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Provincia

Mithras in Transpadana

Transpadana occupied the northern plains of Italy where major communication routes connected the peninsula to the Alpine and Danubian worlds.

The material documented in Transpadana illustrates the circulation of Mithraic cults through urban settlements, regional trade and imperial mobility across northern Italy. The province formed part of the strategic corridor linking Italy to the frontier provinces.

Mithraic monuments of Transpadana

See all Mithraic monuments in Transpadana

Places in Transpadana

 

Angera

Roman settlement on the southern shore of Lacus Verbanus (Lake Maggiore) in Transpadana, known for Mithraic inscriptions and a cave sanctuary traditionally identified as a Mithraeum.

 

Brixia

Brixia was the Roman city corresponding to modern Brescia.

 

Camuni

Camuni refers to the ancient people and territory of Val Camonica in northern Italy.

 

Comum

Comum was the Roman city corresponding to modern Como.

 

Introbbio

Introbbio is associated with archaeological material from the Alpine region of northern Italy.

 

Mediolanum

Mediolanum, the ancient city where Milan now stands, was originally an Insubrian city, but afterwards became an important Roman city in northern Italy.

 

Novaria

Novara aːra] is the capital city of the province of Novara in the Piedmont region in northwest Italy, to the west of Milan.

 

Tridentum

Tridentum was the Roman city corresponding to modern Trento.

 

Val di Non

Val di Non is an Alpine valley in Trentino associated with Roman-period finds.

 

Vercellae

Vercellae was the Roman city corresponding to modern Vercelli.

Inscriptions from Transpadana

Slab of the astrologer Maximus of Milan

M[arcus] Valeri[us] / Maximu[s] / sacerdo[s] / d[ei] S[olis] i[nvicti] M[ithrae] / stu[di[osus]] / astrologia[e] / sibi et / Severiae Apr[.] / uxori. / H[oc] m[onumentum] h[eredes] n[on] [s[equetur]].
Marcus Valerius Maximus, priest of the invincible sun god Mithras, scholar of astrology, for himself and his wife Severia Apr[---]. This monument is not part of the heritage.

Stele of Acilius Pisonianus from Milan

D[eo] S[oli] i[nvicto] M[ithrae] / P[ublius] Acil[ius] Piso/nianus pater / patratus qui / hoc speleum / vi{i} ignis ab/sumtum com/parata area a re-/publ[ica] Mediol[anensi] / pecunia sua / restituit.
To the invincible Sol god Mithras, Publius Acilius Pisonianus, pater patratus, who at his own expense restored this speleum, which had been completely destroyed by the violent fire, the site having been repaired thanks to the public funds of the Mediolanenses.

Altar of Varia Severa from Milan

D(eo) I(nvicto) M(ithrae) / Varia / Q(uinti) f(ilia) / Severa / v(otum) s(olvit) l(ibens) m(erito).
Varia Severa, daughter of Quintus, willingly and deservedly fulfilled her vow to the Unconquered God Mithras.

Altar from Novaria by Aelius Secundinus

[S]acrum Soli / Mit[hr]ae numini / v... inviet[o] deo / [v]isu iussus / Aelius Secundinus.
Consecrated to Sol M[ithr]as, numen t[riomphant [?]], invincible god. Following a vision, at the behest [of the god] Aelius Secundinus [did].

Inscription of Valerianus Petalus

D[eo] S[oli] i[nvicto] M[ithrae] / adiutor[i] / Valerian[us] / Petalus v[otum] [s[olvit]].
To the invincible god Sol Mithras protector [adiutor], Valerianus Petalus [has] fulfilled his vow.

Inscription of two lions from Angera

Cautopati sac[r[um]] / M[arcus] Status Nig[er] / VI vir aug[ustalis] c[reatus] d[ecreto] d[ecurionum] [M[ediolanensium]] / leg[atus?] dend[rophorum] c[oloniae] A[ureliae?] A[ugustae?] M[ediolanii] / et C[aius] Valerius lulia[nus?] / leones leg[ati?] v[otum] s[olverunt] l[ibentes] m[erito].
Consecrated to Cautopates. Marcus Statius Niger, sevir Augustalis appointed by a decree of the town council and representative of the dendrophoroi of the colonia Aurelia Augusta Mediolanensium, and Caius Valerius Iulianus, both leones and representatives, fulfilled their vow willingly and deservedly.
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