The West University of Timișoara (UVT), through the Faculty of Letters, History, Philosophy and Theology, continues the series of events dedicated to the general public through a new meeting within the "Arheotim Conferences", a project that brings to the forefront relevant topics in the field of archaeology and ancient history, presented by nationally and internationally recognized specialists.
The new conference proposes an incursion into one of the most fascinating themes in the history of ancient religions: the cult of Mithras, offering a current and scientifically well-founded perspective on a religious phenomenon that, over time, has been surrounded by spectacular interpretations, bold hypotheses and numerous modern myths.
The guest of the event is Mariana Elena Egri, PhD, Senior Researcher II at the Institute of Archaeology and Art History of the Romanian Academy, Cluj Branch, and Associate Professor at Babeș-Bolyai University. A specialist in the archaeology of the late Iron Age and the Roman period, with doctoral studies at the University of Cambridge, Mariana Egri is internationally recognized for her research on cultural interactions, ritual practices and the dynamics of identities in the ancient world.
The conference, entitled "Mithras – from esoteric orientalism to the archaeology of social practices", starts from the history of research on this cult, which came to the attention of the academic community with the publication of Franz Cumont's work at the end of the 19th century. The lack of written sources, the iconography rich in symbols, and the use of the term "mysteries" contributed to building an esoteric aura around the Mithraic cult. In the modern imagination, Mithras has often been presented either as a predecessor or as a rival to Christianity - interpretations that are today being critically reevaluated.
Drawing on interdisciplinary archaeological research over the past two decades, the conference proposes a shift in perspective: from exclusively iconographic and symbolic analysis to understanding the ritual practices and communities that gave life to this cult. The emphasis is on the contextual analysis of archaeological materials and on reconstructing the "biography" of sites in order to understand the concrete way in which ritual structured religious experience and the relationship with the divinity.
The event is organized by West University of Timişoara (UVT), through Faculty of Letters, History, Philosophy and Theology, in partnership with Institute for Advanced Environmental Studies (ICAM), within the "Arheotim Conferences" series, reaffirming the institution's commitment to opening the university to the community and promoting education beyond the traditional space of classrooms.
The conference will take place on Wednesday, March 5, 2026, from 18:00 PM, in ICAM Amphitheater, Oituz Street no. 4, Timișoara, access is free for all interested parties.
By organizing such academic meetings open to the general public, UVT strengthens its role as an active cultural actor of the city, facilitating direct dialogue between researchers and society. Students, teachers, researchers, but also the public passionate about history and archaeology have the opportunity to come into contact with contemporary research and with topics relevant to the understanding of European cultural heritage.
