As in the days of Ezekiel, wailing for Tammuz still
sounded. When the procession passed the sisters, their
goods were trampled on and broken by the crowd, and
at the same time the image fell and broke. Being
probably suspected of magical practices they were
1 B. A. H. 25, 160. =" 3386. 3 c. I. L. II., p. 251.
124 Mithraism in Spain

arrested and imprisoned. Justa died in captivity,
Rufina was strangled ; but their bones were rescued by
Sabinus, bishop of the city, and they were thought
worthy of ranking among the martyrs.^ The supposed
reference to the Syrian fish goddess Derceto near Clunia
is very doubtful.^

Mithraism, the worship of the Persian principle of
virtue and light, was essentially a soldier's religion, and
was not widespread in Spain, as few legionaries from
elsewhere were stationed here. Dedications to Mithras
under one of his titles, such as deus or dominus invidus,
occur at Emerita, Malaca, Tarraco, Italica, and a few
other places, chiefly emanating from soldiers. Emerita
seems to have had a regular Mithrseum, or cave for
celebrating his mysteries, to the east of the town ; a
pater patrum, or Mithraist chief priest, existed here about
A.D. 155, and one of the dedications is by the purveyor
(Jrumentarius) to the seventh legion, who set up an altar
to celebrate the birthday of the invincible god.^ Trajan's
eastern campaigns had probably helped to spread
Mithraism.
