The New Mithraeum Database

Ceramic finds from both excavations of the Mithraeum at Borcovicium (modern Housesteads), comprising red and thin black-glazed pottery fragments together with a silver coin of Faustina Minor, indicating the sanctuary was in use before 253 A.D. and was most likely destroyed by fire…

A small marble statuette of naked Mercury from the Mithraeum at Walbrook in London, sitting on a rock with the stumps of wings in his hair and a purse in his left hand, with a ram lying at his feet beside which is a tortoise.

An inscription from Asturica (modern Astorga), found beneath three military standards, recording a dedication to Jupiter Optimus Maximus, Sol Invictus and Liber Pater by Q. Mamilius Capitolinus, juridical legate and later prefect of the Treasury of Saturn…

A tauroctony relief from Rome, formerly in the Hoffmann Collection, showing Mithras slaying the bull with dog, serpent and scorpion, with the god's pupils fashioned from white enamel and the whole piece heavily restored.

Flat marble base from Rome, with fragments of statue feet still resting on it, bearing a dedication to the Lord Sol in fulfilment of a vow by Claudius Amerimnus, a lictor curiatus.

Bronze lamella probably from Rome, found in 1729, bearing a dedication to Sol Sanctissimus by C. Veratius Faustinus, a soldier of the third praetorian cohort.

Inscription from Dionysopolis, Moesia Inferior, dedicated to Invicto Mithrae by Quintus Samacius Serenus, architectus salariarius of Legio XI Claudia.

Fragment of a Mithras relief from Zsámbék near Aquincum, Pannonia Inferior, showing seven altars alternated with trees — a processional or decorative border rather than a main tauroctony scene.

Small altar preserved in the castle of Freudenberg at St. Thomas am Zeiselberg, Noricum, recording a dedication to Hermes invicto Mitrae — an unusual conflation of Hermes and the invincible Mithras.

Unusual sculptural representation of stylised flames mounted on a pedestal.

An earthen lamp bearing the name of C. Dessi along with two coins of Constantine and one of Gratianus, found in the Mithraeum at Spoleto in Umbria.

Marble altar in the Museo Capitolino, Rome, bearing a bust of Sol and a dedication by P. Aelius Amandus, a soldier of the equites singulares Augusti, in fulfilment of a vow on receiving his honourable discharge, dated to 158 A.D.

Relief of bluish marble in the Casino of the Villa Doria Pamphili showing Mithras slaying the bull with the usual animals, cross-legged torchbearers, and Sol in a quadriga and Luna in a biga in the upper corners.

Small lamp from the Palazzo dei Musei Mithraeum, Rome, bearing a representation of a ram.

Fragments of a small lamp from the Palazzo dei Musei Mithraeum, preserving the lower part of the bust of Luna set within a crescent.

Small lamp decorated with a flying Victoria holding a crown in her right hand and a palm-branch in her left, from the Mithraeum at the Palazzo dei Musei, Rome.

Base in the form of an altar with five small bacchic herms and eleven lamps, from the Mitreo Sabazeo at Ostia.

Lamp with six wicks, found near the altar before the cult-niche in the Mitreo delle Sette Porte at Ostia.

A small two-wick lamp and a larger twelve-wick lamp inscribed Serapiodori inny, from the Mitreo del Palazzo Imperiale at Ostia.

Badly damaged limestone statuette of a standing figure in Eastern attire, head, arms and feet lost, from the Mithraeum near Memphis, Egypt.