- Savaria Mithraeum
Savaria Mithraeum was the shrine of
Mithras in the Roman town ofSavaria (now Szombarhely,Hungary ) which was discovered in2008 .History
The cult of Mithras was popular in the
Roman province ofPannonia . Archeological evidences proved its presence inAquincum ,Fertőrákos andSárkeszi but its popularity in Savaria, the capital ofPannonia Prima was only proved in 2008 when amithraeum was unearthed in the vicinity of the most important surviving Roman monument of the town, the shrine ofIsis .The Savaria Mithraeum was used until the
4th century when it was burned down and collapsed. The mithraeum was discovered during the building works of a newshopping center in 2008. The remains were excavated by local archeologists who claimed that the discovery is of European importance. The ruins will be preserved in the basement of the new plaza. Many other finds were unearthed in the area like an intact Roman cellar and a 3 m wide, stone waterdrain that was repaired in the 19th century.Remains
Two stone altars were uncovered which were decorated with scenes from the life of Mithras in reliefs and had dedicative inscriptions. The inner room and the narthex of the shrine was decorated with wall paintings. The frescoes are being restored by experts from the collected fragments. Their design were geometric with some figurative scenes. The ceiling was coffered. The ancient painters used expensive pigments like
Egyptian Blue andvermilion . There were stone benches along the walls in the inner room.References
* [http://www.kultura.hu/main.php?folderID=959&articleID=270982&ctag=articlelist&iid=1]
*Pictures from the excavation [http://www.szombathely.hu/hu/aktualis/hirek/5145+mithras+szentelyt+talaltak+a+magellan+centernel+europai+jelentosegu+regeszeti+felfedezes]
* [http://www.vasnepe.hu/kultura_nap_temaja/20080704_a_titokzatos_mithras_kultusz]
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