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Monumentum

Mithraeum of Sidon

The Mithraeum of Sidon escaped destruction because the followers of Mithras walled off the entrance to the underground sanctuary.
 
 
The New Mithraeum
15 May 2007
Updated on 14 Apr 2022
 
  • Sculptures from Sidon at Musée du Louvre

    Sculptures from Sidon at Musée du Louvre
    1967 Musée du Louvre / Maurice et Pierre Chuzeville 

  • Relieve de la Tauroctonia de Sidón, Líbano

    Relieve de la Tauroctonia de Sidón, Líbano
    Galdo Trounchky 

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  • Frontal view of the lion-headed statue from Sidon

    Frontal view of the lion-headed statue from Sidon
    Coyau / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 

  • Head left-side view of the lion-headed statue from Sidon

    Head left-side view of the lion-headed statue from Sidon
    Coyau / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 

  • Central body view of the lion-headed statue from Sidon

    Central body view of the lion-headed statue from Sidon
    Coyau / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 

  • Head right-side view of the lion-headed statue from Sidon

    Head right-side view of the lion-headed statue from Sidon
    Coyau / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 

  • Base with inscription view of the lion-headed statue from Sidon

    Base with inscription view of the lion-headed statue from Sidon
    Wikinade / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 

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  • RMN 

  • RMN 

  • RMN 

  • RMN 

  • RMN 

  • Marble statuette of Hecate depicted as a triple goddess surrounded by dancers

    Marble statuette of Hecate depicted as a triple goddess surrounded by dancers
    Carole Raddato, CC BY-SA 2.0 

  • Front view of the Venus bronze of Sidon

    Front view of the Venus bronze of Sidon
    2009 RMN / Hervé Lewandowski 

  • Back view of the Venus bronze of Sidon

    Back view of the Venus bronze of Sidon
    2009 RMN / Hervé Lewandowski 

 

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According to the seleucid era the Mithraeum must have existed in the second century, assuming, however, the autonomic era of the city itself, the sanctuary existed in the fourth one. The last dating has been proposed by E. Will in Syria XXVII, 1950, 261ff, especially the name of one of the dedicators Fl. Gerontios points into this direction.

The collection of sculptures (coll. Péretié) was bought by de Clercq in Paris in 1882 and is now deposited with Comte Louis de Boisgelin, 5 rue Masseran, Paris (VII). Actually, they are in the Musée du Louvre.
 
 

Related monuments

Relief of Tauroctony from Sidon

The relief of the Sidon Tauroctony includes the signs of the zodiac and the four seasons, among other common elements.

Taurcotony sculpture from Sidon

The Mithras killing the bull sculpture from Sidon, currently Lebanon.

Lion-headed Aion from Sidon

Edmon Durighello, a journalist, discovered this Aion marble in 1887.

Mithras carrying the bull

Sculpture depicting Mithras carrying a young bull on his shoulders.

 

Cautes of Sidon

The Sidon sculpture includes a dog jumping between Cautes's legs.

Cautopates of Sidon

Cautopates sculpture of Sidon features a snake near his left leg.

Cautes with an axe

The Cautes of Sidon who wields an axe also wears a piece of cloth on his left arm.

Second Cautes of Sidon holding an axe

In this case, a quiver has been attached to the tree-stump behind the torchbearer.

 

Hekate of Sidon

The Hekataion of Sidon shows a triple Hekate surrounded by three dancing nymphs.

Bronze Venus of Sidon

There are two Venus from the Mithraeum of Sidon, one in bronze and the other in Parian marble.