I MITREI: CONSERVAZIONEE IPOTESI DI VALORIZZAZIONE

Virginia Bernardini ,1

1 Architetto,DottorediRicerca,SpecialistainRestaurodeiMonumenti,Roma,virginia.bernardini@libero.it

ABSTRACT

The Mysteries of Mithras, a religion of Persian origin, spread from Greece to the main military hubs of the

Roman Empire by the legions. The cult attained great importance in the 3rd century AD when it was elevated

practically to the status of a state religion. Mithraism was gradually abandoned in favour of Christianity as

fromtheendofthe4thcenturyAD.

Mithraea,often hypogean andstratified structures, are small places ofworshipwhich could holdonlyasmall

number of followers, placed in the urban areas and in the territory, and frequently constructed inside existing

buildings.

During the 4th century AD mithraea were subjected to profanation and pillage with just a minimal part

surviving and known to this day. Some of them have been transformed and reused in another way and now

theystillhavenotbeenrecognizedasmithraea.

Given the absence of written texts and the very nature of Mithraism as a mystery religion, the figurative

elements of mithraea are the primary source of information for the study of this cult. Great importance

therefore attaches to their preservation not only as artistic monuments but also for the purposes of historical

investigation into Mithraism. As regards the mithraea open to visitors, most of them have been stripped of

their original decorative elements that performed symbolic functions closely linked to the practice of the

religionandtheirabsencemakesthecontextasawholeincomprehensible.

This paper aims to focus on the conservation subject and on an enhancement hypothesis of the mithraea as a

systemassetstonetandwitharestorationproposalfinalizedtoletthevisitorscomprehendthesesanctuaries.

Parolechiave/Key-words: Mithraea,hypogeanstructures,conservation,restoration,enhancement