CIMRM 1001 - Halberg Mithraeum, near Saarbrücken. Germany.

CIMRM entry

SAARBRUCKEN 1001. A Mithraeum on the Western slope of the Halberg near Saarbrucken. The sanctuary, called in popular language "Heidenkapelle" or "Heidenkirche", lying on the terrain of Freiherr Braun von Stumm, was explored " about 1920. " Klein, Denkm. Saarg., 1923; Krüger in TrZ, 1,1926, 92ff and figs. 1-4. The sandstone slope, which lies from North to South, has been artificially worked over a space of 43 mtrs and shows several deep holes and niches. At a distance of about 15 mtrs from the N. side, one enters via an entrance a hewn-out cave (Br. 6.50 D. 9.00), consisting of a central aisle (L. 6.00 Br. 3.25) with on either side the elevated benches (H. 0.40 Br. 1.50). A narrower bench ,runs along the back-wall. In the floor of the central aisle there is a round hole in the S. corner (diam. 0.35 D. 0.20), which may have served for water. These data point to a spelaeum, which may have existed here in the neighbourhood of a small riverside castellum. The finds, however, do not supply us with any definitive indications. Many sherds of pottery, especially terra-sigillata, were found and furthermore a number of bronze coins, dating from Diocletianus to Gratianus. It is far from certain, that the so-called "Säulen mit Mannsfiguren", should have been representations of torchbearers. Krüger (p. 97) mentions a report by Koliner with the following information: "Im Jahre 1772 seien in der s.g. Heidenkirche 8 Fuss hohe Säulen ausgegraben worden auf deren Seiten Mannsfiguren abgebildet gewesen mit priesterlichem Kopfputz, langem Kleid, in der l.h. einen Stab haltend; die r. auf dem Mund gelegt; unterhalb dieser Figuren hatten sich hieroglyphische Buchstaben befunden". •