The material documented in Moesia superior illustrates the importance of the province within the Danubian military zone of the Roman empire. Mithraic cults circulated through legionary communities, urban centres and strategic routes linking the Balkans to the wider frontier world.
Mithraic monuments of Moesia superior
Altar of Klechovtse
The limestone altar at Klechovtse in North Macedonia bears an inscription to the invincible Mithras.
CIMRM 2209
Inscription of Ision from Guberevac
In this monument, the imperial slave Ision claims the completion of a new temple to Mithras in Moesia.
CIMRM 2235
Tauroctony relief from Biljanovac
White marble tauroctony relief in several fragments from the Mithraeum at Biljanovac, Moesia Superior, depicting the standard bull-slaying with the full iconographic programme.
CIMRM 2202
Sacred repast scene from Ratiaria
Marble relief fragment from Artschar, ancient Ratiaria in Moesia Superior, preserving a scene of Mithras in Phrygian cap and Sol reclining behind a tripod — part of the sacred banquet.
CIMRM 2228
Fragmentary tauroctony from Kostolac
This weathered marble fragment from Viminacium preserves part of a tauroctony with Luna, Cautopates, the serpent, and the dog.
Two-register tauroctony from Ratiaria
Fragmentary Mithraic relief from Ratiaria depicting the tauroctony above a series of narrative scenes from the myth of Mithras and Sol.
CIMRM 2225
Mithraeum at Biljanovac
Mithraic sanctuary found at Biljanovac north-east of Kumanovo, Moesia Superior, with a pronaos and inner sanctuary, yielding marble reliefs, an altar, and associated cult objects.
CIMRM 2201
Tauroctony relief from Civitas Montanensium
White marble tauroctony relief from Golema Kutlovica, ancient Civitas Montanensium in Moesia Superior, depicting the standard bull-slaying scene.
CIMRM 2237
Tauroctony relief from Biljanovac
White marble tauroctony relief from the Mithraeum at Biljanovac, Moesia Superior, depicting the standard bull-slaying with torchbearers and Sol and Luna busts in the upper corners.
CIMRM 2204
Tauroctony relief from Transdierna
Marble tauroctony relief fragment from Tekija in east Serbia, ancient Transdierna in Moesia Superior, depicting the standard bull-slaying scene.
CIMRM 2223
Tauroctony cloak fragment from Ratiaria
Fragment of a marble tauroctony relief from Artschar, ancient Ratiaria in Moesia Superior, preserving only part of Mithras's flying cloak with the raven perched on it.
CIMRM 2226
Altar to Invicto deo from Dražinovići
Stone altar with akroteria from Dražinovići, Moesia Superior, found in 1934 near the brook Savina Voda, dedicated to Invicto deo Mithrae for the welfare of Emperor Severus Alexander.
CIMRM 2213
People attested in Moesia superior
Places in Moesia superior
Biljanovac
Ancient site in Moesia Superior, north-east of Kumanovo, where the remains of a Mithraic sanctuary were discovered together with several marble reliefs, altars and cult objects.
Civitas Montanensium
Civitas Montanensium developed around the important Roman settlement at modern Montana in Bulgaria.
Dražinovići
The locality of Dražinovići is associated with archaeological remains from the central Balkan region.
Guberevci
The locality of Guberevci belongs to the inland communications zone of Roman Moesia Superior.
Jassen
The locality of Jassen belongs to the inland communications landscape of the Balkan provinces.
Kadine-Most
Kadine-Most lies within the central Balkan region historically connected with Roman Moesia.
Klečovac
The locality of Klečovac is associated with archaeological material from the Danubian hinterland.
