The Mithras Index

restored Mithraeum in London, photo by Donnchadh H

Mithras is an ancient god whose worship was popular in the Roman Empire, particularly among soldiers. Adherents would meet in a Mithraeum – a small temple, usually underground – to honor the god.

Because of the vast territory the empire covered, Mithraeum remnants have been found over a great geographic area. As Christianity grew in popularity, a few elements of Mithraism – including the celebration of Dec. 25th as the birthday of the divine being – found new homes in the growing Christian faith.

The standard list of Mithraic archaeological sites is Maarten Vermaseren’s Corpus Inscriptionum et Monumentorum Religionis Mithriacae (CIMRM). Since its publication in 1956, the ongoing work of archaeologists has uncovered a number of “new” sites. This page lists all that have been found up to the present day.

Image: A restored Mithraeum in London. Photo by Donnchadh H on Flickr, used with gratitude under Creative Commons license