The remains of a sanctuary dedicated to the god Mithras, along with leftovers from ritual banquets, have been found during excavations at the Villa del Mitra in Cabra, Spain.
According to Heritage Daily , the discovery was made by archaeologists from the University of Málaga, the Carlos III University of Madrid, and the University of Córdoba. The team uncovered the remains of the Mithras sanctuary, which dates back to the 2nd century AD with a second construction phase in the late 3rd century AD.
The sanctuary is a rectangular room, located to the southwest of the domus, with dimensions of 7.2 by 2.5 meters (24 by 8 feet). It features a narrow entrance that leads down several steps into the sanctuary, which is comprised of two stone benches along the walls. The team believes that these benches were used by worshipers who would sit and perform rituals and engage in banquets in honor of Mithras.
The walls of the sanctuary contain fragments of Roman bricks, including one with two holes or niches that likely held a tauroctony sculpture. The floor of the room was covered in a dark burnt layer, which upon closer inspection revealed fragmented remains of pigs, birds, and rabbits. This evidence suggests that cooking took place during the ritual banquets.
The Villa del Mitra
ArtNews reports that the Villa del Mitra, located within the ancient Roman city of Licabrum, dates back to the 1st century AD. It is named after the discovery of a 2 nd…
