Terme del Mitra

Panel 68 - Location

The private baths, built in the Hadrianic period (AD 117-138), had heated rooms in the south sector (D-F) whilst the northern part was occupied by a room later transformed into a Christian cult space and by the main room, separated by two columns from the frigidarium (room for cold baths), decorated with a figurative mosaic (C).

Panel 68 - Figure 3Detail of the mosaic with Ulysses and the Sirens in the frigidarium (C) Panel 68 - Figure 4Marble imagines clipeatae (portrait on round shield) belonging to the decoration of the baths

The baths also had service rooms, one of which hosted the water wheel (noria) that drew up water from underground (G).

Panel 68 - Figure 1Reconstruction of the system for drawing water
(A. Pascolini)
Panel 68 - Figure 2Reconstruction of the system for drawing water
(A. Pascolini)

An external staircase led to an underground service room for the baths, in which a mithraeum was installed (H).

Panel 68b - Figure 1Plan of the mithraeum
(G. Caraffa)

The podia (side benches) and the two little pillars supporting the pyramids symbolizing the stone from which Mithras was born are preserved. At the back was the cult statue depicting Mithras killing the bull; a cast can now be seen, whilst the original is kept in the Museo Ostiense.

Panel 68b - Figure 2Reconstruction drawing of the interior of the mithraeum
(A. Pascolini)
Panel 68b - Figure 3Sculpture group with Mithras
(Museo Ostiense)

See also:

The Residential Districts of the Upper-Middle Class