LOOK: Archaeologists discover a sanctuary dedicated to the ancient god Mithras in Cabra, Spain

A SANCTUARY dedicated to the ancient god Mithras has been discovered by archaeologists excavating in the Villa del Mitra in Cabra, Spain.

Mithras was a demiurgic figure, believed to be the god of oaths and justice, as well as having influence over the sun, water, and cattle.

A cult religion dedicated to this god spread to all corners of the Roman Empire, including Spain, during the first century AD.

The Villa del Mitra in Cabra, was originally excavated between 1972 and 1973, and takes its name from the discovery of a Mithras Tauroctonus —Mithras sacrificing a bull, a symbol of death and resurrection— in the vicinity.

During that first excavation, a courtyard with a pond and several adjacent rooms with a mosaic floor were discovered.

A subsequent archaeological excavation campaign in 1981 unearthed the remains of a hypocaust, a heating system that produces and circulates hot air under the floor of a room, as well as several coins depicting Philip the Arab, Diocletian, and Valentinian II. .

Recent excavations, carried out by archaeologists from the University of Malaga, the Carlos III University of Madrid and the University of Córdoba, have unearthed the remains of a sanctuary dedicated to Mithras dating from the 2nd century AD, with a second construction phase from the end of the 3rd century AD

The discovered sanctuary is a rectangular room located to the southwest of the domus, measuring 7.2 by 2.5 meters and, according to archaeologists, it is standard for religious worship.

It has a narrow entrance leading down several steps leading to the sanctuary which has two stone benches on its sides which the archaeological team suggests would have been used by the faithful to perform rituals and celebrate festivals in honor of Mithras.

The walls have fragments of Roman bricks, with some niches, which probably would have housed sculptures from Tauroctonia.

In addition, a dark burnt layer covers the floor, which upon closer examination has revealed fragmentary remains of pigs, birds, and rabbits, indicative of the type of cooking that took place during ritual banquets.

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