Anno 393 to Andecavorum. A group of men approached a small building near an excavated domus. The leader opens a kick a wooden door opening onto a room in the basement. Loud cries, his men penetrate and devastate the furniture Loved picks. They have been working on a bas-relief showing a figure wearing a Phrygian cap slaying a bull.

Traces of this scene were found in Angers, where one of the few temples dedicated to the worship of the Gauls of Indo-Iranian god Mithra has been discovered. Mysterious cult reserved for men, almost sectarian Mithraic cult was especially popular in the Roman Empire through military and merchants. It is remarkable to find a Mithraeum Angers – a first – because it suggests that rich members of the elite practicing Mithraism (merchants and officials) have introduced the cult in the western Gaul.

The Mithraic worship originally practiced in natural caves (to recall the cave where Mithras slew the bull, symbol of evil), which is why the temples were built small, cramped, windowless, to mimic a cave . The Mithraeum Angers is no exception: there was a small rectangular room below grade, which one entered after putting on clothes rituals in an anteroom. Basically, over a podium, a bas-relief was arguably the story of the god. Remains of columns or altars attest to the likely presence of other elements, such as statues.

Archaeologists have found numerous coins (about 200), including pieces of silver suggest that the high purchasing power of followers. Among the fragments of ceramics and other oil lamps complete, they found pieces of a rare chandelier terra cotta figures of Nubian, and a brooch (pin) Phillips bronze IV characteristic officials^e century. Many remnants attest libations during which it was customary to offer to the god of wine and meat cock. A unique vase-shaped handle is deer with a muzzle pouring three holes. He used to sprinkle the faithful of some Mithraic holy water?

If so, this is not the only similarity between Christianity and Mithraism, as both religions are monotheistic. Another common practice is ex voto. One of those held by the archaeologists found in the Mithraeum Anger refers to an offering made by a Genialis in the first half of III^e century, he begins: “To the god Mithras undefeated, …. Divine, Mithra can indeed be defeated. But his cult has clearly been the Christian intolerance in 392 after Emperor Theodosius issued a decree, forbade the pagan cults in the Empire. And he was at the point of being forgotten: the scene of war of religions found in Anger is the epitome …

Source:pourlascience