Mithras in Tarquinia

A statue of Mithras recently discovered at Tarquinia is a new, important piece of evidence which ex- pands the panorama of the Mithraic communities in northern Latium, Etruria, and Umbria. In this area, high quality sculptures were produced for rich buyers who were probably Patres of local congregations. The social milieu of the Mithraists in this area did not consist of officers and sol- diers, customs employees or other members of the imperial administration, as it was the case in many provinces. Some monuments appear to be expensive and carefully made, so it could be sup- posed that at least in some cases several promi- nent members of the imperial elite, such as gener- als, procurators or governors, came back to Italy at the end of their official appointments and sought to organize local communities of Mithraists in their cities, especially if they had been initiated into this cult in the provinces where they were stationed.