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Region

Mithras in Dalmatia

Dalmatia preserves Mithraic evidence shaped by Adriatic routes, military movement and provincial urban centres.

The Mithraic material documented in Dalmatia reflects the province’s position between the Adriatic coast, the Balkan interior and the Danubian military zone. The evidence illustrates the circulation of the cult through urban settlements, communication routes and communities connected to imperial administration and mobility.

Mithraic monuments of Dalmatia

 

Mithraeum of Močići

The Mithraeum of Mocici was situated in a grotto at one hour's walk fomr the ancient Epidaurum.

CIMRM 1882

 

Two-sided relief from Konjic

The mithraic relief of Konjic shows a Tauroctony in one side and a ritual meal in the other.

CIMRM 1896

 

Mithraeum of Jajce

The remains of the Jajački Mithraeum were discovered accidentally during excavation for the construction of a private house in 1931.

CIMRM 1901

 

Mithraic meal from Proložac, Croatia

Mithras and Sol share a sacred meal accompanied by Cautes and Cautopates on a relief found in a cemetery from Croatia.

 

Tauroctony from Dardagan

The relief of Mithras killing the bull, found near Zvornik in Bosnia and Herzegovina, features some variations on the usual scene.

 

Tauroctony from Jajce

The relief of Mithras killing the bull from the Jajce Mithraeum is walled into the cult niche and surmounted by a roof.

CIMRM 1902

 

Mithraic exvoto of Dalmatia

The altar that now stands in Split was dedicated to Invincible Mithras for the health of a dear friend.

CIMRM 1873

 

Altar of Senj made by the slave Hermes

The dedicator of this altar was a slave in the service of a high official, the prefect Gaius Antonius Rufus, known from other inscriptions.

CIMRM 1846

 

Mithraeum of Prozor

The Mithraea in the territory of Arupium were first mentioned by Š. Ljubić in 1882.

 

Altar of Tihaljina

This altar, discovered in Grude, near Tihaljina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, bears an inscription by Pinnes, a soldier of the Cohors Prima Belgica.

CIMRM 1889

 

Tauroctony relief from Crikvine

This relief of Mithras killing the sacred bull was found in 1908 near Klisa, in the surroundings of Salona, the ancient capital of Roman Dalmatia.

CIMRM 1871

 

Tauroctony from Golubić

This relief of Mithras as a bullkiller was found in Golubić, Bosnia and Herzegovina, near a cementery.

CIMRM 1910

See all Mithraicmonuments in Dalmatia

Provinces of Dalmatia

 

Dalmatia

Dalmatia connected the Adriatic world to the Balkan interior through maritime routes, military mobility and provincial urban networks.

Places in Dalmatia

 

Aufustianis

Tihaljina is a town in southwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

Jajce

Little is known about Jajce in Roman times, apart from the accidental discovery of a 4th-century mithraeum in 1931.

 

Malvesatium

Skelani (Serbian Cyrillic: Скелани) is a village in the municipality of Srebrenica, in the Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

Miline

No extract available for the given page ID.

 

Salona

Salona was an ancient city and the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia. It was founded in the 3rd century BC and was mostly destroyed in the invasions of the Avars and Slavs in the 7th century AD.

 

Senia

Senj is a town on the upper Adriatic coast in Croatia, in the foothills of the Mala Kapela and Velebit mountains. The symbol of the town is the Nehaj Fortress which was completed in 1558. Senj is to be found in the Lika-Senj County of Croatia, the

 

Solin

Solin is a town in Dalmatia, Croatia, developed on the location of ancient city of Salona, which was the capital of the Roman province of Dalmatia and the birthplace of Emperor Diocletian.

 

Vratnitsa

Vratnica is a small village and community located in the Jegunovce Municipality of North Macedonia.

Inscriptions from Dalmatia

Two-sided relief from Konjic

Deo Soli inv[ict]o Meter[ae].
To the god Sun invincible Mithras.

Mithraic meal from Proložac, Croatia

Invicto Mithre Stati[i] ursus / et Ursinus pat[er] et fil[ius] v[otum] l[ibentes] p[osuerunt].
To the invincible Mithras, Statius Ursus and Statius Ursinus, father and son, took this vow willingly.

Mithraic exvoto of Dalmatia

D[eo] inv[icto] Mlithrael / L[ucius] Corn[elius] Apalaus/tus pro s[atute] M[arci] Vivi / Cresti amic[i] kariss[imi] / ex voto p[osuit].
To the invincible god Mithras, Lucius Cornelius Apalaustus, for the health of his dearest friend Marcus Vivius Crestus, placed [here] as a votive.

Altar of Senj made by the slave Hermes

I[nvicto] M[ithrae] / spelaeum cum / omne impen/sa Hermes C[aii] / Antoni[i] Rufi / praef[ecti] veh[iculorum] et / cond[uctoris] p[ublici] p[ortorii]/ ser[vus] vilic[us] Fortu/nat[us or -ianus] fecit.
To the invincible god Mithras, Hermes, estate manager and slave of Caius Antonius Rufus, prefect of roads and customs collector, [gave] the spelaeum, with all of the [related] expenses, [and] Fortunat[us or -ianus] made it.

Altar of Tihaljina

D[eo] I[nvicto] M[ithrae] a[c Ge]/niis sac[r[orum]] / Augusto[r[um]] / Rus[---] Pin[nes] mi/les / co[hortis] prim[ae] / Bel[garum] immunis / libens merito / posuit.
To the Unconquered God Mithras, [and to] the spirits of the sacred [emperors], Rusticus Pinnes, a soldier of the Cohors Prima Belgica, exempt from duties, willingly and deservedly set this up.

Tauroctony from Golubić

Aure/lius / Ma/ximus /Pant[a]die/[nus].

Altars of Jajce

Invi[cto].
Invincible.

Altar from Skelani by Hostilius

Tran[situi ?] / dei M[ithr[ae]] / Host[ilius[?]] / [.]oni[---].
To the transit of the god Mithras, Hostilius...

Tauroctony from Vratnitsa

L[ucius] Antonius Menander Aphro/disieus invicto / aug[usto] v[otum] f[ecit].

Altar with donor lists from Solin

[DD(ominis) nn(ostris) Dio]cletiano VIII et Maximiano VII Augg(ustis) co(n)ss(ulibus) // Aur(elio) Valen/tiniano v(iro) p(erfectissimo) bis pr(a)efect/o Kalendis Febr(uariis) mns/travimus at(!) Tritons / Aur(elius) Mercurius / Aur(elius) Secundinus / Aur(elius) Fortunius / Aur(elius) Severianus / Aur(elius) Sarmatio / Aur(elius) Antonius / Aur(elius) Ursus / Iul(ius) Secundus / Aur(elius) Uranius / Aur(elius) Fore(n)sis // DD(ominis) nn(ostris) Consta/ntino Aug(usto) V [et] [[[Li]cinio]] iuniore Caesare co(n)s(ulibus) / Aur(elio) Xen[o]ne bis // pr(a)efecto Kal(endis) Febr(u)ari(i)s / mnstrabimus(!) / at(!) Tritones / Aur(elius) Lucentius / Aur(elius) [---]ius / A[ur(elius) G]regorius / Aur(elius) [F]irminus / Aur(elius) Ma[rce]llinus / [Au]r(elius) Dalmatius / [---] Valentinus // Aur(elius) Vincentius / Aur(elius) Messor // [---]PECVS // [---]ORVS // Dominis nostris C[o]/nstantino Augusto / {s}et Constantino noi//[l]issimo Caesare / pr(a)efe{i}to Quin ili//o Faintilo at(!) Triton(es) / [K]alenis Febr(u)ariis / Aur(elius) Martinus / [A]ur(elius) Donatus / V[ari]us Terent(i)anus / Aur(elius) [S]tercorius / Aur(elius) Exuperius / Aur(elius) Terentianus / Aur(elius) Alexander / Aur(elius) (H)eracl(i)a[nus] / Aur(elius) Reditus // Aur(elius) Maurenu[s] / Aur(elius) Balbinu[s] // Aur(elius) Euticiu[s] // Aur(elius) Leuntiu[s] / Aur(elius) Senat[or] // Ministri ad Trit(ones) / Ael(ius) Valerianus / Varius Sabinus / Iulius Silvius / Aur(elius) Fortunius / Papirius Crescent(i---) / Claud(ius) Barbian(us) / Dirrut[ius] Crescent(i---) / Aelius Dalmat(ius) / ex permissu Noc/turni Novelli / patroni collegi(i) // fel(iciter).
Under our lords Diocletian, consul for the eighth time, and Maximian, consul for the seventh time. Under Aurelius Valentinianus, vir perfectissimus, prefect for the second time, on the Kalends of February, we served among the Tritones: Aurelius Mercurius, Aurelius Secundinus, Aurelius Fortunius, Aurelius Severianus, Aurelius Sarmatio, Aurelius Antonius, Aurelius Ursus, Julius Secundus, Aurelius Uranius, Aurelius Forensis.

Under our lords Constantine Augustus, consul for the fifth time, and Licinius Junior Caesar, consuls. Under Aurelius Xenon, prefect for the second time, on the Kalends of February, we served among the Tritones: Aurelius Lucentius, Aurelius [---]ius, Aurelius Gregorius, Aurelius Firminus, Aurelius Marcellinus, Aurelius Dalmatius, [---] Valentinus, Aurelius Vincentius, Aurelius Messor.

Under our lords Constantine Augustus and Constantine, most noble Caesar, under the prefect Quintilius Faintillus, among the Tritones, on the Kalends of February: Aurelius Martinus, Aurelius Donatus, Varius Terentianus, Aurelius Stercorius, Aurelius Exuperius, Aurelius Terentianus, Aurelius Alexander, Aurelius Heraclianus, Aurelius Reditus, Aurelius Maurenus, Aurelius Balbinus, Aurelius Euticius, Aurelius Leuntius, Aurelius Senator.

Ministers among the Tritones: Aelius Valerianus, Varius Sabinus, Julius Silvius, Aurelius Fortunius, Papirius Crescent[---], Claudius Barbianus, Dirrutius Crescent[---], Aelius Dalmatius, with the permission of Nocturnus Novellus, patron of the collegium. Happily accomplished.
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