The New Mithraeum Database

How a rock relief in western Iran, carved during the time of the Sasanian Persian Empire (AD 224-651), has been re-imagined over the centuries.

Known as Mitra to the Indians, Mithra and Zarathustra (Zoroaster in Greek) to the Iranians, and Mithras to the Romans, this is the oldest of all living deities. Mithras was recognized as the greatest rival of Christianity, a greater threat even than the"F…

Fresco showing a scene of initiation into the mysteries of Mithras in the Mithraeum of Santa Maria Capua Vetere.

TNMM234 – CIMRM 188

Three plaster altars within the main altar of the Mithraeum of Dura Europos, two of them with traces of fire and cinders.

TNMM731 – CIMRM 35, 36

Solis invicti Mithrae studiosus astrologiae who was at the same time ’caelo devotus et astris’.

TNMM335

This intaglio portrays Mithra slaying the bull on one side, and a lion with a bee, around seven stars, and inscription, on the other.

TNMM546 – CIMRM 2354

The large number of monuments found at the Mithraeum of Sarmizegetusa and the sheer size of the temple are unusual.

TNMM57 – CIMRM 2027, 2033

These two reliefs of Cautes and Cautopates where found in the south corner of one of the Mithraea of Friedberg, Hesse.

TNMM593 – CIMRM 1055, 1056

This monument depicts Mihr/Mithras watching over the transition of power from Shapur II to Ardashit II, which took place in 379.

TNMM555

Peter Mark Adams: ‘The initiation was a frightening experience that caused some people to panic as a flood of otherworldly entities swept through the ritual space.’