CIMRM Supplement - Mithraeum. Marino, Italy.

A Mithraeum was discovered in 1963 in the village of Marino in the Alban mountains south of Rome, near the ancient Castrimoenium. It has been dated on stylistic grounds to 160-170 AD,1 but Vermaseren dates it rather to the Severian period, to ca. 200 AD.2

A long narrow corridor, with the entrance at the western end, leads into the cave, at the eastern end of which is a large painted depiction of Mithras killing the bull, with side panels. The Mithraeum has the usual benches on either side, and an altar in front of the cult relief.

The benefactors of this Mithraic community appear to have been Alfius Severus and his actor Cresces, who are named in an inscription. Cresces therefore is a private administrator, probably a slave of the more important Severus, whose name in the altar is written as Seberus.

1. Description

Vermaseren describes the find as follows (p.4-11):

Coordinates: 41° 45' 44" N, 12° 38' 39" E / 41.7667° N 12.6667 ° E.3

2. Large image of tauroctony

From: here.

3. Gallery of painted images

A gallery of large images from here, which apparently all come from Carlo Pavia, Roma Mitraica, Carlo Lorenzini Editiore, 1986.

Number of entries: 13

4. Gallery of photographs by Csaba Szabo

These appear by permission from here, the June 2016 visit by Csaba Szabo.

Number of entries: 20

5. Bibliography

  • M.J. Vermaseren, Mithriaca III: The Mithraeum at Marino, EPRO 16, Brill, 1982. 105p. + pl. I-XXXII. ISBN: 978 9004065 00 0 Google Books preview here.

1Vermaseren, p.19.
2P.45.
3These were supplied by John W. Brandt.

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