CIMRM 1767 - Aquincum IV: Mithraeum of Symphorus and Marcus. Hungary.

The "Mithraeum of Symphorus and Marcus" is Mithraeum IV at Aquincum, so called from the inscription on the base of the cult statue (CIMRM 1768, 1769). The Mithraeum is directly opposite the museum on the site.¹

In 2017 the site was reexcavated: the museum account tweeted: "Excavation has begun in advance of reconstructing the Symphorus Mithraeum, during which the rest of the earlier temple will come to surface."

CIMRM entry

AQUINCUM IV 1767. A Mithraeum discovered near the southern town-wall between a rectangular building and a building with an apse. The New PallasAJA 1943,238; G. Libertini in Romana VII, 1943, 299ff; T. Nagy in BPR XIII, 1943, 384ff; 537ff and plan; Szilagyi, 89 and fig. 13 gives a reconstruction of ]. Schauschek (See fig. 458); BpTört. II, Pl. LXXXIV, 1; AErt 76, 1949, Pl. XXXVIII. See fig. 459. The entrance of the Mithraeum (L. 17.00 Br. 9.00) is on the east side. Before the sanctuary proper are two smaller rooms, the pronaos and the apparatorium. The temple is divided into a central aisle and two benches, extending to the back wall. Before this wall an elevation (Br. 2.00 D. 0.40) with a niche. At the southern side of the apparatorium is another room (L. 7.90 Br. 5.90). Some fragments of line painting were found but no sculptures. On the foundations of this first-period Mithraeum new slightly changed sanctuary was built. The pronaos and the apparatorium were made into one large room and the cult-room proper was enlarged as well. The two benches now ended at a distance of two mtrs from the back wall. The walls of the benches and of the sanctuary were painted and a new stuccoed cult-niche with a cult-statue was erected. The room on the south side was renewed. The finds are in the National Museum at Budapest, but as there has not yet been a definite publication, I cannot go into further details.

External links

• Article in Hungarian on the Mithraeum.
• Excellent article with photographs by Csabo Szaba including the frescos, terracotta tauroctony, etc.