Temple of Mithras
In 1954 excavations revealed a building that was identified as a temple because of the large number of religious sculptures that was found there. The temple was built about AD240 and with various alterations it remained in use until the end of the Roman period.
Discovery of the sculptures
A group of marble sculptures was buried under the floor of the nave. These sculptures included the heads of Mithras, Serapis and Minerva, the hand of Mithras and the figure of Mercury. Although it may seem unusual that the sculptures are not solely of Mithras, gods of differing religions merged with each other and were often regarded as manifestations of the same deity. The sculptures of the deities Serapis, Mercury and Minerva, although belonging to religions different to that of Mithras, performed some function or had become identified with some part of the worship of Mithras.
The laying of this floor appears to have marked the end of the use of the building as a Mithraeum and the introduction of a new pagan cult, perhaps that of Bacchus in about AD350. It seems that the Bacchic followers carefully buried the damaged sculptures out of respect for an earlier religion.