The temple restored where it was originally discovered (Picture: Getty)

It doesn’t look much like it when you walk past the Bloomberg skyscraper in the City, but you’re actually right next to an ancient piece of Rome.

The temple of Mithras has been restored to its original location, right underneath the steel and glass.

It was discovered by accident in 1954 on a World War II bomb site, and then taken apart and moved – once even being displayed on a car park roof.

But history lovers can now visit it where it originally stood, as it has been reinstalled seven metres below the ground.


It looks just as it did when it was discovered, with the addition of special lighting and audio to make the experience more evocative.

It lies beneath the new Bloomberg HQ (Picture: Rex)

How the initiation rites may have looked (Picture: Getty)



The temple now – pretty cool! (Picture: Getty)

A recreation of a sculpture of Mithras slaying a bull (Picture: Getty)

A bull plaque preserved with the temple (Picture: Getty)

The temple seven metres below the City of London (Picture: Getty)

Roman-era knives found within the temple (Picture: Getty)

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A soundscape plays Latin voices, as well as the founds of feasting, drinking and sacrifice.

When it was built in the third century AD, it was devoted to the cult of Mithras.

Adherents to the mysterious religion met in underground temples like this one. Each one had a centrepiece showing the god Mithras slaying a bull, known as a tauroctony.

The cult acted like a secret society, with only the members knowing the rites that went on in their meetings.

It was built on reclaimed ground next to one of London’s old rivers, the Walbrook, which has now dried up.

How do I visit?

It’s free, but you do need to book.

Visit the website here, which also has more information.

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