CIMRM Supplement - Mithraeum. Riegel, nr. Frieburg in Brisgau, Germany.

Riegel am Kaiserstuhl was the site of a Roman garrison at the junction of two important routes. A Mithraeum was built here during the second half of the second century AD.¹ It was built of timber on sandstone foundations. The cult relief is missing, but an altar indicates the function. Some interesting small finds were also found:

Re: feasting: "The finest collection of crockery yet found is that from the mithraeum in the Üsenbergstrasse, Riegel in the Kaiserstuhl: see B. Cämmerer, Riegel: Mithraeum in P.Filtzinger, D. Planck and B. Cämmerer (eds.), Die Römer in Baden Wuürttemberg³ (Stuttgart 1986) 506-8; Hensen 2000, 98-101; C. Drier, Riegel am Kasierstuhl, in Planck 2005, 273-8 at 276f."²

Marc Heilig of Archaeographe.net writes:

In December 1932 a votive altar dedicated to Mithras was discovered in the area. The site was excavated in 1974. The site consists of sandstone foundations, upon which a timber building was constructed. The whole forms a rectangle of 9.10 m long and 6.40 m wide, with a square recess at the west end. By a flight of stairs, it descends into a vestibule (A) with wooden walls, which takes up the entire width but is only 2.50m deep. A door and a few steps lead into the "Spelunca", the room where the cultists gathered. Aisle (B) leads up to the central niche of the holy of holies (E). Benches (C) run along the aisle to the left and right, where the worshippers took their places for the ritual banquet. The large votive altar (D) was at the end of the aisle, before the niche. Made of red sandstone, it bears the inscription of the donor, probably an oriental trader: INVICTO / VICTOR / ABASCANDENU(S) / D(E)VO(TIVS) D(ONO) D(EDIT). The reconstruction of the upper parts of the temple is difficult. ... In the vestibule a very interesting deposit of ceramics was found, as well as a sword whose curious form suggests that it was used for a ceremonial purpose: the blade was curved into a half circle in the middle of its length, and if a man's neck was in this semi-circle, it would look as if the sword had been driven through his neck. In the main room two small altars of stuccoed stone were placed against the left bench. The cult relief ought to stand in the niche, but efforts to find this were unsuccessful. On the other hand a collection of incense-burners, still stacked inside each other, and several oil lamps, were found near the door. Together with the vestibule objects, these show that the temple was not deconsecrated nor violently destroyed, but instead fell slowly into disrepair after the community dispersed or departed. This is noteworthy, since many sanctuaries of Mithras (notably that of Biesheim) were destroyed or reused by Christians. A modern copy of the two-sided relief found in 1954 at Rückingen (Hanau, Hesse) has been placed on the site.

Coordinates: 48° 9' 2" N, 7° 45' 0" E / 48.1500 N, 7.7500 E.³

According to Wikipedia, "Freiburg im Breisgau, mithraeum relics from Riegel displayed in Freiburg museum". But some are certainly displayed in the Badisches Landesmuseum, Karlsruhe.

Bibliography

• B. Cammerer, "Riegel Mithraeum", in: Filtzinger, Ph., D. Planck & B. Cammerer. Roemer in Baden-Wuettemberg, 3. Auflage. Stuttgart, pp. 506-508.
• Marc Heilig, "Le mithraeum de Riegel", Archeographe.net - the ezine Heritage, nd. Online here.
• Photo of excavation here.
• More photos here.
• And some great ones here!
• Also a picture at Wikimedia Commons.