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Provincia

Mithras in Picenum

Picenum connected the Adriatic coast of central Italy to inland communication routes and the wider networks of the Roman Peninsula.

Evidence from Picenum reflects the circulation of Mithraic cults through regional urban centres, maritime mobility and provincial exchange. The documented material contributes to understanding the diffusion of the cult along the Adriatic side of Roman Italy.

Mithraic monuments of Picenum

 

Album of Sentinum

This inscription reveals the names of 36 cultori of Sentinum, one of whom bears the title of pater leonum.

CIMRM 688

 

Tauroctony from Macerata

The Macerata Tauroctony shows Mithra slaying the bull with the usual Pyrigian cap and six rays around his head.

CIMRM 690

 

Inscription of two Gessii from Sentinum

Gessius Castus and Gessius Severus have placed a decorated stutue and left testimony on this inscription below.

CIMRM 687

 

Altar with inscription of Sentinum

This altar found in Sentinum bears an inscription from two brothers.

CIMRM 689

 

CIMRM 685

Fragment of a marble statue (H. 0.40 Br. 0.60), found at Sentino and walled in the atrium of the Palace Raccamadoro-Ramelli.

CIMRM 685

 

CIMRM 686

In the old Sentinum there certainly existed a Mithraeum.

CIMRM 686

Places in Picenum

 

Macerata

Macerata is a city and comune in central Italy, the county seat of the province of Macerata in the Marche region.

 

Sentinum

Sentinum was an ancient town located in the Marche region of Italy.

Inscriptions from Picenum

Album of Sentinum

Cultores D[ei] S[olis] I[nvicti] Mithrae / patroni, prosedente C. Propertio Profuturo.

Coiedius Proculus / Ligurius Theodotus / Mussius Vindex / Coiedius Hilarianus / Sentin[as] pater leonum Ianuarius / Titius Castor / Pompe[i]us Pompeianus / Gessius Optabilis/ Ligurius Clementinus / Plotius Fortunatus / Licinius Faustus / Aetrius Romanus / Asinius Commodi[anus] / Visenn[ius] Quinqu[ennalis].

Pompon[ius] Victor / Statius Velox / Vassiden[us] Verus / Helvenat[ius] Celer / Carfan[ius] Achille[s] / Casidius Rufin[us] / Antist[ius] Benign[us] / Aetrius Irenaeus / Helven[atius] Semellin[us] / Sentin[as] Valentin[us] / lulius Victorin[us] / [Ca]ecil[ius] Sozo[n] / [---] Ve[---]d[---] / [---]t[---]

Rantif[anus] Verus / Caesoni[us] Dexter / Ianuarius Sent[inatium] / Aelius Ylas / Coied[ius] Pamphilus / Aduren[us] Theseus / Coied[ius] Auxa[n]on / menesterio / Sevio Felice.
The worshippers of the invincible god Sol Mithras to the patron president Caius Propertius Profuturus.
[list of 36 male names].
[and] the minister Sevius Felix.

Tauroctony from Macerata

[I]nvicto Propitio / Sal[vius] Novanio / [L]ucianus / d[onum] p[osuit]
To the invincible benevolent, Salvius Novanio Lucianus offered this gift

Inscription of two Gessii from Sentinum

Dicatus V id[us] Sept[embres] Antonino aug[usto] II et sacerdote II co[n]s[ulibus]
N[umini] s[ancto] S[olis] i[nvicti] Mithrae / duo Gessi Castus / et Severus simu/lacrum exoma/tum voto posu/erunt.
Prosedente C. Propertio Augurino sacerd[ote].
Dedicated on the 5th of the ides of September, Antoninus Augustus and [Quintus Tineius] Sacerdos being consuls for the second time.
To the pure numen of invincible Sol Mithras. Gessius Castus and Gessius Severus placed the decorated statue after a vow.
Under the presidency of Caius Propertius Augurinus, priest.

Altar with inscription of Sentinum

Invicto / prosedente / Sevio Facundo / Umbri / Rufinus et / Aemilianus / leones.
To the Unconquered [god], the leones Umbrius Rufinus and Umbrius Aemilianus [set up] under the office of Sevius Facundus.

References

  • Bricault; Roy (2021) Les cultes de Mithra dans l'Empire Romain
  • Jeffrey Adam Easton (2019) Rising from below: The families of Roman municipal freedmen and social mobility in the Roman Empire
  • Vittoria Canciani (2022) Archaeological Evidence of the Cult of Mithras in Ancient Italy
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