Temple of Mithras

The Temple of Mithras is an important Roman ruin discovered on Walbrook Street in London during rebuilding work following World War II.

The Persian god Mithras was particularly popular with Roman soldiers and troops garrisoned on the British frontier. They built this temple to Mithras in 240-50 AD.

The archaeological site was excavated by W. F. Grimes and the artifacts recovered were put on display in the Museum of London.

The Museum of London still has an exhibit on the Temple of Mithras. There you can read about the temple and the marble sculptures discovered buried underneath.

Due to the necessity of building over the site, the ruins were uprooted and moved down the road to Queen Victoria Street, where the temple remains are on display to the public.

Temples to Mithras (Mithraea) were typically built partly or totally underground, as they were intended to symbolise the cave where Mithras killed the primordial bull and released powers of life and creativity to the world.

The temple foundations that remain reveal the Roman influence on the design of churches: like later Christian buildings, the Temple of Mithras features a central nave, side aisles and a rounded apse.