Inscription on restauration of the Mitreo de Carsulae

TNMM 484

This marble plaque, preserved in the Castello di Montoro and dating from between 211 and 250, bears witness to a particularly original Mithraic cult in Umbria. It was found by the same time of another remarkable inscription on the creation of a leonteum (TNMM 483).

Square marble base (74x74 cm) with inscription, 150-250 CE. Currently preserved in Montoro, Castello Patrizi, private owner.

This inscription was preserved in the castle of Montoro and although there is no evidence about its find-spot, it seems possible it was found in the area nearby the castle.

In the Castle of Montoro, Narni, [this] marble tabula with inscription is kept; it was recomposed from various fragments (the upper right corner is still missing) found in the basement of the castle along with other archeological material of uncertain origin, which perhaps had been stored there to become the first nucleus of a collection.

The text written on the tabula is a precious document revealing how the initiates were not only involved in the construction and maintenance of their places of worship, but also in their renovation, usually made necessary by mere obsolesce, but which, in this case, was exceptionally due to the destructive effects of an earthquake. The renovation works were taken care of by sacerdos probatus Sextus Egnatius Primitivus, Sevir Augustalis in Casuentum and Quaestor Arcae Augustalium from Carsulae.

It is certain that an earthquake imposed some economy on the use of materials and it is not by chance that Sextus Egnatius Primitivus had the old moulding of a statue base reused as a support for the inscription; the holes for the pegs previously used to fix the statue are still visible.