CIMRM 239 - Mithraeum of the Seven Spheres (sette sfere). Ostia, Italy.

239. Mithraeum, discovered by Lanciani in 1885--1886 (Reg. II, Is; VIII, 6). Second half of the second cent. A.D. Lanciani in NSc 1886, 162ff; Schierenberg in JVA LXXXIV, 1887, 250ff; Cumont, Ostie, 1ff; MMM II 243ff No. 84 and fig. 77; Paschetto in Bilychnis I, 1912, 474f = Ostia, 394f; Nock in JHS 1925,98 fig. 1; Becatti, Mitrei Ostia, 47ff and fig. 10; Pl. VI, 1-2. See figs. 71 and 72. 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. 0.75-0.60), the fronts and the projecting edges of which bear representations in mosaic (see below). The floor of the central aisle is also covered with mosaic equally showing representations. Left of the entrance (Br. 1.00) there was a ritual basin in the floor (Br. 0.45 D. 0.30), Two small niches (H. 0.54-0.44 Br. 0.30 D.0.25) near the middle of the benches must also be thought of in connection with water. The niche of the r. bench is covered with marble and is lower than the floor. Before the cult-niche (partly covered with marble) there is a bench-like platform (H. 1.00 Br. 4.30), which may have been used to place lamps on.