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