Uniwersytet im.

Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu

NOVAE
Studies and Materials VI

Edited by
Elena Ju. Klenina
 SACRUM et PROFANUM

Haec studia amici et collegae

Andrei B. Biernacki septuagennio dicant

POZNAN 2018
© Copyright by Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu,
Instytut Historii UAM, Poznań 2018
© Copyright by Authors, Poznań 2018

Recenzenci
Prof. Evgenia Gencheva (IA BAN)
Prof. Adam Łukaszewicz (UW)

Korekta językowa
P. Znaniecki, A.S. Namoilik

Projekt okładki
Piotr Namiota

Na okładce:
detale architektoniczne z Novae, zdjécia i rysunki A.B. Biernacki

Skład
Małgorzata Nowacka

ISBN 978-83-65663-80-1

Instytut Historii UAM

ul. Umultowska 89 D
61-614 Poznań
tel. 61 829 64 76
e-mail: history@amu.edu.pl
www.historia.amu.edu.pl

Druk
Zakład Graficzny UAM
ul. Wieniawskiego 1
61-712 Poznań
Contents

Andrzej B. Biernacki Curriculum Vitae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Andrzej (by P. Dyczek) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

NOVAE, MOESIA AND THRACIA

Dyczek P. The eye of Argus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Vladkova P. The Mithraeum at Novae: ceramic vessels and lamps from the sanctu-
ary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Tomas A. Canabae legionis in Lower Moesia. Some observations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Sarnowski T. Novae in Lower Moesia. Building the early Christian episcopal com-
plex with inscribed pagan stones from the Roman legionary headquarters . . . . 77
Dimitrov Z. Architectural decorations of the Lower Danube frontier Area:
a unique mixture of order systems, models, trends and stonemasons’ tech-
niques from the era of the Principate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Vagalinski L. F. A Late Roman golden necklace found in Heraclea Sintica, south-
west Bulgaria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Yotov V. Fragment of a Roman tegula from Scythia Minor with a battle scene
(3rd – 4th centuries AD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Minchev A. A lost early Christian rite in the Eastern Church: terracotta fonts for
consecrated water from Moesia Secunda and Scythia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

CHERSONESOS AND BLACK SEA REGION

Klenina E. Ju., Moisieiev D.A., Biernacki A.B. The building ceramics of the Byzan-
tine Chersonesus Taurica: forms and chronology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski R. Mithraea in Scythia and Taurica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Kubrak O. Public shows and the related facilities from the Roman period on the
Northern and North-Eastern coast of the Black Sea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Laflı E., Magnani S., Buora M. A new Latin funerary inscription in the museum of
Amasya in northeastern Turkey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Bakhtadze N. The early Christian basilicas archaeological research in Nekresi for-
mer city (Georgia) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Stachowiak D. Church models in the Byzantine culture circle and the problem of
their function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243

MEDITERRANEAN REGION

Czerner R. Two labra from the Roman baths in Marina el-Alamein . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Ribera i Lacomba A., Chover I. E. From the far West to the far East. Relationship
of Episcopal complexes of the 5th - 6th centuries: Valentia versus Novae and
Tauric Chersonesos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Velenis G. Addenda et Corrigenda οn two Greek inscriptions dating from Late An-
tiquity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
 TABULA GRATULATORIA

Adam-Veleni Polyxeni (Greece) Michalska Danuta (Poland)

Alekseenko Nikolaj (Sevastopol) Minchev Alexander (Bulgaria)
Androudis Paschalis (Greece) Mentzos Aristoteles (Greece)
Antonaras Anastasios (Greece) Michniewicz Jacek (Poland)
Arthur Paul (Italy) Minta-Tworzowska Danuta (Poland)
Bakhtadze Nodar (Geogia) Moisieiev Demitrij (Sevastopol)
Bąkowska-Czerner Grażyna (Poland) Namoilik Anna (Sevastopol)
Blazejewska Marta (Poland) Nessel’ Viktoria (Sevastopol)
Bednarczyk Józef (Poland) Niesobski Marek (Poland)
Budzyńska Monika (Poland) Olejniczak Daria (Poland)
Buora Maurizio (Italy) Poulou Natalia (Greece)
Chover Isabel Escrivà (Spain) Poulter Andrew G. (United Kingdom)
Czerner Rafał (Poland) Preshlenov Hristo (Bulgaria)
Dimitrov Zdravko (Bulgaria) Rączkowski Włodzimierz (Poland)
Dintchev Ventzislav (Bulgaria) Recław Janusz (Poland)
Donevski Peti (Bulgaria) Ribera i Lacomba Albert (Spain)
Dyczek Piotr (Poland) Scholl Tomasz (Poland)
Gencheva Evgenia (Bulgaria) Skibiński Edward (Poland)
Goslar Tomasz (Poland) Skoczylas Janusz (Poland)
Ivanov Rumen (Bulgaria) Sarnowski Tadeusz (Poland)
Jundziłł Juliusz (Poland) Sharankov Nicolay (Bulgaria)
Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski Radosław Stachowiak Dominik (Poland)
(Poland) Stawoska-Jundziłł Bożena (Poland)
Klenina Elena (Poland) Tomas Agnieszka (Poland)
Kóčka-Krenz Hanna (Poland) Tsarov Ivan (Bulgaria)
Koss Andrzej (Poland) Tsetskhladze Gocha (United Kingdom)
Kośko Aleksander (Poland) Vagalinski Lyudmil (Bulgaria)
Kubrak Oskar (Poland) Velenis Georgios (Greece)
Lafli Erguen (Turkey) Vladkova Pavlina (Bulgaria)
Łukaszewicz Adam (Poland) Yotov Valeri (Bulgaria)
Magnani Stefano (Italy) Zaharide Mihail (Romania)
Markgraf Agata (Germany) Zambrzycki Piotr (Poland)
NOVAE, MOESIA AND THRACIA
 CHERSONESOS
AND BLACK SEA REGION
MITHRAEA IN SCYTHIA AND TAURICA

Radosław Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski
University of Warsaw, Institute of Archaeology, 26/28 Krakowskie Przedmieście str., PL-00-92, Warsaw, ra-
doslaw.szczypiorski@gmail.com

Abstract
In the first centuries of our era, Roman garrisons periodically stationed in the Greek cities on the north-
western coast of the Black Sea. Civilians originating from the Roman provinces also resided there, while the
local population gradually succumbed to Romanisation. The material evidence of this process includes finds
confirming the performance of religious ceremonies that had previously been unknown in the discussed
area. These include various artefacts linked to the cult of Mithras. The text presents various such finds
from Balaklava-Kadykovka and Aj-Todor Cape, as well as from Chersonesos, Olbia and Tyras. The article
analyses their relationship with the places where the Roman army was stationed. In the case of the listed
settlements, certain hypotheses have been presented concerning the possible localisation of the Mithraea or
temples devoted to various deities, including Mithras.

Key words: Mithras, Mithraeum, the Roman Army, religion, Scythia and Taurica

Introduction
Scythia and Taurica is a name confirmed by one of the Latin inscriptions discovered in
Tauric Chersonesos.1 Based on the content of this inscription, it can be concluded that the
vexillationes of the Lower Moesian army, deployed in the south-western part of Crimea and
in Olbia and Tyras, were – at least periodically – under joint command.2
The garrisons were deployed to the towns but also to specially constructed forts. Up until
recently, separate Roman army bases were only known to have existed in Balaklava-Kadyk-
ovka3 and at Aj-Todor Cape near Yalta.4 There can be no certainty as to the similar function
of a few other sites listed in the archaeological literature.5 Despite the localisation of the dis-
cussed group of military posts far beyond the borders of the Empire, their organisation did
not deviate strongly from the standards known from other areas. These similarities are also
noticeable in the case of religious cults.
Temples located extra muros were discovered as a result of the conducted excavations
in Balaklava-Kadykovka and at Aj-Todor Cape. At the first of these sites, this was a tem-
ple dedicated to Jupiter Dolichenus (Sarnowski, Savelja 2000). The remains of a so-called
“temple of the beneficiarii” were uncovered beyond the walls of the second above-listed fort.6
The dominant cult practiced within this shrine is indicated by an assemblage consisting of
three altars dedicated to Jupiter (Iovis Optimus Maximus). In addition, various furnishing
elements, indicating the practice of a number of other private cults, have also been attested

1 CIL VIII 619.

2 Sarnowski 2000, 267; Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski 2015a, 19.
3 Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski 2015b
4 Zubar’ 2000; Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski 2015a, 85–110.
5 Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski 2015a, 110–131.
6 Rostovcev 1911.
190 Radosław Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski

within both these temples. Furthermore, their localisation beyond the forts allows for the
supposition that not only soldiers frequented these temples, but also the civilians residing
outside the fort’s walls.
The research results acquired so far leave many questions unanswered. At the listed
sites linked to the presence of Roman armies, no remains of Mithraea have been discovered,
even though such temples had frequently been constructed outside forts or legionary strong-
holds.7 Some findings can, however, be linked with various degrees of certainty to the cult of
Mithras. This cult was most probably practiced near the garrisons and with the participation
of the soldiers stationed at the particular site.

Fort at Aj-Todor Cape (Charax ?)

As mentioned above, the ruins of a temple were discovered at this site beyond the fort walls
(fig. 1, 1-2). Aside from the altars dedicated to Jupiter (2 of the 3 were found inside the
temple, see fig. 1, 3. 5), an assemblage consisting of twelve votive plaques depicting various
deities also originate from inside the shrine.8 Among these, certain images have been en-
countered repetitively, i.e. the Thracian Horseman (3 times), Dionysus (3 times) and Mithras
(2 times). Taking into account the various plaques found throughout the entire cape, one
can also indicate yet another representation of the Thracian Horseman and in total three
representations of Artemis, but only one from the discussed temple (fig. 1, 3-4).9 Only single
representations were discovered of other deities, i.e. Hermes and Hecate. It is worth noting
that the only reliefs with representations of Mithras come from the ruins of the temple, where
they were discovered along with evidence of the cult of other deities. It is a shame that the
poorly preserved information about the pre-revolution studies conducted at Aj-Todor Cape
does not allow for even a rough reconstruction of the plan of the “temple of the beneficiarii”.

Balaklava-Kadykovka
The Temple of Jupiter Dolichenus in Balaklava is similarly situated as the temple near Aj-
Todor Cape fort (fig. 2, 5). Both were constructed extra muros, at a certain distance from the
fortifications, most probably next to the main road leading to one of the gates. In Balaklava,
the preserved inscriptions, altars, fragments of statues and other furnishing elements do not
provide any direct indication that those who worshipped Mithras had used this shrine. Thus
far, not a single votive plaque has been found within the fort or in its surroundings, even
though such examples are well known from the other discussed sites. Reliefs of this type,
mainly due to the find contexts of the majority of the Aj-Todor Cape specimens, are usually
unequivocally linked to the cults practiced by the Roman army.10 However, the present au-
thor holds some doubts about this issue. The hypothesis about the loose association of this
type of reliefs with the garrisons in Taurica is based, among other things, on the observation
that no such similar reliefs have been encountered in Balaklava, while in Chersonesos they
have been found exclusively outside the citadel at which at least part of the Roman vexil-
latio were stationed.11 However, a small fragment of a bas-relief from Inkerman lime, i.e. the
top left corner of a slab with a convex frame, was discovered during the excavations at the
Temple of Jupiter Dolichenus. Only a fragment of a wind-blown cloak is visible on the rep-
resentation (fig. 3).12

7
Tomas / Lemke 2015, 228; Tomas 2017 57, 118.
8
Rostovcev 1911, 13–16; cf. D’âkov 1930, 31; Blavatskij 1951, 256–258; Blavatsky / Kochelenko
1966, 23–25.
9 Rostovcev 1911, 42, no. 2; Solomonik 1965, 99–102; Novychenkova-Lukychova 2014, 143.
10 Zubar’ / Krapivina 1999, 80; Zubar’ / Krapivina 2000, 243; Lancov 2003, 39–41.
11 Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski 2015a: 20–33, 38–41.
12 Sarnowski / Savelja 2000, tabl. 7, 6.
 MITHRAEA IN SCYTHIA AND TAURICA 191

Similar cloaks have been observed on some representations of the Thracian Horseman.
The discussed fragment might be part of a seldom-encountered image in which the Horse-
man is holding the horse’s reins in his right hand.13 It also seems possible that this is a part
of the characteristic representation of the Rider holding a spear in his right hand. In this
case, it would have to be the variant in which the arm is raised up high above the head, not
obstructing the view of the wind-blown cloak.14
The discussed fragment of the bas-relief might also constitute part of the Tauroctony
scene, during which Mithras kills a bull. However, the cloak on the deity’s back is usually
bulged in a particular manner as if by a gust of air blowing from the bottom. On the analysed
representation of the cloak, it seems to be fluttering towards the back and upwards, as if to
show haste. As a result, it remains impossible to identify the deity represented on the bas-
relief from Balaklava with complete certainty. Nevertheless, it should be remembered that
there are various images of Mithras in which the cloak is not bulged in the above-described
characteristic manner. Such iconographic types include, among other specimens, two reliefs
from the Mithraeum in Dura Europos (CIMRM no. 34), the bas-relief from the San Clemente
Mithraeum in Rome (CIMRM no. 338), as well as the representation on the votive plaque from
Olbia15 that will be discussed further below (fig. 4).
If in the case of the temple in Balaklava we were to look more broadly at the evidence of
the cult of solar deities, one more representation should be mentioned. One of the slabs that
makes up part of the podium structure (the bench) inside the shrine was adorned with the
heads of three deities. Unfortunately, the artefact has only been fragmentarily preserved. On
this basis, it is possible to identify Luna with certainty, located in the right corner of the com-
position. The existence of a representation of Sol at the left edge can only be presumed.16
The plan of Balaklava temple should also be noted as relevant to our discussion. The inte-
rior consists of an elongated rectangular room measuring ca. 6 m × 9.5 m, with an entrance
and apse located in the middle of the room’s shorter sides. Parallel to the longer sides of the
room, podiums (types of benches) were constructed above floor level. This plan can also be
observed in the case of various mithraea, including those constructed and used by the Ro-
man army.17

Tauric Chersonesos
As already mentioned above, the Chersonesos votive plaques originate from various parts of
the settlement and from different contexts. It is difficult to establish a direct link between
this group of finds and the Roman garrison stationed at the citadel (and perhaps also in the
south-western part of the town).18 Thus far, at least 17 fragments of different votive plaques
have been found in the town and in its rural territory.19 It should be noted that as many as
seven of them are representations of the Thracian Horseman, including one from excavations
conducted at the Citadel. However, other observations resulting from the analysis of this as-
semblage of votive plaques are much more significant for the considerations in this article.
The finds were scattered; thus, it is impossible to indicate the localisation of the possible
temple from which they might originate. One fragment of a representation of Mithras has
been identified within the discussed group of reliefs. However, this find comes from insula 3,
situated at a large distance from the Citadel, in the north-eastern part of Chersonesos.20

13 Scorpan 1967, type 2; CCET nos. 5, 58, 285, 293.

14 Scorpan 1967, Type 2: 7; CCET nos. 203, 551.
15 Krapivina 1994, 169.
16 Sarnowski / Savelja 2000, tabl. 9, 1.
17 Sarnowski / Savelja 2000, 49, 64.
18 Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski 2015a, 21–33, 38–41.
19 Ŝeglov 1969.
20 Ŝeglov 1969, 150.
192 Radosław Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski

Special attention should be paid to an artefact that belongs to completely different cat-
egory. This is a limestone altar with a Latin inscription.21 This altar devoted to Mithras was
found not far from the Citadel. Its localisation next to the defensive walls in a secondary con-
text might suggest that the altar was used to repair the fortifications. Long before the arrival
of the Romans, the nearby defensive tower XVII had been fixed using a large amount of Hel-
lenistic gravestones. The aforementioned stelae must have originally been exhibited in the
necropolis near the fortifications.22 The general distribution of the finds consisting of grave
inscriptions (Greek and Latin) and of their fragments23 shows that many of them have been
preserved because they were reused during the renovation of the fortifications. The use of
the gravestones in repairing the walls indicates that the building material was found directly
outside the settlement walls. This allows for the supposition that the original localisation of
Mithras’ altar was also outside the Citadel walls.

Olbia
Yet another group of votive plaques comes from Olbia. The majority were acquired before the
revolution in unspecified circumstances, ending up as a single assemblage in a private col-
lection. This part was then published by Rostovcev24 Three of the plaques depict Mithras,25
another two – the Thracian Horseman, and one – Demeter or Cybele. On yet another of the
plaques, which differs slightly in terms of its stylistics, there are two bearded deities. It is
almost certain that these are the personifications of rivers, though there are some doubts
as to this interpretation.26 It can be presumed that all of the listed reliefs were found in one
particular place within the ruins of the settlement.27
Yet another fragment of a marble plaque, most probably with a depiction of the Thracian
Horseman, containing a preserved fragment of a Latin inscription “…TPOROBONO”, comes
from Farmakovski’s pre-revolution excavations. This artefact was supposedly found “in the
ruins of Olbia”28 in 1904.29 At the time, excavations were being conducted on the fragment
of the fortifications and defensive tower located by Hare’s Dell (Zaâčaâ Balka). In addition,
a sondage was done east of the aforementioned fortifications. A continuation of this excava-
tion also included one other trench, done at the eastern edge of the upper plateau, at the bend
in the Bug Estuary (fig. 5: 2).30 Unfortunately, it is impossible to establish the exact part of
the excavations from which the discussed find originates. However, both excavations were
localised at the edges of the terrain occupied by the so-called “Roman citadel” (Fig. 5: 1).
A few more fragments of votive plaques were recovered during later excavations. Their
precise number is difficult to establish. However, it is known that in total 4 representations
of Mithras and 4 or 5 representations of the Thracian Horseman come from Olbia.31 In any
attempts at locating the place of the cult of Mithras, it should be remembered that in the
temple at Aj-Todor Cape the representations of these two (but also of other) deities were de-
picted together.

21 Solomonik 1983, 40–41, no. 11; AE 1976, no. 599.

22 Strželeckij 1969; Danilenko 1969; Kolesnikova 1969.
23 Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski 2013, 62–64, fig. 2–3.
24 Rostovcev 1911, 17–19.
25 cf. Blavatsky / Kochelenko 1966, 32, fig. 15–16.
26 Rostovcev 1911, 17–19; cf. Zubar’ / Krapivina 2000, 243; Zubar’ 2005a, 452.
27 Rostovcev 1911, 17
28 IOSPE I² no. 171
29 Inventory no. 1904. 158; Ivančik / Falileev 2011, 135.
30 Farmakovskij 1907, 2–3.
31 Rusâeva 1992, 152–153; Krapivina 1994; Zubar’ / Krapivina 2004.
 MITHRAEA IN SCYTHIA AND TAURICA 193

One plaque fragment with a representation of the Thracian Horseman and part of a Latin
inscription mentioning Cohorta I Cilicium was found in the ruins of rooms “on the lower ter-
race” in a building “directly adjacent to the Citadel”, “to the south-eastern Citadel wall”.32
The above-mentioned fourth representation of Mithras in the Tauroctony scene was dis-
covered nearby.33 A fragment of a relief on a marble plaque was found in sector P-25 in the
south-eastern part of the “Roman citadel of Olbia”.34
The collected information about the find spots of some of the votive plaques from Olbia
allows for certain suppositions concerning the localisation of the temple in which Mithras’
cult might have been practiced. This building could have been situated on the bend of the
upper plateau facing the Bug Estuary. Thus, this would have been a temple located outside
the walls of the so-called citadel.

Tyras
The published materials indicate that so far five votive reliefs or their fragments have been
found in Tyras.35 Three plaques were made from marble and two from limestone. Two of them
depicted the Thracian Horseman, while one relief each bore representations of Artemis, the
Moirai and Dionysus. There are no indications in the publications as to the reliefs’ find spots.
There are also no representations of Mithras. However, it should be noted that two out of the
five reliefs contain images of the Thracian Horseman. Both representations were found in
rooms belonging to the same building, during the exploration of strata dated to the 2nd-3rd
centuries AD.36
For our analysis, another find from Tyras deserves special attention. In the 1990s,
a Ukrainian-Romanian expedition discovered a fragment of a building with an apse that had
been constructed using stone and limestone mortar.37 The building with the apse had been
added to the external side of curtain wall no. 552 neighbouring the citadel fortifications (fig.
6, 7), while the accompanying strata are dated to the 2nd-3rd centuries AD.38 A gate leading
from the citadel beyond the walls is situated nearby. According to those who discovered the
building, these were supposedly the relicts of a Christian church.39 Another opinion claimed
that these were the remains of a building used by the Roman army, e.g. thermae or a mili-
tary command post.40 Both hypotheses seem to be highly unlikely. The discussed building is
much older than the earliest remains of Christian temples known to us on the northern coast
of the Black Sea (the 390s). This structure, which is probably the oldest church discovered
in Tauric Chersonesos, also has a completely different layout and proportions.41 Caution
should also be maintained as to the identification of the building with the apse as a garrison
structure, especially a military command post. It does not seem probable that a building
constructed outside the citadel walls, almost certainly extra muros, would have performed
such a function. It should also be remembered that an analogous theory was put forward by
the same researcher in regards to the remains of the temple of Jupiter Dolichenus in Balak-
lava, which turned out to be completely misguided.42
It seems to be a key for the interpretation of the building’s function to take into account
its localisation beyond the walls in the immediate neighbourhood of a citadel occupied by

32 Ivančik / Krapivina 2005, 206.

33 Ivančik / Krapivina 2005, 197.
34 Kapivina 1994, 168
35 Karyškovskij / Klejman 1985, 118–119; Son 1993, 121–124.
36 Furmans’ka 1956.
37 Samojlova, Kožokaru / Boguslavskij 2002.
38 Zubar 2004, 138, 139; Zubar’ 2005b, 107.
39 Samojlova / Kožokaru 2003.
40 Zubar 2004, 140; Zubar’ 2005b, 107.
41 Parhomenko / Fomin 2016.
42 Kryžyc’kij / Zubar’ 2000; cf. Sarnowski / Savelja 2000
194 Radosław Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski

a Roman garrison. It is also worth noting the building’s dimensions. Only its width has been
established, measuring a little over 6 m. We should remember that in Balaklava a similar
building with an apse (i.e. the Temple of Jupiter Dolichenus) was slightly over 7 m wide. The
Mithraeum from London (Walbrook), which is very similar in structure, was 7.84 m wide,43
while the slightly different temple dedicated to this same god in Novae was also ca. 8 m
wide.44

Conclusion
Based on the conducted overview of the finds, it can be established that in Scythia and Tau-
rica evidence of the cult of Mithras are usually found in places where the Roman garrisons
had been stationed. An issue exists with indicating the exact places at which this deity’s fol-
lowers might have gathered. In the case of the forts in Balaklava-Kadykovka and at Aj-Todor
Cape, it can be assumed that the temples located extra muros were used to practice various
private cults. They might have served the purposes of both soldiers and the civilians accom-
panying the army. In the case of these garrisons located at some distance from the towns,
there seems to be no basis to assume the simultaneous functioning of more than one temple
beyond the walls.
In the coastal towns, the army lived in the immediate neighbourhood of the local Greek
community (Chersonesos, Tyras) or even perhaps merged with it (Olbia). Evidence is avail-
able at each of the listed settlements, allowing for the indication of certain parts of the towns
as occupied exclusively or mainly by the Roman garrison. Various small artefacts have been
found in Chersonesos and Olbia that can be linked to the cult of Mithras or to cults prac-
ticed jointly with the cult of Mithras (as confirmed by examples from Balaklava-Kadykovka
and from Aj-Todor Cape). On this basis, it is possible to indicate the approximate localisa-
tion (extra muros) at which a temple used by those practicing the cult of Mithras, among
other deities, might have been situated. A mithraeum has probably already been discovered
at Tyras, or it might perhaps be yet another temple located beyond the walls used by those
practicing various cults.
In light of the gathered data, it seems that the brightest prospects for making another
discovery linked to the issue of private cults in the Roman army are provided by the area
neighbouring the citadel in Tyras and those near the so-called citadel in Olbia.

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Abbreviations
AE – L’Année épigraphique, Paris.
CCET – Z. Gočeva, M. Oppermann, Corpus cultus Equitis Tracii, I–IV, Leiden 1979–1981.
CIL – Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum.
CIMRM – M. Vermaseren, Corpus inscriptionum monumentorum religionis Mithraicae, Hagae
1960.
IOSPE I² – B. Latyschev, Inscriptiones antiquae Orae Septentrionalis Ponti Euxini. Inscriptiones
Tyrae, Olbiae, Chersonesi Tauricae aliorum locorum a Danubio usque ad regnum Bospo-
ranum, Petropoli 1916.
 MITHRAEA IN SCYTHIA AND TAURICA 197

Fig. 1. Fort at Aj-Todor Cape. Plan of the site. Compilation prepared based on published plans (Rostovcev”
1911, Tab. 1; D’âkov 1930, il. 7; Blavatskij 1951, il. 2; Firsov 1975, il. 1; concept by R. Karasiewicz-Szczy-
piorski; drawn by O. Kubrak).
1 – Inner wall; 2 – Outer wall; 3 – Temple beyond the eastern gate; 4 – The presumed temple beyond the walls
– west of the fort; 5 – Find spot of one of the altars dedicated to Jupiter (IOM) west of the temple; 6 – Road
heading to the harbour; 7 – Road from the supposed military command building (Principia) leading outside
the walls (Via Praetoria).

Fig. 2. Balaklava-Kadykovka (after Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski 2015a, fig. 37). The possible course of the for-
tifications in phase 2 (second half of the 2nd century). Attempt at reconstructing the plan of part of the fort
and its surrounding in phase 3 (beginning of the 3rd century AD).
1 – Praetorium; 2 – Principia (probable localisation); 3 – Horrea (probable localisation); 4 – The barracks
and/or stables in the raetentura (probable localisation); 5 – The Temple of Jupiter Dolichenus; 6 – The bath
(probable localisation); 7 – The possible course of the fortifications after the expansion conducted in phase
3 (first half of the 3rd century).
198 Radosław Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski

Fig. 3. Fragment of a bas-relief from linestone found during

excavations at the Temple of Jupiter Dolichenus in Balaklava-
Kadykovka. Preserved fragment: max. high – 0.19 m, max. width –
0.32 m, thiekness of the plaque – 0.04 m, thickness of the frame –
0.09 m (after Sarnowski, Savelja 2000, tabl. 7, 6).

Fig. 4. Fragment of marble votive

plaque from excavations at Olbia. The
Tauroctony scene (after Kapivina 1994,
169, drawing by O. Kubrak).

Fig. 5. Olbia. Area covered by the ancient settlement (after Far­ma­

kovskij 1915, 9, il. 2; Wąsowicz 1975, fig. 55; concept by R. Kara­
siewicz-Szczypiorski; drawn by O. Kubrak).
1 – The southern part of the plateau –area occupied by the settlement
in the Roman period. The so-called “Roman citadel”; 2 – Slope of the
upper plateau leading to the Bug Estuary – potential localisations of
the temple used by those worshipping Mithras.
 MITHRAEA IN SCYTHIA AND TAURICA 199

Fig. 6 Tyras. Part of the citadel ruins (after Karyškovskij, Klejman 1985, il. 13, 33; Klejman 1999,
il. 1; Zubar 2004, il. 1, 3; concept by R. Karasiewicz-Szczypiorski; drawn by O. Kubrak).
Defensive walls: 1 – Curtain wall no. 72; 2 – Round defensive tower no. 68; 3 – Curtain wall no. 37;
4 – Curtain wall no. 212; 4 – Curtain wall no. 552. Buildings from the Roman period; 5 – The so-called
“vexillatio building” or “V building”; 6 – Building with apse (temple beyond the walls?); 7 – Find spot of
the supposed temple.