Santa Prisca Mithraeum, Underground religious temple in Aventine Hill, Rome, Italy
Santa Prisca Mithraeum is an underground temple on Rome's Aventine Hill, situated beneath the church that bears its name. The space extends roughly 11 meters in length and 4.5 meters in width, featuring raised platforms along the walls and a central passageway running through the middle.
The temple was discovered in 1935 beneath Santa Prisca Church and dates to 95 CE, when the structure served as a residential space connected to Emperor Trajan's era. This early date makes it an important witness to the spread of Mithras worship during the early imperial period.
The temple displays wall paintings showing Mithra in combat with a bull, along with other religious symbols from the ancient Roman faith. These images give visitors today a glimpse into the spiritual beliefs of a forgotten religious community.
Access requires advance booking through a cultural services provider, as the site opens only for guided tours. Visitors are advised to reserve early since spaces are limited and only a few tours run on most days.
The temple contains three specialized chambers: the Apparatorium for ritual garments, the Caelus room for initiatory baths, and the Initiations room for ceremonial rites. This layout reveals how different levels of membership in the Mithras cult were spatially organized and practiced.
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