I saw this tweet yesterday from @DanielJPhelan_, who is walking Hadrian’s wall! He photographed the Carrawburgh Mithras temple and saw that the central altar (ara) was being used by travellers (we might be able to say pilgrims, depending on their intention) who were leaving ‘offerings’ in the bowl of the altar. Where once there would of been a small flame to eat-up the offerings, there is a pool of rain water holding coins, some attractive stones and a few flowers (daisies).

The altar itself appears to be RIB 1544, dedicated to the Invincible Mithras by one Lucius Antonius Proculus, a prefect of the First Cohort of Batavians Antoniniana who had at some point earlier made a vow to Mithras, which was fulfilled (we have no record of the vow). Lucius, being of the Batavian cohort was probably from modern day Netherlands, over 350 miles away (as the crow flies), RIB dates his dedication to around 213-22 CE.

So, some 1800 years later, Lucius’ gift to Mithras for the completion of an unknown vow is still serving it’s purpose, it no longer holds flames and wealthy gifts, but some fresh rain water, and the humble gifts of those travellers who bother to check in on Invincible Mithras.

If you were interested in this, you might be interested in reading:

• Robert J. Wallis and Jenny Blain, (2003), Sites, Sacredness, and Stories: Interactions of Archaeology and Contemporary Paganism
• Robert J. Wallis and Jenny Blain, (2004), Sacred Sites, Contested Rites/ Rights: Contemporary Pagan Engagements with the Past