CIMRM 2350 - Inscription dedicating a Mithraeum. Andros, Greece.

Nicholas Reed, "The Mithraeum on Andros", Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik, Bd. 18 (1975), pp. 207-211. JSTOR: "The above inscription was discovered in 1910 reused in a wall in Palaeopolis, the principal town of Andros in classical times. The faulty grammar probably illustrates the semi-literate character of these members of Septimius Severus' new praetorian guard, and the titulature of Geta, whose name is imperfectly erased, shows that the date of the inscription is between 198 and 209. Marcus Aurelius Rufinus evocatus occurs elsewhere in a list of names of the time of 2) Severus, but this is of little help in narrowing down the date. Although it is clear what these praetorians are doing, that is, dedicating a Mithraeum, it is by no means clear why these four are on Andros at all." 1) Published by T. Sauciuc, Mitteilungen des deutschen arch. Inst. (röm.Abt.) xxv (1910), 263-72. Discussion in M. Durry, Les Cohortes Pretoriennes (Paris 1938), 342-3; bibliography in M.J. Vermaseren, Corpus Inscr. et Mon. Relig. Mithr. ii (The Hague 1960), 386. 2) Durry o.c. 342 n.4. His conclusion is that they were a prison detachment, as the island was used as a place of exile. Also that the Ponza Mithraeum likewise probably belonged to soldiers stationed as jailers.

CIMRM entry

INS. CYCLADES ANDROS 2350. At Palaiopolis in the isle of Andros an inscription was discovered on the so-called Marmeropetra, which forms part of the \"to Helleniko\" -wall. Sauciuc in RM XXV, 1910, 263ff and fig.; Ann. ep. 1911,220 No. 56; Antonielli in BCR 1912,248; Sauciuc, Andros 94; MM 229; Durry, 342. L.H. 0.055-0.07. Pro salute imp(eratoris) Caesari(s) / L(uci) Septimi Severi et M(arci) Aur(eli) Antonini / Aug(ustorum) et P(ubli) Septimi Gaetae Caesari(s) / M(arcus) Aur(elius) Rufinus evocatus Aug(ustorum) n(ostrorum) / sancto deo invicto speleum constituit cum/ mil(itibus) pr(aetorianis) Fl(avio) Clarino Ael(io) Messio Aur(elio) Iuliano. The inscription was dedicated between A.D. 198-209. The Mithraeum itself has not yet been discovered. M. Aur(elius) Rutinus evocatus is also mentioned in CIL VI 32640 l.25, probably from the beginning of the reign of Septimius Severus. He then probably was already an evocatus; he had his origin in Bizye in Thracia.