Aquincum Mithraeum (of Victorinus)

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Aquincum Mithraeum (of Victorinus)

. Temple to the Roman god Mithras. The temple (known as a mithraeum

Mithraeum

Mithraeum is a place of worship for the followers of the mystery religion of Mithraism. They were often constructed underground or in a cave to resemble the cave where Mithras is said to have slain the sacred bull ....
) was built within a townhouse in the Roman city of Aquincum

Aquincum

The ancient city of Aquincum was situated on the North-Eastern borders of the Pannonia province within the Roman Empire. The ruins of the city can be found today in Budapest, capital city of Hungary....
, on the outskirts of the modern city of Budapest

Budapest

Budapest is the Capitals of Hungary of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it serves as the country's principal political, cultural, commerce, Industry, and transportation center and is considered an important hub in Central Europe....
, Hungary

Hungary

Hungary , officially in English the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in the Carpathian Basin of Central Europe, bordered by Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia....
.

shrine was orientated north to south and measured 7m wide by 15.03m long.

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. Temple to the Roman god Mithras. The temple (known as a mithraeum

Mithraeum

Aquincum

Budapest

Hungary

The mithraeum.

The temple was discovered during excavations in 1888 within what appeared to be a large house near to the centre of the Roman city. Due to the size of the house and the importance of its location it must have belonged to an important individual and this must certainly be the decurion

Decurion

A decurion may refer to:* A Decurion in the Roman infantry or cavalry* A Decurion ...
Marcus Antonius Victorinus who dedicated a number of small altars within the sanctuary. The shrine was orientated north to south and measured 7m wide by 15.03m long. The interior was divided up into three parts- two ante rooms and the sanctuary proper. The front room (Room A: 4.75 x 2.90m)is postulated by the excavators as a Shrine of Mercury

Mercury (mythology)

In Roman mythology, Mercury was a messenger, and a god of trade, profit and commerce, the son of Maia Maiestas, also known as Ops, the Roman version of Cronus, and Jupiter ....
. A room (Room B: 0.85x2.90m) was located on the west side and is of uncertain purpose. The middle room (Room C: 5.90x3m) probably served as a narthex

Narthex

The narthex of a Church is the entrance or lobby area, located at the end of the nave, at the far end from the church's main altar. Traditionally the narthex was a part of the church building, but was not considered part of the church proper....
. The main part of the shrine was divided into three lateral parts, typical of all mithraea. A central nave

Nave

In Romanesque architecture and Gothic architecture Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and Church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar....
about 2.18m wide and 1 meter below ground level was flanked on either side by podium benches for the initiates to recline on during the ceremonies (see Mithraic worship). Steps lead down to the lower floor level of the nave

Nave

In Romanesque architecture and Gothic architecture Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and Church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar....
directly from the entrance and the higher benches were accessed by single steps on either side of the bottom nave step. Along the front of the benches, and slightly recessed into them, were placed a pair of small altars (H 0.65 Br. 0.30m) all dedicated by Marcus Antoninus Victorinus.

Sculptural and epigraphic evidence.

Limestone relief (H 0.98. Br 0.55m) depicting Mithras' rockbirth. Mithras, naked and emerging from the rock to mid-thigh, holds a burning torch in his upraised left hand and a dagger in his right. The rock is encircled by a serpant who raises its head towards the god.

DEO CAUTI / M ANT(onius) VIC/TORINUS / DEC(urio) COL(oniae) / AQ(uninci) AEDILIS.

To Cautes (see Cautes and Cautopates

Cautes and Cautopates

Cautes and Cautopates are the two attendants of Mithras in the ancient Roman cult of Mithraism. Because Mithras represents the sun Cautes and Cautopates represent the stations of sunrise and sunset respectively....
). Marcus Antonius Victorinus, Decurion of the colony of Aquincum. Aedile
Aedile

Aedile was an office of the Roman Republic. Based in Rome, the aediles were responsible for maintenance of public buildings and regulation of public festivals....
.

As above though to DEO CAU/TOPATI / To Cautopates... (See Cautes and Cautopates
Cautes and Cautopates

Cautes and Cautopates are the two attendants of Mithras in the ancient Roman cult of Mithraism. Because Mithras represents the sun Cautes and Cautopates represent the stations of sunrise and sunset respectively....
).

FONTI / PERENNI / M ANT(onius) / VICTORI/NUS DEC(urio) / COL(oniae) AQ(uinci) / AED(ilis).

To the lasting spring. Marcus Antonius Victorinus, Decurion of the colony of Aquincum. Aedile
Aedile

Aedile was an office of the Roman Republic. Based in Rome, the aediles were responsible for maintenance of public buildings and regulation of public festivals....
.

A fragment of the tauroctony
Tauroctony

A tauroctony is an artistic depiction of the mythic hero and ancient religious savior Mithras engaged in the ritual slaying of a bull. The literal act of sacrifice is known as taurobolium....
(the main cult image) was found in the excavations and would have stood on the large stone base at the end (south) wall of the temple cella
Cella

A cella or naos , is the inner chamber of a temple in classical architecture, or a shop facing the street in domestic Roman architecture ....
.

The mithraeum today.

The shrine is fully accessible within the Aquincum

Aquincum

Aquincum Museum

The Aquincum Museum is a museum in Budapest, Hungary. Archeological findings from the remains of Aquincum are on display there. It has an indoor and outdoor part....
building. The remains have been heavily restored and consolidated for display. The tauroctony

Tauroctony

A tauroctony is an artistic depiction of the mythic hero and ancient religious savior Mithras engaged in the ritual slaying of a bull. The literal act of sacrifice is known as taurobolium....
fragment and the altar are located in the eastern wing of the Lapidarium

Lapidarium

Lapidarium is a place where stone monuments and fragments of archaeology interest are exhibited - stone epigraphs, statues, architectural details like columns, cornices and acroterions, as well as tombstones and sarcophagus....
situated at the northern edge of the Archaeological Park. The Victorinus altars are the originals in situ.