The Mithraic evidence documented in Roman Gallia reflects the strong implantation of the cult across urban centres, military environments and major communication routes linking the Rhine frontier to the interior of Gaul. The region preserves a particularly rich body of monuments, inscriptions and mithraea illustrating the western development of Mithraic communities.
Mithraic monuments of Gallia
Mithras rock-birth of Trier
The relief depicts the birth of Mithras, holding a globe, surrounded by the zodiac.
CIMRM 985
Mithraeum of Tienen
The temple contained hundreds of ceramic vessels and animal bones, which may indicated that a grand Mithraic feast was celebrated before its closing.
Mithréum de Bordeaux
C’est en 1986, à l’occasion de la restructuration de l’ancien magasin Parunis, qu’une fouille de sauvetage archéologique fut réalisée cours Victor Hugo.
Mithréum de Septeuil
In the second half of the 4th century, a Mithraic temple was established within an earlier spring sanctuary at Septeuil, where the cult of the nymphs and Mithraic practices appear to have coexisted.
Mithréum de Bourg-Saint-Andéol
The Mithréum de Bourg-Saint-Andéol was built against a rock where the main Tauroctony was chiseled.
CIMRM 895
Terra sigillata bowl depicting the Mithraic cult meal from Trier
This terra sigillata was found in 1926 in a grave on the Roman cemetery of St. Matthias, Trier. An eyelet indicates that it could have been hung on a wall.
CIMRM 988
Mithräum von Saarbrücken
The Mithraeum in Halberg hill, near Saarbrücken, is one of the oldest historical places in the area.
CIMRM 1001
Cautes from Les Bolards
This monument representing Cautes with uncrossed legs was consecrated by a certain Anttiocus.
CIMRM 918
Tauroctony from Sarrebourg
The Tauroctony of Saarbourg (Sarrebourg, ancient Pons Sarravi), France, contains most of Mithras deeds known in a single relief.
CIMRM 966
Mithréum des Bolards
The Mithraeum des Bolards was integrated into a therapeutic cultural complex related to healing waters.
CIMRM 917
Aion altar of Bordeaux
The altar depicting a lion-headed figure from Bordeaux includes a sculpted ewer and a patera on the sides.
Mithréum d’Angers
The Mithraeum of Angers, excavated during a preventive operation and subsequently dismantled in 2010, yielded numerous objects, including coins, oil lamps, and a ceramic vessel bearing a votive inscription to the invincible god Mithras.
Brothers attested in Gallia
Provinces of Gallia
Aquitania
In Aquitania, Mithraic evidence reflects the western expansion of the cult beyond the principal Rhine and Rhône corridors.
Belgica
Belgica occupied a strategic position between Roman Gaul, the Rhine frontier and the northern provinces where Mithraic cults circulated widely.
Lugdunensis
Lugdunensis formed part of the urban and administrative core of Roman Gaul, where Mithraic cults circulated through major civic centres.
Narbonensis
Narbonensis connected Roman Gaul to the Mediterranean world through some of the oldest urban and maritime networks of the western empire.
Places in Gallia
Angleur
Angleur lies in the Meuse basin region and has produced archaeological material linked to the Roman period.
Apta Julia
Apt is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
Aquae Sextiae
Aix-en-Provence or simply Aix, is a city and commune in southern France, about 30 km north of Marseille.
Arelate
The Romans took Arelate from the Ligurians in 123 BC and made it an important city by building a canal towards the Mediterranean. Present-day Arles has preserved many Roman buildings.
Arverni
Arverni refers to the territory of the Arverni in central Gaul, centred on the region of modern Clermont-Ferrand.
Augusta Treverorum
Augusta Treverorum, today's Trier in Rhineland-Palatinate, is considered to be the oldest city in Germany.
Bergoiata
Bourg-Saint-Andéol is a commune in the Ardèche department in the Rhône Valley in southern France.
Burdigala
Around 300 BC, Burdigala was the settlement of a Celtic tribe, the Bituriges Vivisci. The Romans conquered the area in 60 BC and made Burdigala the capital of the Roman province of Aquitania during the reign of Emperor Vespasian.
Colonia Iulia Vienna
The city of Vienna, modern Vienne, became one of the principal urban centres of Roman Gaul along the Rhône corridor.
Inscriptions from Gallia
Cautes from Les Bolards
Tauroctony from Sarrebourg
Mithréum de Vienne
Funerary urn of Chyndonax
Relief de Bourg-Saint-Andéol
Inscriptions of Eauze
V/ervi/cius Eutyc/hes pa/ter.
Vervicius Eutyches, Pater.
Altar with Phrygian cap from Altbachtal
Inscription of Secundinus of Lyon
Cautes and Cautopates of Sarrebourg
Altar of Firmidius Severinus from Geneva
Altar with Sol’s head from Altbachtal
Goblet from Angers
]s Genialis ciues Ambian[in]us [or Ambian[ic]us] exuoto d[edit
frat]ribus, omni loco, [ N]ama!.
References
- David Walsh (2018) The Cult of Mithras in Late Antiquity. Development, Decline and Demise ca. A.D. 270-430
- Jaime Alvar Ezquerra (2021) The Mystery of Mithras. Exploring the heart of a Roman cult
- Jean-Baptiste Félix Lajard (1843) Mémoire sur un bas-relief mithriaque, qui a été découvert à Vienne (Isère)
- Maarten Jozef Vermaseren (1960) Mithra, ce dieu mystérieux
- Philippe Roy (2021) Les cultes de Mithra dans l’Empire romain
- Robert Turcan (1975) Mithras platonicus. Recherches sur l'hellénisation philosophique de Mithra
- V. J. Walters (1974) The Cult of Mithras in the Roman Provinces of Gaul











