Mithraeum

Mithraeum
A Mithraeum (or the plural Mithraea) is a place of worship for the followers of the mystery religion of Mithraism. The Mithraeum was either an adapted natural cave or cavern, or a building imitating a cave. When possible, the Mithraeum was constructed within or below an existing building, such as the Mithraeum found beneath Basilica of San Clemente in Rome. While a majority of Mithraea are underground, some feature open holes in the ceiling to allow some light in, perhaps to relate to the connection of the universe and the passing of time. The site of a Mithraeum may also be identified by its singular entrance or vestibule, which stands opposite from an apse-shaped wall in which a pedestal altar at the back stood, often in a recess. Also its "cave", called the Spelaeum or Spelunca, with raised benches along the side walls for the ritual meal. Many mithraea that follow this basic plan are scattered over much of the Roman Empire's former territory, particularly where the legions were stationed along the frontiers (such as Britain). Others may be recognized by their characteristic layout, even though converted as crypts beneath Christian churches. From the structure of the Mithraea it is possible to surmise that worshippers would have gathered for a common meal along the reclining couches lining the walls. Finally, the ubiquity of the Mithraeums distinctive banqueting benches implies the ubiquity of the cult meal as the liturgie ordinaire.[1] The Mithraeum primarily functioned as an area for initiation, in which the soul descends and exits. The Mithraeum itself was arranged as an "image of the universe". It is noticed by some researchers that this movement, especially in the context of mithraic iconography (see below), seems to stem from the neoplatonic concept that the "running" of the sun from solstice to solstice is a parallel for the movement of the soul through the universe, from pre-existence, into the body, and then beyond the physical body into an afterlife.

A mithraeum found in the ruins of Ostia Antica, Italy

How a modern history theme park imagines a mithraeum: Museum Orientalis in the Netherlands

Finds from a mithraeum in Stockstadt, Germany

Similarly, the Persians call the place a cave where they introduce an initiate to the Mysteries, revealing to him the path by which souls descend and go back again. For Eubulus tells us that Zoroaster was the first to dedicate a natural cave in honour of Mithras, the creator and father of all this cave bore for him the image of the cosmos which Mithras had created, and the things which the cave contained, by their proportionate arrangement, provided him with symbols of the elements and climates of the cosmos [trans. Arethusa edition][1]

Mithraeum

Most Mithraea can be dated between 100 B.C. and 300 A.D., mostly in the Roman Empire.

Notable mithraea
France Angers Biesheim
A mithraeum found in the German city of Saarbrcken

Mackwiller Sarrebourg Strasbourg (district of Knigshoffen) Germany Cologne Dieburg/Darmstadt Frankfurt-Heddernheim Freiburg im Breisgau, mithraeum relics from Riegel displayed in Freiburg museum Gimmeldingen, Mithras-Heiligtum Gimmeldingen Sehenswertes (German language) [2] Gglingen Hanau Heidelberg, Kurpflzisches Museum Knigsbrunn (near Augsburg) Mainz, Consecration Altars of the Mithraeum Mogontiacum Neuss (Legionslager Castra Novaesia) Osterburken Riegel am Kaiserstuhl[3] (near Freiburg im Breisgau) Saalburg Saarbrcken Schwarzerden Wiesloch

Hungary Aquincum Mithraeum (of Victorinus). Remains open within Aquincum Archaeological Park. Savaria Mithraeum. Fertorakos Mithraeum. Israel Caesarea Maritima, City of Herods. Old Caesarea Roman Mithraeum. Italy In the city of Rome: Mithraeum of the Circus Maximus. Remains open by appointment. Barberini Mithraeum. remains open by appointment. Mithraeum of San Clemente, under the basilica of San Clemente. Remains visible in archaeological museum. Mithraeum of the Baths of Caracalla. Remains open by appointment.

Mithraeum Castra Peregrinorum mithraeum, under the church of Santo Stefano Rotondo. Remains open by appointment. Mithraeum under the Santa Prisca basilica. Remains open by appointment. In Campania: Mithraeum of Santa Maria Capua Vetere Mithraeum of Naples Romania A reconstructed Mithraeum in the Brukenthal Museum's Lapidarium, with some of the items unearthed at Apulum (Alba Iulia). Spain Roman Ville of Fuente lamo's Mithraeum (Puente Genil). Switzerland Martigny (ancient Octodurus) - a reconstructed Mithraeum [4] Syria Duro-Europos - Transported to and rebuilt at Yale University's Gallery of Fine Arts. United Kingdom Caernarfon Mithraeum, Wales. Carrawburgh, Hadrian's Wall, England. Remains open. London Mithraeum, England. Remains open.

External links
List of mithraea [5] from Mithraeum.eu
[1] [Ritual, Myth, Doctrine, and Initiation in the Mysteries of Mithras: New Evidence from a Cult Vessel Roger Beck The Journal of Roman Studies , Vol. 90, (2000), pp. 145-180 Published by: Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies Article Stable URL: http:/ / www. jstor. org/ stable/ 300205], additional text], [2] http:/ / www. gimmeldingen. de/ ?q=node/ 6 [3] http:/ / www. kaiserstuhl. eu/ Orte/ Riegel/ mithras-kult. htm [4] http:/ / www. martigny. ch/ pagetype. cfm?page=pages/ en/ culture_archeologie. cfm& sousmenuId=32& section=5 [5] http:/ / www. mithraeum. eu/ monumentae. php?tid=1

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Article Sources and Contributors

Mithraeum Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=529953548 Contributors: Andypeg123, Big Brother 1984, Carmentis, D6, DanielCD, Emarsee, Ev, Fennessy, Filos96, Gekritzl, Indiansummermh, Kelisi, Kormin, Lfh, LilHelpa, Lumpeseggl, Lysy, Mani1, MeltBanana, Menibbles, MetaManFromTomorrow, Mr pand, Neddyseagoon, Nedrutland, RCS, Robert Prummel, Roger Pearse, SJayFairbanks, Symposiarch, The Topher, Vegaswikian, Wetman, Zello, Ziko, , 19 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

Image:Ostia Antica Mithraeum.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Ostia_Antica_Mithraeum.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Michelle Touton (Ailurophyle) File:MPO mithras-heiligdom.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:MPO_mithras-heiligdom.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0,2.5,2.0,1.0 Contributors: Ziko File:Saalburgmuseum Funde Mithraeum Stockstadt.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Saalburgmuseum_Funde_Mithraeum_Stockstadt.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0,2.5,2.0,1.0 Contributors: Haselburg-mller File:Mithrasgrotte Halberg Saarbruecken.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Mithrasgrotte_Halberg_Saarbruecken.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: Anna16

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