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.
New cultural hub by 2027
Once construction wraps up, the Mithras sanctuary will open to the public in 2027 inside a modern building surrounded by landscaped parks. The site will become freely accessible, adding a unique new cultural destination to Budapest’s rich array of historical attractions.
Exceptional artifacts from the shrine
Excavations have already yielded a treasure trove of significant findings:
- Oil lamps, pottery fragments, and dice
- Game pieces for a Roman mill game, offering a glimpse into everyday life
- Altars with stucco and traces of pigment, including one inscribed with the Mithraic dedication “TRANSITO”
- A lead votive depicting figures wearing Phrygian caps
- A three-wick oil lamp placed beneath the skull of a domestic animal
- Fragment of a stone bowl
- Remnants of frescoes from the sanctuary’s walls, which, once reassembled, revealed a male portrait — possibly Mithras himself
The significance of Mithras worship
One of the Roman Empire’s most widespread mystery religions, Mithraism was especially popular among soldiers. Though its influence waned with the rise of Christianity, it persisted in various aspects of later religious traditions.
According to archaeologists, the newly uncovered sanctuary had been renovated at some point but was likely abandoned following the Sarmatian invasion of A.D. 260. The roof eventually collapsed, burying the structure underground—where it remained surprisingly well preserved until its recent rediscovery.
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