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Regio V - Insula VI - Mitreo dei Serpenti (V,VI,6)
(Mithraeum of the Snakes)

The Mithraeum of the Snakes measures 11.97 x 5.25. The main entrance is in the north wall, slightly off-centre, 1.70 wide. The wall flanking the entrance was created for the mithraeum. An opening in the south wall was blocked. The podia are made of rubble masonry. The western podium was reached along a brick tread. In the centre of the vertical part of the podium are niches. Set against the back wall is a structure consisting of two treads, between two walls. The upper part of the structure has not been preserved. In front is a small masonry altar. Nothing remains of the floor, that may have been of wood.

In the back part of the shrine, on the east and south wall, paintings have been preserved. On the east wall is a painting of a "female" snake, without comb or beard (a Genius Loci), and of a Genius wearing a tunica and a toga, capite velato, holding a cornucopiae (presumably the Genius of the paterfamilias). On the south wall is a "male" snake, with comb (another Genius Loci). Behind the snakes is shrubbery, above the scene are garlands. The paintings are older than the mithraeum, possibly early-Antonine. They formed part of a private shrine and were respected in the mithraeum, presumably because the snake occurs in the cult of Mithras as a symbol of the earth.

During the excavation a small, square, travertine altar was found. The mithraeum may have been built c. 250 AD or somewhat later.



Plan of the mithraeum.
SO II, fig. 21.

Photos



The mithraeum seen from the north.
The paintings are in the back part, towards the left.
Photo: Parco Archeologico di Ostia, neg. B3142.



The mithraeum seen from the north.
The paintings are in the back part, towards the left.
Photo: Wikimedia, Lalupa.



Detail of the paintings.
Photo: Klaus Heese.



Detail of the snake on the south wall.
Photo: Klaus Heese.



The snake and Genius on the east wall.
Photo: Jan Theo Bakker.



Detail of the snake and Genius on the east wall.
Photo: Jan Theo Bakker.



Click to enlarge. Detail of the Genius on the east wall.
Photo: Parco Archeologico di Ostia.



Detail of the back part of the mithraeum.
Photo: Jan Theo Bakker.


[jthb - 9-May-2022]