Maurenus, Aurelius Balbinus, Aurelius Euticius, Aurelius Leuntius, Aurelius Senator.
Ministers among the Tritones: Aelius Valerianus, Varius Sabinus, Julius Silvius, Aurelius Fortunius, Papirius Crescent[---], Claudius Barbianus, Dirrutius Crescent[---], Aelius Dalmatius, with the permission of Nocturnus Novellus, patron of the collegium. Happily accomplished.
Under our lords Constantine Augustus, consul for the fifth time, and Licinius Junior Caesar, consuls. Under Aurelius Xenon, prefect for the second time, on the Kalends of February, we served among the Tritones: Aurelius Lucentius, Aurelius [---]ius, Aurelius Gregorius, Aurelius Firminus, Aurelius Marcellinus, Aurelius Dalmatius, [---] Valentinus, Aurelius Vincentius, Aurelius Messor.
Under our lords Constantine Augustus and Constantine, most noble Caesar, under the prefect Quintilius Faintillus, among the Tritones, on the Kalends of February: Aurelius Martinus, Aurelius Donatus, Varius Terentianus, Aurelius Stercorius, Aurelius Exuperius, Aurelius Terentianus, Aurelius Alexander, Aurelius Heraclianus, Aurelius Reditus, Aurelius Maurenus, Aurelius Balbinus, Aurelius Euticius, Aurelius Leuntius, Aurelius Senator.
Ministers among the Tritones: Aelius Valerianus, Varius Sabinus, Julius Silvius, Aurelius Fortunius, Papirius Crescent[---], Claudius Barbianus, Dirrutius Crescent[---], Aelius Dalmatius, with the permission of Nocturnus Novellus, patron of the collegium. Happily accomplished.
Tauroctony from Vratnitsa
L[ucius] Antonius Menander Aphro/disieus invicto / aug[usto] v[otum] f[ecit].
Altar of Faustus from Senia
S(oli) i(nvicto) M(ithrae) / Faustus Ti(berii) Saturni/ni praef(ecti) vehi/culo/r(um) et conductoris p(ublici) p(ortorii) servus / pro se et suis / v(otum) s(olvit) l(ibens) m(erito).
To Sol Invictus Mithras. Faustus, slave of Tiberius Saturninus, prefect of the imperial transport service and contractor of the public customs revenues, willingly and deservedly fulfilled his vow for himself and his family.
