BEYOND THE ROMAN EAST: AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF THE MITHRAEUM BASED ON ITS ARCHITECTURAL AUTHENTICITY AT CASTRUM ZERZEVAN (DİYARBAKIR, TURKEY)

Authors

  • Aytaç COŞKUN Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey
  • E.Deniz OĞUZ-KIRCA University of the Aegean, Rhodes, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14795/j.v9i2.724

Keywords:

Roman World, castrum, Zerzevan, cult, paganism, Mithras

Abstract

A rock-cut Mithraic sanctuary (2nd-3rd centuries) was excavated in Castrum Zerzevan. With its architectural authenticity and connectedness to the neighbouring structures, it has remained intact since it was purposefully buried probably around 4th century. The authors argue that it stands as the only known Mithraeum on the eastern border of Rome until proven otherwise. The close up of the site is expressible with the transition process from paganism to monotheistic practices. In the spatio-temporal context, it must have been one of the oldest sanctuaries, due to interactions over the Persian peripheries, of the Mithras belief adopted by the Romanly world.

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Author Biographies

  • Aytaç COŞKUN, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkey
    Department of Archaeology, Assoc.Prof.
  • E.Deniz OĞUZ-KIRCA, University of the Aegean, Rhodes, Greece
    Dept. of Mediterranean Studies, Lab. of Archaeometry and Lab. of Environmental Archaeology (Post-Doc)

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Published

2022-09-03

Issue

Section

Archaeology

How to Cite

BEYOND THE ROMAN EAST: AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF THE MITHRAEUM BASED ON ITS ARCHITECTURAL AUTHENTICITY AT CASTRUM ZERZEVAN (DİYARBAKIR, TURKEY). (2022). JOURNAL OF ANCIENT HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.14795/j.v9i2.724

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