Landeshauptstadt Mainz Direkt zum Inhalt
Landeshauptstadt Mainz Direkt zum Inhalt
Two altars which belong to Mainz’s Mithras-worshipping community during Roman times may be found in a covered passageway on the Ballplatz. This faith based on worship of the “god of light” was brought by Roman soldiers stationed here in Moguntiacum from Persia where it was very popular around the 2nd Century A.D. It appealed particularly to men.
It is apparent that the largest place of Mithras worship in Mainz -- based on the archeological remains found – was right here. The well-preserved altar made of marble from the Odenwald Forest displays the inscription “To the unvanquished Sun God Mithras and Mars, this altar is dedicated by Secundinius Amantius, Chancellery Supervisor of the Prefect Legion of the 22nd Legion, in fulfilment of a vow to have this stone (altar) be erected.” The second altar made of Flonheimer Sandstone is badly damaged.
Nevertheless, its inscription also accords its belonging to the Mithras faith. The cult’s meeting rooms, the so-called “Mithraeen” were underground and consisted of long, extended vaults with an altar to Mithras in the center in the front of the enclosure. The ceiling was decorated to be a starry nightscape. The cult practitioners thus only appeared to be descending into the earth but symbolically were in the open air under this fabricated heaven.
Location
The Ballplatz lies in the vicinity of the Fastnachts Found at Schillerplatz.