The very ancient cult dedicated to the Persian God Mithra, very popular in Asia Minor, spread quickly to Rome and throughout Western Europe from the beginning of the 1st C. A. D. onwards.
Seeing as it was an esoteric and secret religion, not much is known about the details of the cult. We know that there were seven degrees of initiation, that women were excluded, and that the rites took place in dark places, usually underground, often cave-like spaces, with vaults representing the universe.
The esoteric nature of Mithraism meant the faithful were required to organise themselves into very small groups, and thus the number of Mithraeums tended to be very high.
One of the most important is in Marino, where it was discovered by pure chance in 1963 while work was being done to enlarge a cellar at the foot of the historic centre.
Installed in a pre-existing cistern dug out of the tufa rock, it is accessed along a 29 metre long, 3 metre wide tunnel at the end of which one enters the wider sactuary space.
The main painting is placed on the back wall, and depicts a ritual slaying of a bull. In it the god Mithra, wearing his traditional oriental clothing, a Phrygian beret, trousers and a star studded cloak, is seen slitting the throat of a white bull.
The vertical row of panels each side of the main scene describe scenes of Mithra’s life.
Two continuous counters, dug out of the rock, run along the entire length of the two side walls and were to be used by the initiates.
This extremely rare Mithraic painting dates back to the second half of the 2nd C. A.D. and is in an excellent state of conservation.