BEYOND THE ROMAN EAST: AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF THE MITHRAEUM BASED ON ITS ARCHITECTURAL AUTHENTICITY AT CASTRUM ZERZEVAN (DİYARBAKIR, TURKEY)

Abstract

A rock-cut Mithraic sanctuary (2nd-3rd centuries) was excavated in Castrum Zerzevan. With its architectural authenticity and connectedness to the neighbouring structures, it has remained intact since it was purposefully buried probably around 4th century. The authors argue that it stands as the only known Mithraeum on the eastern border of Rome until proven otherwise. The close up of the site is expressible with the transition process from paganism to monotheistic practices. In the spatio-temporal context, it must have been one of the oldest sanctuaries, due to interactions over the Persian peripheries, of the Mithras belief adopted by the Romanly world.

Keywords

• roman world, castrum, zerzevan, cult, paganism, mithras