Under the church of San Clemente in Rome, there is a temple of Mithra from Roman times. This place of worship has been preserved almost intact and is one of the most famous preserved to our times.

Mithraism was a confession with which early Christianity strongly competed. Like Mitra, Jesus was to be born on December 25 and was considered a god. Mitra also had 12 students with whom he had his last supper. Three days later he died and rose again. So clearly you can see Christianity’s references to the cult of Mithras, which early Christians wanted to replace.

The cult of Mithra was extremely popular with Roman legionaries; however, it was unavailable to women. Probably because of this, Christianity won the competition.

More about Mitha

Mithreum was discovered in 1867. The room is 9, 6 m long and 6 m wide. in the middle there is an altar in the shape of a sarcophagus, which has a relief showing the most famous motif of Mithra’s cult – the killing of a bull by a god (so-called tauroktonia). The sanctuary also had a bust of the god Sol in a niche, near the entrance, and the figure Mithras petra generix (“Mitra born of rock”). Fragments of statues on which torches were attached have also been preserved. Mentioned elements of Mitreum are still in the sanctuary to this day.

Researchers also say that apart from ceremonies, suppers were also held outside of the ceremonies.