Mithraeum of Zerzevan Castle

Mithras Temple is a temple located within Zerzevan Castle in the Çınar district of Diyarbakır.

It was built underground by carving the main rock immediately north of the shelter. It belongs to the Mithras religion, which became especially widespread among soldiers in the Roman Empire in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD and lost its importance with the spread of Christianity in the 4th century AD. It is one of two Mithras temples in Anatolia (the other in Antep); this temple was accidentally discovered in 2017 at Zerzevan Castle. It is estimated to be 1800 years old.

Architecture

It is a structure 7 meters long, 5 meters wide, and 2.5 meters high. On the east wall of the structure there are columns carved into the main rock and a large niche in the center, with two small niches on the sides. Paint residues can be observed on the band rising over the two columns surrounding the large central niche.

The sunburst motif on the east wall has also been preserved to the present day. In one of the small niches there is a very neatly carved water basin and directly in front of it a pool on the floor of the structure. Additionally, there are four animal‑binding places symmetrically made in the ceiling area. On the entrance door of the structure, inscriptions and symbols are clearly visible.

In 2018, two ritual corridors were found opening to the temple.