Mithraeum of Kapıkaya

TNMM 514

The Meter sanctuary at Kapıkaya is located in the mountains 10 km northwest from Pergamon. At a height of over 60 m lies a grotto formed by a massive boulder which has fallen from a higher level on top of an open cavity in the rock (Conze and Garbrecht 1912: 128). In this already remarkable natural formation a spring lowed, too. Such a site was predestined for the cult of the Great Mother, goddess of the mountains and the wild nature who was said to have been born out of a stone and often was adored in the form of a rock (Hepding 1903: 118; Nohlen and Radt 1978: 70).

The rise of her cult at this place cannot be dated, but we suppose at the beginning it consisted of a modest worship by shepherds and travelers (Nohlen and Radt 1978: 69). The earliest finds are dated to the third century BC; the majority of the material, however, comes from the second and first centuries BC. Numerous terracotta figurines, lamps, pottery, and coins document the heyday of the sanctuary in the middle and late Hellenistic period (Nohlen and Radt 1978: 32–68). The finds suggest that the cult was addressed not only to Meter but also to Attis, her shepherd companion (Nohlen and Radt 1978: 33, 35, 72–73 ).

In Roman times a remarkable change took place. It is likely that Meter was still adored here but Mithras became the main deity. His cult was practiced until the fourth century AD, with a certain lowering recorded for the second and third centuries when the cooking ware is well represented (Nohlen and Radt 1978: 73–76).

Although the sanctuary was in continuous use at least from the third century BC to the fourth century AD, its setting remained modest. The central point of cult and sanctuary was the natural grotto with the spring inside. We suppose that initially this natural situation was adequate for the practice of the cult, but in the third century BC at the latest, when bigger crowds started visiting, the site was at some points modified. Inside the grotto the rock was carved in order to create a water basin, and a bench and niches for dedications and lamps (Nohlen and Radt 1978: 6–8).

[…]

The only stone building was erected in Roman times when the cult itself had changed significantly: Meter was probably still adored but the emphasis of worship lay now on Mithras. The grotto was still in use, but for specific acts within the Mithraic cult this new building was necessary (Nohlen and Radt 1978: 14–15).

[…]

In Kapıkaya the attraction of more and more worshippers led to a modification of the site, though leaving its natural character untouched. The constant tight connection to nature was not disturbed after the adoption of the Mithras cult and the erection of a stone building for it, since the grotto was still in use and its surroundings remained unchanged.