About
On the lonely moorland of Hadrian's Wall, just south of the B6318 Military Road in Northumberland, the Mithraeum at Carrawburgh preserves one of the most haunting and atmospheric Roman religious sites in Britain. This ancient temple to Mithras, the mystery deity of Persian origin who attracted devoted followings among the Roman military, was discovered by archaeologists in 1950 and has been reconstructed in its original sunken pit to allow visitors to experience its brooding character. The Roman fort of Brocolitia occupied this position on Hadrian's Wall from the early 2nd century AD onwards, garrisoned by auxiliary cohorts including the 1st Cohort of Batavians and the 1st Cohort of Cugerni. These soldiers, far from their homelands on the Rhine delta, sought spiritual sustenance in the secretive cult of Mithras, whose worship demanded initiation through ascending grades and whose ceremonies were conducted in darkened underground chambers imitating the cave in which Mithras was said to have slaughtered the primordial bull.
The temple pit at Carrawburgh represents an extraordinary survival of Roman sacred space. Three altars stand within the reconstructed shrine — replicas of the originals, which are now displayed at the Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle upon Tyne. The original altars were dedicated by successive commanding officers of the fort's garrison, each inscribing his personal devotion to the deity alongside prayers for the welfare of the soldiers in his charge. The inscriptions provide rare personal glimpses into the spiritual lives of Roman army officers posted to this remote northern frontier.
Beyond the Mithraeum, the earthwork remains of the fort of Brocolitia are visible across the moorland — the outline of the ramparts, the ditch systems, and the adjacent Coventina's Well, a sacred spring dedicated to the native water goddess Coventina, from whose votive deposits a remarkable collection of coins, altars, figurines, and other offerings was recovered in 1876. These finds are also displayed at the Great North Museum. The site lies within walking distance of the open moorland section of Hadrian's Wall, offering visitors the opportunity to combine the Mithraeum visit with walking the Wall itself. Access is free at all times, as befits an open-air moorland monument managed by English Heritage.
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Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
💡 Visitor Tips
- Visit on a weekday for a more solitary experience — the open moorland and atmospheric temple are best appreciated in quiet.
- Combine with a visit to the Great North Museum in Newcastle to see the original Carrawburgh altars and the astonishing Coventina's Well finds.
- Wear sturdy footwear — the moorland ground is uneven and can be boggy after rain.
- The AD122 Hadrian's Wall Country Bus (seasonal, summer months) connects major Wall sites and stops at or near Carrawburgh.
- Bring binoculars — the moorland around Carrawburgh is excellent for birdwatching, with curlew, lapwing, and short-eared owls often visible.
- The temple is best visited in low-angle sunlight (morning or late afternoon) when the earthwork remains of the fort are most clearly visible in the landscape.
- Allow time to walk along the Wall — the section west of Carrawburgh toward Sewingshields Crags is particularly rewarding.
- No facilities on site — bring food, water, and appropriate clothing for moorland conditions.
Highlights
The Reconstructed Mithraeum Temple Pit
The centrepiece of Carrawburgh is the reconstructed Mithraeum — a sunken rectangular chamber imitating the cave in which Mithras was mythologically said to have slaughtered the primordial bull. The original temple was discovered in 1950 by Professor Ian Richmond and has been carefully reconstructed to preserve its haunting character.
Visitors can stand at the entrance and look down into the shadowy pit, where three replica altars stand in their original positions before the niche that once held the cult image of Mithras slaying the bull.
The dim, confined atmosphere of the temple — a deliberate architectural evocation of darkness and mystery — conveys better than any museum display could what initiation into the Mithraic mysteries may have felt like for Roman soldiers stationed on this windswept northern frontier.
The Three Altar Replicas
Within the reconstructed temple pit stand three replica altars, faithful copies of the originals now displayed at the Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle upon Tyne. These altars were dedicated by successive commanding officers of the fort's garrison at Brocolitia — the 1st Cohort of Batavians and the 1st Cohort of Cugerni among others.
Each altar bears Latin inscriptions recording the name of the dedicating officer, his rank, and his prayer or vow to Mithras.
Reading these inscriptions provides a rare and personal connection to individual Roman soldiers of the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, men who sought spiritual sustenance in the mysteries of Mithras while posted to the remote northern frontier of the empire. The originals are among the finest Mithraic altars known from Britain.
Coventina's Well
A short distance from the Mithraeum lies the site of Coventina's Well, a sacred spring dedicated to the native water goddess Coventina. In 1876, a remarkable cache of votive deposits was recovered from the well, comprising nearly 14,000 Roman coins spanning several centuries, along with altars, figurines, incense burners, brooches, and other objects thrown into the sacred spring as offerings.
This extraordinary assemblage demonstrated that the soldiers and civilians at Brocolitia venerated both the imported mystery cult of Mithras and a local British water deity simultaneously — a vivid illustration of the religious syncretism characteristic of Roman Britain.
The finds from Coventina's Well are now displayed at the Great North Museum in Newcastle and at Chesters Museum nearby.
The Fort of Brocolitia
The earthwork remains of the Roman fort of Brocolitia are visible across the moorland surrounding the Mithraeum, with the outline of the playing-card-shaped fort footprint still discernible in the landscape. Brocolitia (the name means something like 'badger holes' in Brittonic) was an auxiliary fort established in the early 2nd century AD to garrison a cohort of about 500 infantry along Hadrian's Wall.
The fort was occupied for much of the Roman period in Britain, roughly from AD 122 to the early 5th century, with a succession of auxiliary units serving here.
The physical remains above ground are subtle but evocative, particularly when visited in low-angle light that throws the earthwork ridges and ditches into sharp relief against the moorland grass.
Collections
Carrawburgh Mithraeum is an open-air archaeological site rather than a collections-based museum. The original altars dedicated by the commanding officers of the fort's garrison are held at the Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle upon Tyne, which also displays finds from Coventina's Well including coins, figurines, and inscribed objects.
The reconstructed temple at Carrawburgh contains replica altars and a replica cult figure, enabling visitors to experience the spatial atmosphere of the original Roman temple.
The site is complemented by interpretive panels explaining the archaeology and religious context of the Mithraeum.
The Mithraeum Reconstruction
The reconstructed temple pit with replica altars and interpretive panels explaining Mithraic worship and the archaeology of the site.
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.