How the Mithraeum of the Mithraic Cult Functioned As Sacred Space in Rome
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University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020-06-29 How the Mithraeum of the Mithraic Cult Functioned as Sacred Space in Rome Nadeau, Justin Taylor Nadeau, J. T. (2020). How the Mithraeum of the Mithraic Cult Functioned as Sacred Space in Rome (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary. AB. http://hdl.handle.net/1880/112248 master thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY How the Mithraeum of the Mithraic Cult Functioned as Sacred Space in Rome by Justin Taylor Nadeau A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS GRADUATE PROGRAM IN GREEK AND ROMAN STUDIES CALGARY, ALBERTA JUNE, 2020 © Justin Taylor Nadeau 2020 Abstract Sacred space is a complicated subject, and it should be treated as such. Scholarship on the cult of Mithras often simply denotes a space as sacred without any further recognition given to how the space functions as sacred. By applying the theory associated with sacred space I determine that the Mithraeum of the ancient cult of Mithras functioned as sacred space through the boundaries, active and passive role in the human bodily experience, establishing a communal identity and the perceived presence of a deity. That said, each sacred space utilizes these elements in unique ways and as such, there is not one single cohesive application of sacred space. ii PREFACE This thesis is an original, unpublished and independent work by the author Justin Taylor Nadeau. iii Acknowledgements I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisor Dr. Lindsay Driediger-Murphy whose invaluable feedback allowed this project and my research to come to fruition. I would also like to thank the resources provided by the Department of Classics and Religion and the University of Calgary who helped to guide my project through every stage, as well as the British School at Rome who were able to allow me to visit primary archaeological sites in Rome. I would like to thank the Sovrintendenza Capitolina ai Beni Culturali, Roma Capitale, Ing. Antonello Fatello, and Dott.ssa Maria Vittoria Marini Clarelli for permission to access and photograph the Circus Maximus Mithraeum. I would like to thank the Dominican Fathers of the Basilica of San Clemente for permission to access and photograph the San Clemente Mithaeum. I would like to thank the Ministero per i beni e le attività culturali, Direzione Generale Musi, Parco Archeologico di Ostia Antica, Dott.ssa Claudia Tempesta and Dott.ssa Mariarosaria Barbera for permission to access and photograph the Mitreo di Felicissimus, Mitreo della Planta Pedis, Mitreo delle Terme del Mitra, Mitreo di Lucrezio Menandro, and the Mitreo delle Sette Porte in Ostia Antica. I would like to thank the Soprintendenza Speciale Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio di Roma and Dott. Roberto Narducci for permission to access and photograph the Santa Prisca Mithraeum. I would also like to thank Stefania Peterlini, the Director's Assistant and Permissions Officer of the British School at Rome, for her help in securing permissions enabling me to access and photograph sites in Rome. I want to recognize all my fellow graduate students who welcomed me into the community and fostered my research potential as an academic. Lastly, this project would not have been possible without the monumental support of my friends and family who suffered many discussions about Roman mystery cults. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................... 10 RELIGION IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE: ............................................................................................................................ 12 MYSTERY CULTS: .................................................................................................................................................. 13 MITHRA(S): ......................................................................................................................................................... 14 MITHRAEUM (MITHRAEA): ..................................................................................................................................... 15 MITHRAIC SCHOLARSHIP: ........................................................................................................................................ 20 METHODOLOGY: .................................................................................................................................................. 24 CHAPTER 1: DEFINING SACRED SPACE.................................................................................................................. 28 CHAPTER 2: BOUNDED LOCATION........................................................................................................................ 36 NON-PHYSICAL BOUNDARIES ....................................................................................................................... 40 PHYSICAL BOUNDARIES ................................................................................................................................ 47 CASE STUDIES: ............................................................................................................................................. 49 Circus Maximus Mithraeum .......................................................................................................................................49 San Clemente Mithraeum ..........................................................................................................................................52 Santa Prisca Mithraeum ............................................................................................................................................55 Conclusions .................................................................................................................................................. 57 CHAPTER 3: ACTIVE ROLE IN HUMAN, BODILY EXPERIENCE TO CREATE A COMMUNAL IDENTITY ........................ 58 TAUROCTONY .............................................................................................................................................. 63 ‘STAR-TALK’ ................................................................................................................................................. 64 CASE STUDIES: ............................................................................................................................................. 67 Circus Maximus Mithraeum .......................................................................................................................................67 San Clemente Mithraeum ..........................................................................................................................................70 Santa Prisca Mithraeum ............................................................................................................................................73 Conclusions .................................................................................................................................................. 75 CHAPTER 4: PASSIVE ROLE IN HUMAN, BODILY EXPERIENCE ............................................................................... 76 SACRIFICE AND ALTARS ................................................................................................................................ 77 THE RITUAL USE OF ALTARS IN ROMAN STATE SACRIFICE ............................................................................. 80 CASE STUDIES: ............................................................................................................................................. 86 Circus Maximus Mithraeum .......................................................................................................................................86 San Clemente Mithraeum ..........................................................................................................................................88 Santa Prisca Mithraeum ............................................................................................................................................90 Conclusions .................................................................................................................................................. 91 CHAPTER 5: PERCEIVED PRESENCE OF A DEITY (OR SUPERNATURAL BEING) ........................................................ 92 EIDOS OF MITHRAS ...................................................................................................................................... 94 CASE STUDIES: ............................................................................................................................................. 99 Circus Maximus Mithraeum .......................................................................................................................................99 San Clemente Mithraeum .......................................................................................................................................