Santa Maria Capua Vetere Mithraeum, Underground Roman temple in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, Italy.
Santa Maria Capua Vetere Mithraeum is an underground Roman temple with a barrel-vaulted ceiling space. The interior displays green and red six-pointed stars, and two parallel stone benches run along the walls for worshippers to sit.
The temple was built in the second century and served followers of the Roman god Mithras as a sacred space. Archaeologists rediscovered the site in 1922, revealing a rare glimpse into ancient religious practices.
The place is named after Mithras, a deity worshipped by soldiers and craftspeople in ancient times. You can see how people gathered here to perform rituals together and share spiritual community.
Visitors should expect narrow underground spaces and wear comfortable shoes when exploring the ancient structures. It is recommended to check opening times in advance and visit with a local guide to better understand the details and significance of what you are seeing.
Small fragments of blue glass found on the floor suggest that colored glass bead strings once adorned the star decoration. These details reveal how richly decorated this underground space once was and the care taken in its design.
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