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XII.—On the Mithraeum at Spoleto

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 January 2012

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Extract

Of all the discoveries of caves of Mithras none has equalled in interest the one recently made in the city of Spoleto; and it is fortunate for science that Professor Fabio Gori (so well known in Roman research in connexion with our Fellow, J. H. Parker, C.B.) was immediately on the spot personally to note the status quo, and to perpetuate its details by photography and drawing.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Society of Antiquaries of London 1882

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References

page 205 note a One is represented by a wood-cut on the next page ; the other, showing a drawing of a human figure, is not distinct enough for representation.

page 205 note b See the Plate facing the next page.

page 206 note a Introduction à l'Etude du Culte Public et des Mystères de Mithra, texte 4°,planches fol., Paris, 1847. Recherches sur le Culte, &c, texte 4° (ouvragc posthume), Paris, 1867.

page 206 note b “De idololatrarum lapide de quo dicunt Θɛὸς ἐκ πέτρας” &c.—De Err. Prof. Relig. c. xvi.

page 207 note a “Invictus de petra natus.”—Commodianus, xiii.

page 207 note b See Henzen's article in the Bullettino dell' Instituto di Corrispondenza Archeologica(1868, pp. 97, 98). He quotes S. Jerome's letter to Laeta (cvii.), wherein are named the seven images (portentosa simulachra)which gave names to the seven initiations : “Corax, gryphus, miles, leo, perdes, heliodromus, pater.” Zell, Inscr. 378, 379, gives instances of four out of these initiations, “Tradiderunt Persica, Eliaca, Coracica, Leontica.” The “septem pii,” in the midst of whom Vincentius sits at table, in a fresco of his tomb, are probably representations of these degrees (see following note).

page 207 note c Les Mystères du Syncrétisme Phrygien, par Raphael Garrucci, S.J. (extrait du tome IV. des Mélanges d'Archéologie), Paris, 1854.Google Scholar There are several representations of the Miles in the frescoes copied in this work.

page 207 note d Zell, Inscr. 216, “Soli invicto Mitre M. Ulp. Maximus praepositus Tabelliariorum (sic) aram cum suis (see postcript) ornamentis et bela (sic) domini insignia habentes (sic) N. IV ut voverat DD.”

page 207 note e The four vela mentioned in the Mithraic inscription would cover the four Avails of the sacrarium. They are referred to in Zell, Inscr. 228, in connection with an altar to Victoria Augusta (“vela et aram ”).