Latest news with #Mithras
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Lost secret cult temple buried beneath London's streets for 1,700 years
In 1954, builders clearing a World War II bombsite in central London unearthed the remains of a Roman temple honouring Mithras, an ancient Roman-era deity, buried beneath the rubble In 1954, diggers clearing a World War II bombsite in the heart of London unearthed something extraordinary amidst the debris. The find quickly ignited curiosity across the capital, with onlookers flocking to Cannon Street to sneak a peek at the treasure half-buried just metres from the northern banks of the River Thames. Unbeknown to them, they were witnessing one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in London's 2,000-year history. While working on the site, the team accidentally dug up the head of a statue of Mithras, an ancient Roman-era deity - but that was just the beginning. Buried metres beneath the surface lay the remnants of a long-forgotten underground temple dating back at least 1,700 years. This temple was erected in honour of Mithras, a mythical sun-god linked with covenant, light, oath and justice, stemming from ancient Iranian pagan belief. This religion, known as Mithraism, was prevalent across the Roman Empire in the third century, drawing followers from Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Mithraism resonated with Romans from all walks of life, from high-ranking members of the Roman Imperial Army to ordinary citizens - but devotees typically kept a low profile, performing their rituals in secret. The cult's followers would congregate in hidden locations, away from prying eyes. Their specially built temples, known as tauroctony by historians of the time, often featured shrines depicting Mithras' killing of a bull within a cave, a story central to Mithraism, reports MyLondon. After three weeks of digging, the site was fully exposed, much to the joy of onlookers including Winston Churchill, who expressed his excitement over the discovery. However, instead of being treated with the respect it deserved as a heritage site, the temple was dismantled and reassembled above ground at a more visitor-friendly location. William Grimes, the first archaeologist to uncover the temple, was disheartened by the project, as it left out many of the temple's original archaeological features. To correct this mistake, the City of London Planning Authority decided in 1962 that the temple should be taken apart again and rebuilt at its original location. In 2010, Bloomberg chose to buy the site where the temple was first found to set up their European headquarters. As part of the purchase, Bloomberg agreed to manage the temple. After years of meticulous restoration, the temple was finally unveiled to the public in its original subterranean chamber in November 2018. Here, archaeologists discovered over 400 fragments of ancient Roman writing-tablets. Among these fascinating finds were the earliest known mention of London and the oldest hand-written document in Britain. Little is understood about the Mithraic religion, but it's thought to have been favoured by members of the Roman army. They likely saw it as an exclusive fraternal brotherhood. Their enigmatic ceremonies, including a seven-step initiation for newcomers, would have been conducted on a central nave running through the spooky temple, dimly illuminated by candles and oil lamps. The statue of Mithras would have been positioned at one end of the temple's rounded apse. Here, a priest or group of priests may have led congregational prayers and hymns to their deity. Interestingly, the temple was constructed on the banks of the Walbrook, a long-lost river now coursing beneath the streets of London. Artefacts such as coins, pottery, shoes, lucky charms and an amber gladiator amulet were found preserved in the river's mud. The river flows through Shoreditch, past Liverpool Street and into the Thames. The London Mithraeum, situated at 12 Walbrook, London EC4N 8AA, is open to the public and does not require pre-booked tickets. It remains closed on Mondays, Christmas and New Year bank holidays.
The Independent
18-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Secrets of ancient London revealed as more than 14,000 Roman artefacts unearthed
A collection of more than 14,000 Roman artefacts found during building work has been donated to the London Museum. The ancient artefacts were discovered by archaeologists at the site of a 3rd century AD temple to the Roman god Mithras, in the modern-day City of London, during the construction of Bloomberg's European headquarters between 2012 and 2014. The collection includes Britain's largest collection of Roman tablets and the first written reference to London. 'These remarkable artefacts offer a unique window into the past, connecting us directly to the voices of its ancient inhabitants,' Michael R Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies, said. The donation comes alongside £20 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the museum's largest private contribution to date, to support the creation of new premises which are set to open in 2026. The new museum will be housed within the historic Smithfield market buildings in central London and is expected to draw over two million visitors annually. The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, said the new museum will be a 'significant addition' to the capital. 'The generous donation of these wonderful Roman artefacts will be a great addition to the London Museum's collections and the investment provides a major boost to what is one of the biggest cultural projects in Europe,' he said. 'Bloomberg has been a huge cultural champion for London, and this is a great example of public and private sectors working together to help realise bold plans for our capital's future. 'The London Museum will be a significant addition to our capital, transforming the Smithfield area and using the power of culture to drive economic improvement, as we build a better London for everyone.' Sharon Ament, director of the London Museum, said the donation would create a 'lasting legacy for London'. She went on: 'We are hugely ambitious for this project – from setting high standards in sustainability, to creating new apprenticeships for young people; moving the dial on digital opportunities to involving a record number of Londoners in the making of the museum. 'This will be a place truly of and for the city that we hope Londoners will be proud of.' Chris Hayward, chairman of the City of London Corporation's policy and resources committee, said: 'This generous donation is a significant investment in both preserving the rich history of the City of London and ensuring the swift transformation of the new London Museum. 'It will also add to the range of first class exhibits the new London Museum will offer visitors, cementing it as a cultural and economic cornerstone of Destination City.'
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Thousands of Roman artefacts found during building work given to London Museum
The London Museum has been gifted a collection of more than 14,000 Roman artefacts found during building work in the city, as well as a £20 million donation towards its new premises. The collection of ancient artefacts, which includes Britain's largest collection of Roman tablets and the first written reference to London, was discovered by archaeologists during the construction of Bloomberg's European headquarters between 2012 and 2014. The finds were uncovered at the site of a 3rd century AD temple to the Roman god Mithras, in the modern-day City of London. Michael R Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies, said: 'These remarkable artefacts offer a unique window into the past, connecting us directly to the voices of its ancient inhabitants.' The donation comes alongside £20 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the museum's largest private contribution to date, to support the creation of new premises in Smithfield market which are set to open in 2026. The Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan, said the new museum will be a 'significant addition' to the capital. He said: 'The generous donation of these wonderful Roman artefacts will be a great addition to the London Museum's collections and the investment provides a major boost to what is one of the biggest cultural projects in Europe. 'Bloomberg has been a huge cultural champion for London, and this is a great example of public and private sectors working together to help realise bold plans for our capital's future. 'The London Museum will be a significant addition to our capital, transforming the Smithfield area and using the power of culture to drive economic improvement, as we build a better London for everyone.' Sharon Ament, director of the London Museum, said the donation would create a 'lasting legacy for London'. She went on: 'We are hugely ambitious for this project – from setting high standards in sustainability, to creating new apprenticeships for young people; moving the dial on digital opportunities to involving a record number of Londoners in the making of the museum. 'This will be a place truly of and for the city that we hope Londoners will be proud of.' Chris Hayward, chairman of the City of London Corporation's policy and resources committee, said: 'This generous donation is a significant investment in both preserving the rich history of the City of London and ensuring the swift transformation of the new London Museum. 'It will also add to the range of first class exhibits the new London Museum will offer visitors, cementing it as a cultural and economic cornerstone of Destination City.' The new museum will be housed within the historic Smithfield market buildings in central London and is expected to draw over two million visitors annually.
