Ancient inscriptions written in Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus, have shed light on a previously unknown aspect of early Christianity's expansion within the Roman Empire. Etched into stone at the entrance of an underground Mithras temple in southeastern Turkey, the texts reference both Jesus Christ and Mithras, a deity central to an all-male religion popular among Roman soldiers and merchants.
The inscriptions indicate that the sanctuary was symbolically closed by early Christians approximately 1,700 years ago. Researchers discovered these inscriptions at Zerzevan Castle, where the remarkably preserved Mithras temple still contains sacrificial hangers, a basin believed to have been used for bull sacrifices, and niches for secret cult ceremonies. The temple itself, carved into rock, dates back to the Roman period and was uncovered during excavations that began in 2017.
The inscriptions are dated to around 300 years after Jesus' crucifixion, a period marked by Christianity's rapid growth across the Roman Empire. The texts discuss the 'Invincible Sun God Mithras,' a Persian deity adopted by the Romans, associated with light, contracts, and warfare. According to legend, Mithras was born from rock, emerged fully grown, and was depicted wearing a Phrygian cap, holding a dagger and a torch, symbols linked to creation and illumination.
By the fourth century, as Roman emperors increasingly embraced Christianity, Mithraism began to be perceived as a rival faith. This led to the abandonment or conversion of many Mithras temples into churches. The inscriptions, deciphered by Professor Mehmet Sait Toprak of Mardin Artuklu University, also reference the Holy Cross and describe God as a bringer of order, renewal, and love, supporting the conclusion that early Christians repurposed the sanctuary. The presence of a carved cross further suggests a formal closure of the site by the Christian community.
The temple's archaeological features include a bull sacrifice scene carved on a central niche, paint residue on columns, and a crown beam motif on the eastern wall, a symbol associated with Mithras. A blood bowl, connected to a pool by a channel, and four symmetrical points on the ceiling for hanging animals during ceremonies, indicate the ritualistic practices of the cult. The eventual takeover of such pagan sites by Christians reflects the broader religious shifts occurring within the Roman Empire during that era.