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Monumentum

Mitreo delle Sette Sfere

The Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres is of great importance for the understanding of the cult, because of its black-and-white mosaics depicting the planets, the zodiac and related elements.
 
 
The New Mithraeum
27 Apr 2010
Updated on 20 Jan 2022
 
  • General view of the Mitraeum of the Seven Spheres

    General view of the Mitraeum of the Seven Spheres
    The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA) 

  • Corridor of the  Mitraeum of the Seven Sphere

    Corridor of the Mitraeum of the Seven Sphere
    The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA) 

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  • Detail of the corridor, Mitraeum of the Seven Spheres

    Detail of the corridor, Mitraeum of the Seven Spheres
    The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA) 

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  • Tauroctonia del Mitreo delle Sette Sfere, Ostia

    Tauroctonia del Mitreo delle Sette Sfere, Ostia
    Musei Vaticani 

  • Tauroctonia del Mitreo delle Sette Sfere, Ostia

    Tauroctonia del Mitreo delle Sette Sfere, Ostia 

 

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Vermaseren

Mithraeum, discovered by Lanciani in 1885-1886 (Reg. II, Is. VII, 6). Second half of the second cent. A.D.

The Mithraeum was built in a rectangular room on the Western side of the Domus of Apuleius with which it communicates through a corridor. It is, however, uncertain whether already in antiquity the house communicated with the sanctuary. Entering the sanctuary (L. 11.20 Br. 4.95), one finds the usual division of central aisle (Br. 1.70), leading to the dais, and two sloping side-benches (Br. 1.50-1.65 H. 0.75-0.
 
 

Related monuments

Tauroctony of the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere

The relief of Mithras slaying the bull from the Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres was discovered in 1802 by Petirini by order of Pope Pius VII.

Inscription found in the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere

As this short inscription indicates, Aemilio Epaphorodito was both Pater and priest of the Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres.

Inscription of Tellius Agatho in Mitreo delle Sette Sfere

This inscription found in the Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres mentions the Pater Marco Aemiliio Epaphrodito known from other monuments in Ostia.