|
Introduction The forum Houses, workshops, baths The temple complex |
The curse tablets The mithraeum Burial places |
In 2015-2016 a mithraeum was discovered and excavated to the west of and just outside the settlement, close to the lake (nr. 15 on the overall plan). Three construction phases were identified, the second and third following a fire. From coins was deduced that the shrine was built not later than the late third century and used until around 400 AD. Next to the mithraeum three lime kilns were found.
Plan of the mithraeum and the lime kilns. Lo Russo et al. 2018, fig. 2.The mithraeum (8 m. wide, 10 m. deep) was partly hewn into the rock, as were the lime kilns. It had a central aisle flanked by podiums, reclining couches for the initiated. The finds were plentiful: more than 500 coins, animal bones (almost exclusively of poultry), 60 boars' tusks, beakers of soapstone and terracotta, clay balls with incised numbers (diameter 1.6-1.9 cm.), two arrowheads, two lanceheads, a knife, more than 50 rock crystal fragments and hundreds of crystal chips, eight altars of soapstone and sandstone (six with inscriptions), and two fragments of a relief of sandstone depicting Mithras wearing a Phrygian cap (not of the tauroctony, the killing of the bull, however). The final publication was in 2023 yet to appear.
[Deo] I[n]VICTO
AVRELIVS
[Pr]OCVLVS
[ce]NTVRIO
[leg(ionis)] III IT[al(icae) [---]For the invincible deity
Aurelius
Proculus,
centurio
of Legio III Italica [---]Altar of sandstone.
W. 0.53, h. 0.65, d. 0.32.
Kolb et al. 2022, nr. 407.
Photo: EDCS-83100080.
[Deo]
INVICTO
CL(audius) PAVLINVS
[p]RO SALVTE
SVA ET FILI(i)
SVI CL(audi) PEREGRI
NI EX VOTO
[s]VSCEPTO PO
[s]VIT V(otum) S(olvit) L(ibens) L(aetus) M(erito)For the invincible
deity
Claudius Paulinus,
for the well-being
of himself and his
son Claudius Peregrinus,
in pursuance
of a vow, placed this.
He fulfilled his vow gladly, happily, deservedly.Altar of sandstone.
W. 0.58, h. 1.10, d. 0.40.
Kolb et al. 2022, nr. 408.
Photo: EDCS-83100081.
D(---) D(---)
INVICTO
MIT(h)R(a)E
VIC(---) PRIVA
TVS EX VOTO
PO(s)VIT [p]RO SA
LVTE SVA L(ibens) L(aetus) M(erito) S(olvit)D(---) D(---)
For the invincible
Mithras
Vic(---) Privatus,
in pursuance of a vow,
placed this for his well-being.
He fulfilled his vow gladly, happily, deservedly.Small altar of soapstone.
W. 0.15, h. 0.23, d. 0.09.
Kolb et al. 2022, nr. 409.
Photo: EDCS-70900915.
Introduction
The forum
Houses, workshops, baths
The temple complexThe curse tablets
The mithraeum
Burial places
[16-Dec-2023]
