The project was divided into three sections.
In the first instance, an analysis of archaeological, iconographic and epigraphic evidence for the cult of Mithras in the provinces of Pannonia Superior and Inferior was performed in order to determine what types of religious rituals took place in different Mithraic communities and settlements across Pannonia. In order to achieve this an analysis of on-site archaeological evidence as well as of archaeological materials held in museum collections needed to be performed. The Researcher conducted visits to relevant archaeological sites and museums and took detailed photographs and notes of the materials for analysis. This included visiting a special exhibition on the cult of Mithras in Frankfurt (2023), making multiple visits to Budapest and to the Magyar Nemzeti museum and lapidarium as well as to the Aquincum museum and archaeological park to analyse and process finds from Aquincum, Intercisa, and Brigetio mithraea (2023 and 2024), inspecting finds in the Iseum Savariense and Savaria archaeological park (2023 and 2024), inspecting finds at the Klapka Gyorgy museum (2023); visiting the Carnuntum archaeological park and inspecting Carnuntum finds in the KHM museum in Vienna as well as in the Museum Carnuntinum and in Hainburg Kulturfabrik museum depot (2024). In addition to these research visits, the Researcher gathered all necessary iconographic and epigraphic evidence from open-access epigraphic detabases, including from Clauss-Slaby database, Ubi Erat Lupa, Epigraphic Database Heidelberg, among others.
In the second instance, the Researcher analysed, using cognitive theoretical approaches, how ritual practices were learned, performed, remembered, and diffused between Mithraic communities in Pannonia Superior and Inferior. In order to achieve this objective latest research on rituals and ritual experiences from the cognitive sciences and from sensory studies was used in order to improve the Researcher’s existing own theoretical model. The model was then applied to evidence of Mithraic rituals in order to ascertain how ritual practices were performed, learned, remembered and diffused among worshippers of Mithras in Pannonia. The model showed that rituals and ritual experiences could differ not only between Mithraic communities but also between individuals within the same community. This is one of the major research results of the project, since it indicates that ritual practices and experiences were not homogenous as was previously thought.
In the third instance, the Researcher investigated the role that rituals played in religious and social bonding among worshippers, including in the formation of Mithraic religious networks across Pannonia Superior and Inferior. By analysing epigraphic evidence gathered and applying the theoretical approach, the Researcher was able to gain insights into how rituals contributed to group bonding and a stronger group identity among worshippers of Mithras. In terms of results, group bonding effects were particularly evident with respect to two groups of Mithras worshippers – soldiers and customs officials. Participating in shared rituals created tighter bonds between worshippers, resulting in group cohesion, and potentially enhancing the physical and psychological wellbeing of worshippers.
In terms of dissemination of project results, a total of seven conference presentations and invited lectures were given by the Researcher. The Researcher also co-organised one conference session on the theme of ritual variance in the ancient world. Moreover, a monograph is currently in preparation based on the results of the project, as well as an open-access article.
