CIMRM 1487 - Mithraeum I. Poetovio / Pettau / Ptuj, Slovenia

The town was called Poetovio in antiquity, Pettau while under German control, and today Ptuj.

CIMRM entry

1487 In Ptuj, in Spodnja Hajdina (formerly Pettau, Unter Haidin) on the right bank of the Drave (Drau) Mithraeum I was discovered by W. Gurlitt in 1898-1899. Gurlitt in JOAI II 1899 (Beiblatt) 87ff; MCC 1900, 91ff; Abramic, Führer P., 162ff; Saria, Karte Ptuj, 56ff; AIJ I, 133ff. See fig. 378 from Abramic, fig. 115 and Gurlitt in MCC, 91. I am greatly obliged to the Director of the Archaeological Museum in Ptuj, Mr. Dr Fr. Gumilar and to the Keeper Miss Bernardina Perc for the great hospitality they offered me. They gave me an opportunity to study all the Mithraic monuments and to take photographs of them. In this way I have been enabled to publish many hitherto unknown monuments as well. The entrance to the sanctuary is situated on the east side. Behind a vestibulum (L. 180) is the sanctuary (L. 5.70 Br. 5.70) which had been given a grotto-like appearance by means of entwined branches and lime. The greater part of the vestibulum must have been of wood. The sanctuary had the normal division into a corridor (Br. 2.30-2.50) and the benches (H. 0.50-0.58 Br. 1.70). The cult-niche has been almost entirely destroyed. The large relief (now lost) rested against the backwall upon a projecting border which on its frontside was decorated with stucco (there are yet traces of blue painting). The floor consists of a layer of hard loam and near the altar and in the vestibulum of pebble. All finds are in the Mithraeum.