CIMRM 272 - Mithraeum of the "Planta Pedis". Ostia, Italy.
See also: CIMRM 272 Mithraeum; 273 Marble slab with inscription; 274 Tauroctony side-pieces; 275 Circular basin; 276 Fragmentary inscription; 277 Coin of Valerian.
CIMRM entry
272.
A Mithraeum (Reg. In, Is. XVII, 2) constructed in a building from the Hadrian period ("Mitreo della planta pedis"), situated near Horrea and a Serapeum.
Becatti, Mitrei Ostia, 77ff, fig. 18 and Pls. XV, XVI, 3. See fig. 80.
The part of the house transformed into a Mithraeum has two rows of three pillars, which divide the sanctuary into three sections. In the middle section runs a central-aisle between two small benches (H. 0.40 Br. 0.25), constructed against the pillars. In the right bench, before the middle pillar, is a small rectangular depression (L. 0.10) and in its base a niche (H. 0;35 Br. 0.42 D. 0.30) in which bones of fowls have been found. The niche in the opposite bench is deeper (D. 0.60 Br. 0.42). It seems that behind this bench a larger one extends in the left section (Br. 2.00) of the sanctuary. At the end of the r. bench an entrance (Br. 1.10) had been made in the side wall, the main entrance, however, was opposite the cult-niche (Br. 0.80). The niche had three levels: the first (H. 0.55 D. 0.75) is covered with black-white mosaic (five crosses between two squares); the second level (H. 0.25 D. 0.50) had a marble revetment; the third (H. 0.44 D. 0.70) had a small rectangular brick base.
A base is (H. 0.50--0.60 Br. 0.30) on either side before the niche, probably for statues of the torchbearers (lost). Between them is a marble altar (H. 1.00 Br. 0.34 D. 0.30) in the top of which is a depression.
The floor of the central-aisle has a mosaic decoration, existing of a small black line approximately in the centre of the sanctuary. Near this band there is the representation of a serpent (L. 1.00), whereas near the entrance a foot is visible. The original floor of the Mithraeum, however, had only a simple pavement of cocciopisto and in it on the same place a footmark was imprinted. (Becatti, Pl. XVI, 1).
External links
- Ostia Antica website article - excellent.
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