Ancient Mithras sanctuary unearthed in Budapest

Archaeologists have begun extracting what is believed to be the first known Mithras sanctuary discovered within the military town of Aquincum in Budapest’s Óbuda district. The 1,800-year-old Roman-era shrine was uncovered in fall 2023 during construction work on a new residential complex, several meters below the current street level, according to experts from the Budapest History Museum (BTM).

PestBuda reports that the find is especially remarkable because no similar religious site had previously been uncovered in the military town, despite the well-documented popularity of the Mithras cult among Roman soldiers.

Modern technology safeguards ancient relics

At a press conference, Orsolya Láng, chief archaeologist and curator of the BTM Aquincum Museum, explained that the sanctuary’s crumbling walls are being lifted in several sections by crane due to their depth underground. The goal is to ensure the shrine is properly protected and eventually made accessible to the public.

The ruins will be stored in a secure, climate-controlled facility for up to a year and a half until construction. They will then be relocated to a newly built protective structure where they will go on permanent display.

Preserving the past through collaboration

László Csorba, general director of BTM, emphasized the importance of the collaboration with the developer, which allowed for a solution that also safeguards architectural heritage. He noted that without preserving historical values, building a shared civic identity becomes impossible.

Gábor Kutasi, development director at project developer Biggeorge Property, stressed that preserving cultural heritage is a core priority for the company in addition to architectural concerns. He expressed pride in helping secure and eventually display such a major archaeological discovery.