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Mithras in Gallia

Roman Gallia preserves one of the largest and most geographically diverse corpora of Mithraic evidence in the western empire.

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

See all Mithraic monuments 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

 

Alesia

Alesia became famous as the site of Caesar’s decisive siege during the Gallic Wars.

 

Angleur

Angleur lies in the Meuse basin region and has produced archaeological material linked to the Roman period.

 

Apta Iulia

Apta Iulia was a Roman town in Narbonensis, today Apt in southern France.

 

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.

 

Deneuvre

Deneuvre is associated with archaeological discoveries from Roman Gaul.

See all Mithraic sites in Gallia

Inscriptions from Gallia

Tauroctony from Sarrebourg

In h[onorem] d[omus] d[ivinae] deo inv[ict]o Marceleus Marianus / d[e] / s[uo] p[osuit].
In honour of the divine house, Marceleus Marianus set [this] up to the god Invictus at his own expense.

Inscriptions of Eauze

Deo Invict[o] / Sex[tus] Vervic[ius] / Eutyches / vestiar[ius] civ[is] / Trev[er] pater.

V/ervi/cius Eutyc/hes pa/ter.
To the Unconquered God, Sextus Vervicius Eutyches, textile merchant, citizen of Treveri, and Father.

Vervicius Eutyches, Pater.

Cautes from Les Bolards

L[ibens] l[aetus] Antti/ocus [sic] d[e] s[uo] d[edit].
Of his own free will, with joy, Anttiocus, at his own expense, offered.

Mithréum de Vienne

Deo Cau/te.
God Cautes.

Inscription of Secundinus of Lyon

Deo invicto / Mithr[ae] / Secundinus dat.
To the unconquered god Mithras, Secundinus gives [it].

Altar with Phrygian cap from Altbachtal

D[eo] I[nvicto] M[ithrae] / Martius / Martia/lis pater / in suo / posuit.
To the invincible god Mithras, Martius Martialis, Pater, in his domain, has deposited.

Cautes and Cautopates of Sarrebourg

ar / ... marli ... Marc/ellius Maria[nu]s de / suo posuit.
[— ar / … marli …] Marcellius Marianus set [this] up at his own expense.

Altar of Firmidius Severinus from Geneva

Deo invicto / genio loci / Firmidius Se/verinus mi[les] /leg[ionis] VIII aug[ustae] p[iae] f[idelis] / c[onstantis] C[ommodae] stip[endiorum] XXVI aram / ex voto pro salute / sua v[otum] s[olvit] l[ibens] m[erito]. Posita / Muciano et Fabiano co[n]s[ulibus].
Firmidius Severinus, a soldier of the 8th legion of Augustus, pious and loyal to Commodus, erected this altar to the invincible god and genius of this place for his salvation after 26 years of service, following a vow he willingly fulfilled. During the consulate of Mucianus and Fabianus.

Funerary urn of Chyndonax

Μίθρης εν οργάδ[ι] χώμα το σώμα καλύπτει Χννδόνακτος ίερεω[ς] αρχηγού, δνσεβ[ίας] απέχον λύσι[ον] οίκον ὁρώ[ν].
Here, in the sacred land of Mithras, a mound covers the body of Chyndonax, high priest. Refrain from impiety at the sight of his redemptive tomb.

Relief de Bourg-Saint-Andéol

Num[ini] . . . . V . . | deum Invictum | T Fur[ius] Iu[stus?] d[e] s[ua] p[ecunia] f[ecit].
To the numina of Augustus. Titus Aurelius… has made this at his own expense.

Tauroctony from La Bâtie-Montsaléon

[Deo Soli in]victo M. Iulius Maternia/[n]us ex voto.

Goblet from Angers

---]M [---]Deo[ inuic]to Mytrh[ae
]s Genialis ciues Ambian[in]us [or Ambian[ic]us] exuoto d[edit
frat]ribus, omni loco, [ N]ama!.
--- To the unconquered god Mytrha, [...]s [? son of] Genialis, Ambian citizen, gave in accordance with his vow, for his brethren[, ] in all places [...]. Glory!.

See all Mithraicinscriptions from Gallia

References

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