Exploring Maribor and then on to Mithra Temples near Ptuj and Roman Cemeteries in Sempeter near Celje after the STIQE Conference - June, 2006

After the STIQE conference, I visited the Post-World War II museum in Maribor

From my hotel room in Maribor, I had a view of the mountain, Bolfenk, where there is skiing in the winter.

Views of Maribor from the top of the mountain

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The view from the cabin of the ski lift Gondola

Near Maribor, in the town of Ptuj, Shrines to Mithra can be found. These date from the 3d century AD when Roman soldiers were stationed in the area. Many Roman soldiers participated in Mithraism and some have suggested that some of the rituals and celebrations of Mithraism were adopted by early Christians in the attempt to recruit Roman soldiers to Christianity. For more on Mithraism, see: http://www.well.com/~davidu/mithras.htm

Called Mithra III, this site was discovered in 1913 and is now housed in a building built over the original temple.

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Detail of the plaque on the wall

View from Mithra III site to Ptuj. The Ptuj castle can be seen on the hill in the distance. The temple is now in the center of a corn field, which was probably a Roman camp in the 3d century AD.

Inside the building are the remains of the Mithra shrine, with the statue portraying the sacrifice of the Bull and the snakes rising from stone.

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One can walk among the ancient artifacts without restriction

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Mithra I, the other site in Ptuj.

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The interior of Mithra I

The temple sites are maintained by people in the neighborhood who collect admission fees and look after the sites

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On the way to the next stop, we pass near Celje, where Lasko Pivo is brewed. We see fields of hops that undoubted are destined for Lasko Beer.

In Semepter, we visit the Roman Nekropola, which was buried in a flood in the 3d century AD. The photos of the tomb monuments are in chronological order, with the first belonging to a Celtic noble family in early Roman times, about 45AD. The Second is from about 130AD, the Third from 200AD, and the Fourth from 250AD. Notice how the elaborate designed peaked about 200AD and became less elaborate after that as the wealth of the Roman Empire was declining.

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Having completed another memorable trip to Slovenia, Terry returns to the Ljubljana Airport to return home

And says goodbye to one of his favorite countries in Europe, with its beautiful scenery and friendly people

Photos for the STIQE 2006 Conference can be found at: STIQE 2006
Photos of People seen during 2006 Visit can be found at: Pics06
Photos of STIQE 2004 can be seen at: Maribor-STIQE 2004

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Revised 7/11/06