CIMRM Supplement - Mithraeum. Angers, France

Archaeologists discovered the remains of a Mithraeum in Angers (ancient Juliomagus), northwestern France. First constructed in the 3rd century A.D., the temple is located inside a domus, or Roman house. The temple was probably destroyed in the 4th century, as evidenced by shattered statues and signs of burning. It contains remains of a relief depicting Mithras with torchbearers and of a worn head of the god, distinguished by his Phrygian cap. The offerings included about 200 coins. Other artifacts found include Nubian terracotta figurines, a brooch, and a deer-shaped pouring device with three holes in its throat, perhaps used in an unknown rite.

The following details are given by Jean Brodeur and Maxime Mortreau:

The mithraeum is rectangular, oriented north-south. The main chamber is 10.05 x 5.88 m, with an ante-chamber to the south of size 3.94 x 2.90 m. The entrance to the temple is in the ante-chamber on the west side, then into the main chamber through the north wall. The bench on the east side is 1.46 x 8.55 m, the west side 0.92 x 8.86 m. A square structure (a basin?) stood at the eastern end of the west bench. At the south end of the benches are the bases for two statues, one on either side: the dadophores. A small stone bowl stood before the two bases. The podium at the north is 3.18 x 2.39 m. and accessed from a stair at the end of the eastern bench. A second masonry podium in the shape of a parallelogram 0.88 x 0.66 m. is against the north wall and held the tauroctony.
Traces of burning are visible on the soil and masonry. Also innumerable fragments of stone belonging to cult statues are among the demolition material.
There are several ex votos, of which two are noted. The first was by Pylades, an imperial slave, son of Felix Agathangelianus, on a marble plaque. The other is on a vase of the first part of the 3rd century A.D., by a certain Genialis. Many other fragments of pottery of Gaul in the 4th century with graffiti on are present. A final inscription currently being deciphered, in cursive letters on limestone, may be in Greek letters.
Just outside the west wall of the Mithraeum were found more than 750 coins, showing cult activity from the end of the 2nd century to the extreme end of the 4th century A.D. The abandonment of the site is marked by traces of burning, and the smashing of the cult statues and the dispersal of the pieces. Money is found between 388-392. The first Christian bishop, Defensor, is mentioned in 372; the edict of Theodosius I prohibiting paganism is from 392 AD.

The leaflet produced by INRAP (below) contains the following information:

Inside a domus, the architecture and moveable finds allowed the identification of a temple dedicated to Mithras.
The construction dated from the end of the 2nd century AD. Following the standard pattern, at the north end was a podium with steps on the eastern side. This would have supported a bas-relief of a tauroctony. There are two side benches on the east and west. Three stone bases would have supported the dadophores Cautes and Cautopates and a miles (respectively carrying torches and a spear) and some fragments of these, including hands, were found. At the south end there was a kind of ante-chamber with access from the side. This would be very dark, and oil lamps like that with the head of a Nubian would be essential.
The finds are important and unique. At the end of one bench, below one of the bases, a kind of stone basin was still in place. At this location was found a collection of charred wood, possibly from a piece of furniture such as a cabinet. Mingled with the burned bits was the remains of a zoomorphic vase, in the shape of the body of a deer minus its antlers, the nose pierced with small holes allowing a liquid to be poured in a fine spray. This may be associated with some purification ritual before the banquet. There was also a glass goblet, the handle of a bone knife, and what is most likely the key for the cabinet.
The excavation revealed more than 390 coins of the 3rd and 4th century scattered about, together with a ceramic material and numerous animal bones (cockerels, chickens, fish) corresponding to the reliefs of ritual banquets. A decorative iron spear, a military axe, but also the cruciform fibula of a high imperial official were among the discoveries.

The press release states:

Angers' Mithraeum: Sanctuary dedicated to Persian god Mithras discovered in France
Archaeologists excavating a 9,000 square metre area at Angers, in the Loire District, France, have discovered the remains of the first mithraeum - a sanctuary dedicated to the Indo-Iranian god Mithras - in the west of France.
The cave sanctuary, a rectangular building, is dated to the third century AD.
The Mithraeum
The small, vaulted chapel in which worshippers hosted banquets and sacrifices dedicated to the god, is decorated with a starry sky.
The excavations revealed drums of columns - perhaps statue bases, but possibly altars. A sort of vestibule allowed worshippers to don their ceremonial robes before entering the sanctuary.
...
At the sanctuary, a typical bas-relief of the god Mithras wearing his Phrygian cap shows him slaughtering a bull - the so-called tauroctony. The god's face was damaged in ancient times, possibly by early Christians trying to suppress the pagan cult.
The excavations further revealed scenes displaying dadophoroi (torch bearers), and miles (spearmen). Marble lion paws, as well as a pieces of a dog statue were unearthed from the cave, but are heavily fragmented. Likely these too were intentionally destroyed. Evidence of a fire was found, but it can not be confirmed if the fire was set on purpose, aimed at destroying the pagan sanctuary.
Among the finds in and around the Temple of Mithras is a unique zoomorph vase, probably used in purification rituals (see this INRAP video). Further artefacts discovered at the site include oil lamps, fragments of a lamp containing Nubian terracotta figures, a bronze 4th century crucifix fibula and about 200 coins.
Large quantities of cockerel bones (a favoured dish at the cultic banquets) were found spread inside and around the ancient temple.
A ceramic beaker - offered by a certain Genialis, in the first half of the 3rd century - reads:
"DEO [INVIC]TO MYTRH[AE].../...]VS GENIALIS CIVES MA [...]VS EXVOTO D[.../...]RIBVS OMNIS LOCO OMNIS (...)"
"To the unconquered god Mithras, Genialis, citizen of ..., offers in ex voto (this vase)."
A cartouche containing four lines in Greek was found on a piece of carved limestone decorated with palm leaves. It was partially deciphered, and indicates a dedication was made by a man named Theophilos (of Eastern origin) for the benefit of Retituitos (a name of Gallic consonance).
...
At the ancient settlement the INRAP archaeologists also unearthed the remains of two major urban roads; the cardo (north-south oriented street) and decumanus (east-west oriented) axes. The earliest evidence of occupation found so far is dated to the beginning of Emperor Augustus' reign, around 10 BC.
At the end of the first century, one or two domus (Roman villas), complete with hypocaust (floor heating) were constructed on the site.
Angers in Roman times was a fairly small oppidum, a fortified settlement - probably no bigger than 80 hectares at its height - with some 3,000 inhabitants. Its name, Juliomagnus, means 'the market of Julius Caesar'.
The ancient city had its own amphitheatre, accommodating about 6,000 spectators, and Roman baths. In the fifth century AD, Angers became known as 'civitas Andecavorum' or 'Andecavis', after its Gaul inhabitants.
...

Coordinates: 47° 28' 25" N, 0° 33' 15" W / 47.4736° N, 0.5542° W.¹

Bibliography

Amelia Drouet, "Le temple de Mithra à Angers". Online here. (Somewhat difficult to access).
Jean Brodeur, "Un culte exotique en Gaule. L'exemple du temple de Mithra à Juliomagus - Angers", Archéopages 36, 2013 (Details here.
Jean Brodeur & Maxime Mortreau, "Le mithraeum du site de la clinique St-Louis à Angers: Premiers resultâts". JAR, 2010. Online here. 2 page detailed summary of excavation.

External links

The INRAP press release.
More from INRAP.
Angers, un quartier antique et son mithraeum INRAP leaflet (PDF). Retrieved 5 Mar 2014.
CAIS site containing a corrupted version of the report.
The Independent, 29 September 2010 - an abbreviated report.