Mysterious Sanctuary Linked to Mithraism Found on French Island

An ancient sanctuary dedicated to the god Mithra was excavated in Lucciana on east coast of Corsica. The site was excavated by France’s National Institute for Preventative Archaeology (INRAP) in advance of roadwork planned in the neighborhood. This is the first ever sanctuary discovered on the French island.

Sanctuary Discovered in Ancient Roman City

A team of archaeologists sent to Corsica by the INRAP, started excavating the site back in November 2016 to make sure that no important archaeological ruins are hiding there, before the local authorities start digging. The remains of the ancient city of Colonia Mariana are within the municipal boundaries of Lucciana, but this specific area had not been excavated before. The team’s director, Philippe Chapon, suggests that this little Roman town reached its prime during the 3rd and 4th centuries AD, when it flourished as a commercial harbor and became a significant “meeting point” for maritime trade between the people of Mediterranean. After three months of hard work at the site, the archaeologists revealed that they have unearthed and identified a worship room and its antechamber.