Oil lamps cast a flickering light onto the walls of the temple, the scent of incense and burned fruit hangs heavily in the air ... The Mainz earth has brought a little more light into the Romans' everyday rituals in Mogontiacum.

In 2000, parts of a temple dedicated to the Ancient Egyptian deity Isis and the Oriental Mater Magna were found, which was probably in use until the 3rd century. A sensational view of religious cults in the Roman period thus became possible.

In addition to the more than 300 oil lamps found all round the temple, the offerings excavated caused a sensation: Apart from fruit, such as dates and figs, pine nuts and cereal seeds were burnt on altars. Animal sacrifices were also made, as innumerable chicken bones proved. Among the statuettes recovered are a pair of lovers with their arms tightly round each other, a Venus, a bull with a sacrificial binding and a bronze Mercury with a moneybag in his hand.

The foundations of the Roman shrine of the Isis and Mater Magna Temple were discovered during excavation works for a shopping arcade. Walls, stones and finds were stored carefully for three years. In 2003, the temple was reconstructed at the place where it was found in the presentation room of the "Taberna archaeologica.” A staging of the shrine appealing to all senses now awaits visitors on their journey through time back to the world of the cults of Rome.

Information
Isis and Mater Magna Shrine
Taberna archaeologiea
Römerpassage 1,
55116 Mainz
Tel. +49 (0) 6131-6007493
Fax +49 (0) 6131-6007494
 vorstand[at]roemisches-mainz.de