Mithras in Aegyptus

Gnostic amulet with Mithras monogram

This silver amulet depicts Abraxas on one side and the first verses of the Book of Genesis in Hebrew on the other.

Tauroctony from Memphis

Marble tauroctony relief from the Mithraeum of Memphis, depicting Mithras slaying the bull within an architectural niche framed by Cautes and Cautopates.

CIMRM 91

Arimanius from Al-Bahnasa

Limestone relief from ancient Oxyrhynchus depicting a four-winged lion-headed deity with keys, torch and three serpents, one of which emerges from the god’s mouth towards a burning altar.

CIMRM 103

Mithraeum of Mit Rahina

Roman Mithraeum at Kom Dafbaby, near ancient Memphis, poorly documented archaeologically but known through the remarkable group of Mithraic sculptures and reliefs recovered from the site.

Tauroctony III from Memphis

Primitive limestone tauroctony relief from the Mithraeum of Memphis, preserving a simplified representation of Mithras slaying the bull.

CIMRM 93

Tauroctony medallion of Egypt

This tauroctony may have come from Hermopolis and its style suggests a Thraco-Danubian origin.

CIMRM 105

Tauroctony II from Memphis

Limestone tauroctony relief from the Mithraeum of Memphis, depicting Mithras sacrificing a small bull inside a rocky cave.

CIMRM 92

Aion of Memphis

This statue of the god lion-head was found in Memphis, Egypt.

CIMRM 94

Mithraion of Mit Rahina

Ptolemaic sanctuary of the Iranian god Mithra, probably located at ancient Memphis and known exclusively through third-century BCE Greek papyri.

Damaged limestone statuette from Memphis

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

CIMRM 99

Limestone head with Phrygian cap from Egypt

Limestone head with Phrygian cap, possibly depicting Mithras, found in Egypt (possibly Alexandria), now in Tübingen, 2nd–3rd century A.D.

CIMRM 104

Limestone lion statue from Memphis

Limestone statue of a standing lion with mouth half-open, legs and tail lost, from the Mithraeum near Memphis, Egypt.

CIMRM 100

Aegyptus

Aegyptus occupied a unique position within the Roman world where Mediterranean trade, Nile networks and ancient religious traditions intersected.

Alexandria

Alexandria was founded by Alexander the Great in April 331 BC as one of his many city foundations. After he captured the Egyptian Satrapy from the Persians, Alexander wanted to build a large Greek city on Egypt’s coast that would bear his name.

Hermopolis

Hermopolis, the city of Hermes, was an important city located between Lower and Upper Egypt. A provincial capital since the Old Kingdom of Egypt, Hermopolis developed into a major city of Roman Egypt.

Memphis

Mampsis or Memphis, today Mamshit, Arabic Kurnub, is a former Nabataean caravan stop and Byzantine city.

Mendes

Mendes was a famous city that attracted the notice of most ancient geographers and historians, including Herodotus, Diodorus, Strabo, Mela, Pliny the Elder, Ptolemy, and Stephanus of Byzantium. The city was the capital of the Mendesian nome.

Oxyrhynchus

Oxyrhynchus, also known by its modern name Al-Bahnasa, is a city in Middle Egypt located about 160 km south-southwest of Cairo in Minya Governorate.