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objects as they make their way to their deities. Both the left and right walls in the
Mithraeum of Santa Prisca have remnants of paintings which depict different scenes and include several figures; however, due to destruction, some of the images are difficult to make out. The left wall of the temple shows several walking male figures, some youthful and full of energy. They are seen in brown and yellow color tunic holding objects like pans, terracotta and glass vessels, even animals like chickens. Another figure in the painting is seen standing, wearing a red tunic and is depicted with a raven face mask and proffering an oblong dish. Other depictions within the frescoes of the Mithraeum include soldiers holding their military bags. Within the Mithraic cult, there is an initiation of seven grades, which are also referred to as the seven planetary grades of salvation. It is thought that this fresco in Santa Prisca is a depiction of the seven grades of initiation, though it is hard to be certain with only the fragmentary evidence that remains. The right wall fresco in the Mithraeum features the seven grades arranged in the exact order (followed by their symbols):
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often included writing underneath or around the work, which would describe what that fresco showed. This is something unique to the
Mithraic temple found at Santa Prisca. These paintings were also important to the development of understanding the Mithraic cult. Along with the typical bull slaying scene so commonly depicted amongst the cult, other paintings depicted different cult rituals. For example, one painting shows a procession of figures wearing masks and different colored tunics holding what has been presumed to be a piece of liturgical equipment. These paintings have been mentioned in the long-standing debate about the admittance of women into the cult. Around 400, the Christians took over the Mithraeum, destroyed it and built Santa Prisca on top of it.
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The Dutch excavations of M. J. Vermaseren and C. C. Essen in the mid 20th century also revealed there to be paintings in the temples underneath the church. The whole sanctuary was found to have been originally painted by the members of the cult. The
Mithraeum's entrance had been stuccoed and painted
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cult. During the Dutch excavations in the 1950s, pieces of mosaic were found within the newly discovered rooms underneath Santa Prisca. Renovations in 220 yielded a larger central cult room and the addition of new ones while the frescoes were covered with new, more elaborate paintings. The frescoes
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Upon beginning the excavations in 1952, the Dutch cleared away mounds of earth which were thought to have been a sort of trench. During this period, many artifacts were discovered by the Dutch who made a careful record. Some of these discoveries included frescoes, mosaics, remains of various vases,
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which depict particular beliefs in the
Mithraic cult as well as elements of initiation. One of the frescoes on the left wall within the Mithraeum of the Roman Church includes a depiction of a cult processional towards figures Mithra and Sol, with those participating in the cult holding various
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red, also featuring a painted blue ceiling with stars. Both the temples within the
Mithraeum have paintings of an initiate processional and Sol seen with pierced rays for illumination as well as painted remnants which are believed to be fruit baskets and flowers.
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stucco, as well as fragments of mosaic and brick. The original
Mithrauem had a central aisle, a niche, and side benches. Fine frescoes were found on the walls of the ancient Mithraeum as well as a stucco sculpture of
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who had been in charge of the monastery. Excavations by the Dutch began in 1952–59. The original building was erected in ca. 95 CE and was originally a plot of land purchased by
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Mosaic at the
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Mosaic at the
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Griffith, Alison. "Completing the
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The findings of Vermaseren and Essen also found there to be similarities to another Mithreaum in
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An example of a fresco depicting Mithra slaying the bull, seen at the Mithrauem in Marino, Italy
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Head of Helios depicted in polychrome marble inlays, located in the Santa Prisca Mithraeum
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Pater, Saturn: symbols of the father, depicted by the clothes of Mithra, a ring and staff
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under Santa Prisca was first discovered in 1934, having been excavated by
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Leo, Jupiter: shovel, sistrem (sacred rattle) and Jupiters thunderbolts
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The Excavations in the Mithraeum of the Church of Santa Prisca in Rome
968:. Sacramento State University Library: Northwestern University Press.
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The Exclusion of Women in the Mithraic Mysteries: Ancient or Modern?
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Paintings and Iconography in the Mithraeum of Santa Prisca
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553:(18 Dec 1327 - 20 Dec 1334) elected Pope Benedict XII
986:. Numen 47 (2): 121–141. doi:10.1163/156852700511469
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meeting place was established in the other section.
881:(12 Jan 1953 - 28 Oct 1958) elected Pope John XXIII
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348:Saints and angels with the instruments of passion
613:(20 Sep 1557 - 25 Dec 1559) elected Pope Pius IV
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469:Perses, Luna: crescent moon, scythe and falx
387:Inside the Mithraeum of Santa Prisca, Rome
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346:frescoed the walls of the nave with
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463:Miles, Mars: lance, helmet and bag.
847:, OESA (17 Dec 1891 - 26 Apr 1893)
661:(Gonza) (17 Oct 1572 - 9 Jul 1578)
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807:Francesco Maria Pandolfi Alberici
779:(Jr.) (16 Dec 1737 - 16 Sep 1740)
689:Bonifazio Bevilacqua Aldobrandini
356:Immaculate conception with angels
415:, one of the main images of the
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27:For the fictional country, see
767:Luis Antonio Belluga y Moncada
379:The Discovery of the Mithraeum
334:, where an altar contains the
291:in the acts of the 499 synod.
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1020:Churches of Rome (rione Ripa)
635:Antoine Perrenot de Granvella
941:. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1965.
857:Vittorio Ranuzzi de' Bianchi
954:Vol. 53, No. 1. Brill: 2006
899:(27 Jun 1977 - 26 Oct 1982)
893:(19 Mar 1962 - 29 Nov 1976)
887:(15 Dec 1958 - 19 Mar 1962)
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460:Nymphus, Venus: bridal veil
33:Santa Prisca Church (Taxco)
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905:(2 Feb 1983 - 17 Nov 2001)
863:Charles-Henri-Joseph Binet
859:(7 Dec 1916 - 16 Feb 1927)
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667:(9 Jul 1578 - 16 May 1581)
655:(3 Jul 1570 - 17 Oct 1572)
653:Giovanni Francesco Gàmbara
631:(15 May 1566 - 6 May 1568)
611:Giovanni Angelo de’ Medici
601:(24 Sep 1543 - 4 Nov 1549)
583:(27 Mar 1525 - 3 Aug 1534)
577:(5 Oct 1506 - 15 Jun 1524)
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117:11 Via di Santa Prisca,
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29:Santa Prisca (DC Comics)
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364:Baptism of Santa Prisca
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307:. Damaged in the
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103:41.88307; 12.48394
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270:Santa Prisca
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224:Architect(s)
218:Architecture
212:Saint Prisca
201:12th century
146:Denomination
44:Santa Prisca
18:Santa Prisca
695:Carlo Conti
593:Rodolfo Pio
442:iconography
324:Saint Peter
174:santaprisca
135:Language(s)
101: /
999:Categories
977:References
207:Dedication
163:Roman Rite
89:12°29′02″E
86:41°52′59″N
67:The facade
910:Footnotes
623:Jean Suau
405:Christian
393:Mithraeum
374:Mithraeum
350:. In the
279:, on the
243:Completed
158:Tradition
1010:Mithraea
438:frescoes
352:sacristy
328:frescoes
151:Catholic
114:Location
527:of the
519:, 1750s
417:Mithras
330:in the
305:Mithras
274:titular
257:Diocese
237:Baroque
198:Founded
183:History
169:Website
139:Italian
125:Country
751:OFMCap
401:Trajan
336:relics
309:Norman
295:Church
283:, for
188:Status
952:Numen
551:OCist
332:crypt
272:is a
129:Italy
829:OESA
523:The
391:The
262:Rome
246:1728
119:Rome
873:OCD
839:OSB
729:CRS
531:is
366:by
358:by
176:.it
1001::
918:^
871:,
837:,
827:,
771:CO
769:,
761:SJ
759:,
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727:,
549:,
539:.
535:,
370:.
342:.
35:.
20:)
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