mithraea
E725516
Mithraea are small, cave-like temples used in the Roman mystery cult of Mithras for secretive initiation rites and communal worship.
All labels observed (1)
| Label | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| mithraea canonical | 1 |
Statements (49)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
religious building type
ⓘ
temple type ⓘ |
| access | restricted to initiates ⓘ |
| archaeologicalEvidence |
inscriptions
ⓘ
sculptures ⓘ wall paintings ⓘ |
| architecturalForm |
cave-like structure
ⓘ
rectangular hall ⓘ subterranean sanctuary ⓘ |
| associatedWith |
Roman soldiers
ⓘ
imperial slaves and freedmen ⓘ merchants ⓘ |
| capacity | small congregations ⓘ |
| construction |
often built underground
ⓘ
sometimes created by adapting existing rooms or cellars ⓘ |
| culture | Ancient Roman religion ⓘ |
| declineCause | Christianization of the Roman Empire NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| distribution |
Eastern Roman Empire
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Western Roman Empire NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| feature |
altar at the end opposite the entrance
ⓘ
iconographic program depicting Mithraic grades and symbols ⓘ lamp niches ⓘ low vaulted ceiling ⓘ narrow central aisle ⓘ niche for cult image ⓘ raised benches along the sides ⓘ ritual basins or fonts ⓘ tauroctony relief of Mithras slaying the bull ⓘ |
| floruit |
2nd century CE
ⓘ
3rd century CE ⓘ |
| notableExampleLocation |
Dura-Europos
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
London NERFINISHED ⓘ Ostia NERFINISHED ⓘ Rome NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| religion | Mithraism NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| ritualPractice |
graded initiation system
ⓘ
oath-taking ceremonies ⓘ shared ritual meals ⓘ |
| symbolism |
evocation of a cave where Mithras killed the bull
ⓘ
representation of the cosmos ⓘ |
| timePeriod | 1st century CE to 4th century CE ⓘ |
| typicalLocation |
Roman Empire
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
military forts ⓘ ports and trade centers ⓘ urban areas of Roman cities ⓘ |
| usedFor |
communal meals
ⓘ
initiation rites ⓘ mystery cult rituals ⓘ worship of Mithras ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.