Brocolitia - A Temple Dedicated to Mithras

In this gallery you will see the remains of the Brocolitia Mithraeum, a Roman temple dedicated to Mithras. It is an unique monument on Hadrian's Wall, built adjacent to the Carrawburgh Roman Fort in around 200 AD. Many such temples were known to have existed in this area, but this is the only one remaining. The Romans worshipped many gods and 'Mithras' was just one of them. Mithraism originated in Persia and worships Mithras; a warrior God, who according to legend was born from a rock. He captured and slayed an ancient bull in a cave, known as the tauroctony. He then shook hands with the sun and then dined on the bull! Mithras is associated with bravery, valour and the conquest of good over evil, no surprise then he should be worshipped by the Roman soldiers!

Mithraism was a religion surrounded in mystery and the temples were built to evoke a cave-like atmosphere; small, dark and gloomy.  Inside the entrance is an ante-room then a nave with raised benches to each side. There are 3 altar stones on the back wall, the left one bearing a relief of Mithras. The rituals associated with this religion were always shrouded in secrecy. There are very little written references to it, so therefore it is very open to interpretation as to how rituals were conducted and what the Mithraic belief systems actually were.

Before viewing the gallery, watch this short video from Newcastle University which depicts a thought-provoking reimagining of events inside the Mithraeum. (Credit to Newcastle University 'The Cult of Mithras', from the course 'Hadrian's Wall: Life on the Roman Frontier', available on www.futurelearn.com)