Fitz Jenő (szerk.): Religions and Cults in Pannonia. Exhibiton an Székesfehérvár, Csók István Gallery 15 May - 30 September 1996 – Szent István Király Múzeum közleményei: A. sorozat 33. (1998)
ORIENTAL CULTS Soldiers coming from the orient, merchants active in Pannónia and oriental slaves, serving mainly in finance offices, established already from the 1st and 2nd centuries on different oriental cults in the province, so the cults of the egyptian Isis, Magna Mater from Asia Minor and Sabazios. The golden age of the oriental cults was the last third of the 2nd century resp. the 3rd century, when the number of soldiers coming from the orient as well as oriental commerce increased. General religious demands and the oriental connections of the emperors from the house of the Severi promoted the spreading of different oriental mystery religions. Among them the Mithras cult, the religion of Iuppiter Dolichenus and the veneration of the Sun god Sol were widespread. At the end of the 3rd century the most significant rival of Christianity, originating also in the orient and gaining ground increasingly, was the Mithras religion. The followers of the mystery religions came into a close, intimate connection with the deity with the hope of a personal salvation. Initiation ceremony, getting acquainted with mysteries known only to the community, belonged to every mystery religion. On the secret meetings, the ritual meals, the purification ceremonies only the initiated could partake. All mystery religions had rituals of their own, specific only for themselves. Cults gave for the otherworld life, the connection with the deity an explanation to which the traditional graeco-roman religion did not give an answer. TEMPLES, SANCTUARIES ISEUM - SAVARIA, XII. For the alexandrian deities - Isis, Sarapis, Anubis and the Sphinxes - in a large sacred disctrict was built up in the eighties of the 2nd century in Colonia Claudia Savaria, to which a great colonnade was added in the early 3rd century, presumably on the occasion of the visit of the emperor Septimius Severus. The courtyard formed and the building of the sanctuary (42x70 m) reflects alexandrian influence transmitted by Rome. The devotees of the cult were wealthy citizen, mainly merchants. The ceremonies of the Isis cult might have ceased in the early 4th century. 158. Isis altar Fragment of a streaked white marble altar. A part of the abacus remained in the front and on the left side. The inscription reads: Isidi Au\g(ustae)] \ sacr(um) \ Ti (berius) Barbiu[s | Ti(berii) fil(ius) Ve[l(inatribu] \ Valen[s] \dec(urio)c(oloniae) C(laudiae)S[av(ariensium)] | quaes[tor] \ [II] vir i(ure) di[c(undo)] \[p]onti[fex] | [... - Flavian-Traianian period - 68x37x18 cm. - Szombathely (Savaria), Isis sanctuary. - SM. CIL, Ш, 4156; RIU, 14; MÓCSY 1959, 219, no. 91/8; WESSETZKY 1959b, 270; SZENTLÉLEKY 1960, 6, 25; Savaria 1971, 40, 111. 30. Z.F. 95
