Extraordinary archeological find: Archaeologists have discovered the remains of a Roman Mithras temple in Regensburg. This sanctuary of the still mysterious mystery cult dates from the beginning of the second century and is therefore the oldest known mithraeum in Bavaria – and the most important find of the last ten years from Roman Regensburg. Evidence of the cultic activities is provided by votive plates, fittings from a shrine and shards of vessels that were once used in the cult’s ritual banquets.
From the first century onwards, a new cult spread throughout the Roman Empire and especially in its border areas. At the center of this mystery cult was the god Mithras, who was also considered the ruler of the sun. However, the rituals of Mithraism were secret and the only male initiates were sworn to secrecy – similar to some Masonic lodges today. However, from illustrations in the Mithras shrines and from reports by Roman chroniclers who were not cult members themselves, it can be concluded that the worship of the god Mithras also included ritual feasts. These took place in the sanctuaries known as mithraea, which were mostly located in cellars and underground vaults. Several mithraea have already been found in southern Germany.
Remains of a Roman mithraeum in the old town
Now archaeologists in Regensburg have discovered the oldest Mithras sanctuary in Bavaria – by accident. The excavation in the old town of Regensburg was a common routine before construction work began. In the current case, the archaeologists led by Sabine Watzlawik from ArchäoTeam GmbH were supposed to ensure that no historical artifacts were destroyed during the construction of several new apartment buildings. In fact, the excavations uncovered traces of settlements from early history, the Roman period and the Middle Ages – this was entirely to be expected.
But when the archaeologists analyzed their finds more closely, something surprising emerged: the artifacts from Roman times suggested that there must have been a temple of Mithras at this location. The sanctuary itself was apparently built largely of wood, so little of the walls remain. Evidence of Mithraeum was provided by several votive plates and the fittings of a shrine. The team also discovered a fragment of a consecration stone with an inscription, which was severely eroded and therefore no longer decipherable. Even more significant were the shards of a ceramic pot with snake-shaped decorations, as well as incense goblets and jugs with handles. Such vessels were typical of the Mithras cult and its ritual feasts, as the archaeologists explain.
Close connection to the Roman Limes fort
The question of when this Mithras sanctuary was built and used was answered by several Roman coins discovered in the area. These came from the time of Emperor Hadrian, who reigned from 117 to 138. The archaeologists therefore suspect that the mithraeum belonged to a fort that was located in the southern part of today’s Regensburg. The Kumpfmühl cohort fort was part of the military bases along the Danube Limes in the Roman Empire. The chronology of the Mithraeum that has now been discovered fits with the fort that existed from 80 to 171 and also with the spread of the Mithraic cult in the Roman Empire, which reached its peak at the end of the second century.
The discovery of the Mithras sanctuary in Regensburg is one of the most important new discoveries about Roman Regensburg in the last ten years, according to a statement from the city of Regensburg. “The find is unique in two ways: On the one hand, the Regensburg Mithraeum is the first sanctuary from Roman times that was ever identified in the old town,” says Maximilian Ontrup, an expert in provincial Roman archeology at the Regensburg City Museums. “And nationally, it is the oldest of a total of nine that have been discovered in Bavaria so far.”
The Regensburg mithraeum and its inventory now provide further insights and knowledge into the still enigmatic Mithraic cult and its rituals. As part of a cooperation between the city of Regensburg and the Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation, the finds from the mithraeum are now being further examined and will then be exhibited in the Regensburg City Museum. “We will contextualize the finds, which initially seem unspectacular, and thereby make them speak,” says museum director Sebastian Karnatz. “The effort will be worth it: the finds from the Mithraeum will enrich the image of Roman Regensburg with an essential facet.”
Source: City of Regensburg