The Mithraeum

Newly opened archaeological site of a Roman temple in the basement of the new Bloomberg Building.

This Roman temple of Mithras has recently been relocated to the site on which it was originally discovered and is now in an attractive display in the basement of a new office block. It is free to go in but they recommend booking in advance.

On the ground floor there is a wall of unlabelled objects found on the site with iPads provided to give details of the items. It is very moving to look at personal objects that were discarded in the past and to imagine the lives of the people who lost them. As you descend to the basement the street levels at different points in time are carved into the marble walls with details of historic events of the time. They limit the number of people going into the Mithraeum but there is a good video in the holding area to keep you occupied.

You go into the main site in small groups and once in there you visit starts with a light and sound experience to give an idea of how the temple might have looked, sounded and been used. This just lasts a few minutes then you are left to view the reconstruction of the archaeological site as it was discovered in 1952-54. It is moving to be in a space that old and to see a place where Londoner’s before us worshiped and socialised. Combine a visit here with a trip to the amphitheatre and you really feel like you are walking Roman London.

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