Mithras in Thracia

Mithraeum of Sofia

The Mithraeum of Serdica was found in the fortified area of the ancient city of Serdica, now Sofia, Bulgaria.

CIMRM 2322

Tauroctony from Plovdiv

This Mithraic relief of the Danubian type was found in 1940 in the old town of Plovdiv.

CIMRM 2338

Frontal tauroctony relief from Gaganica

Rough relief from Gaganica, Thracia, depicting Mithras as bull-slayer in an unusual frontal attitude, wearing only a shoulder-cape and holding the dagger upwards; with dog, serpent, scorpion, and a non-cross-legged Cautes.

CIMRM 2327

Tauroctony from Gérman

This very fine relief of Mithras killing the bull was discovered in 2014 in Germán, near Sofia, Bulgaria, and is now housed in the Sofia History Museum.

Tauroctony lower panel from Sinitovo

Lower part of a marble tauroctony relief from Sinitovo, Thracia, found walled into a well, depicting the lower portion of the bull-slaying scene; the Greek inscription in the lower border records a thanksgiving to Helios Mithras invictos.

CIMRM 2334

Tauroctony relief from Bessapara

Marble tauroctony relief from Elli Dere near Tatar-Bazardjik, ancient Bessapara in Thracia, with the upper part broken off; the lower portion preserves the standard bull-slaying scene.

CIMRM 2331

Tauroctony relief from Serdica

White marble tauroctony relief from Sofia, ancient Serdica in Thracia, found near the Church of St. Kral, depicting the standard bull-slaying with the full iconographic programme.

CIMRM 2320

Three-part tauroctony from Serdica

Arched marble tauroctony relief in two fragments from Sofia, ancient Serdica in Thracia, divided into three parts, with Mithras killing the bull in the centre and subsidiary scenes on either side; the weathered surface limits identification.

CIMRM 2325

Two-register tauroctony from Philippopolis

Small arched marble tauroctony relief from Philippovtsi near Sofia, Thracia, divided into two parts by a horizontal rim.

CIMRM 2332

Architectural remains and coins from Serdica

Architectural and numismatic finds from the Mithraeum at Serdica, Thracia, comprising a door cornice, a capital fragment, two pilaster pieces, a stone water-basin, and two coins of Arcadius deposited when the sanctuary was reused as a cellar.

CIMRM 2324

Cautopates relief from Debeli-Lak

Marble relief fragment from near Debeli-Lak, Thracia, depicting Cautopates in Oriental dress holding the torch downwards with both hands, not cross-legged; head, shoulder, and feet are lost.

CIMRM 2317

Cryptic marble plate from Serdica

Marble plate from the Mithraeum at Serdica, Thracia, bearing a cryptic inscription whose letter sequence has not been satisfactorily explained.

CIMRM 2323

Thracia

Thracia connected the Balkan world to the northern Aegean through military movement, trade routes and provincial urban centres.

Bessapara

Bessapara occupied an important position along the communications routes linking Thrace with the interior Balkans.

Constantinopolis

Founded on the site of ancient Byzantium and refounded in 330 CE, Constantinopolis became an imperial residence in the eastern Roman Empire. In the 4th century, it was a key setting for interaction between traditional cults and Christian authority.

Debeli-Lak

The locality of Debeli-Lak belongs to the mountainous settlement landscape of ancient Thrace.

Dolna-Malina

Dolna-Malina lies within the inland territory historically associated with Roman Thrace.

Dolni Vadin

Dolni Vadin occupies a position near the Danubian frontier zone of northern Thrace.

Gaganica

Gaganica belongs to the inland communications landscape of Roman Thrace.

Iarlovtsi

Iarlovtsi lies within the western Bulgarian region historically associated with Roman Thrace.

Kabyle

Kabyle became one of the principal urban centres of inland Thrace during the Roman period.

Kurtowo-Konare

Kurtowo-Konare belongs to the Thracian plain region associated with Roman settlement activity.

Philippopolis

Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria, standing on the banks of the Maritsa river in the historical region of Thrace, behind the state capital Sofia.

Radomir

Radomir lies within the western Balkan territory historically connected with Roman Thrace.

Serdica

Serdika or Serdica is the historical Roman name of Sofia, now the capital of Bulgaria. Currently, Serdika is the name of a district located in the city.