Močići

Hidden between Zvekovica and Čilipi, across from Dubrovnik Airport, lies the village of Močići. A curious feature of Močići is its placement. All its houses and hamlets are situated on one side, the right side, of the Magistrala. This seemingly insignificant detail adds to the unique character of this small Croatian village. Močići holds a remarkable secret: a well-preserved Mithraeum, a sanctuary dedicated to the god Mithras. Above the cave entrance, a captivating scene unfolds. A young man, poised with one foot on the bull’s shoulder and the other on its hind legs, prepares for sacrifice. A scorpion and snake slither towards the bull’s lower body, while a dog reaches for its neck, anticipating the imminent flow of blood. A seven-pointed star, with three rays extending towards the young man, adorns the left side of the arch. Nearby, a raven turns its head towards the youth. A crescent moon graces the right side, and two smaller figures, dadophori, stand on either side of the arch, one with a raised torch and the other with a lowered one. This scene encapsulates the essence of Mithraism. The young man is Mithras, about to sacrifice the bull, a symbol of life, at the behest of the Sun god, represented by the star and communicated through the raven. The scorpion and snake embody evil forces attempting to thwart the sacrifice and prevent the renewal of life from the bull’s blood. The dadophori symbolize life and death, day and night, joy and sorrow. The seven-pointed star signifies the sun and the seven mystical degrees in the Mithraic hierarchy. The dog guards the bull’s soul from the forces of evil. Upon completing the Sun god’s command, Mithras ascends to heaven, becoming the invincible god (deus invictus) and protector against evil. This Mithraeum in Močići stands as one of the best-preserved in Croatia. Its location near a well, formerly a spring, and an Illyrian monument to Vidasus, protector of flocks, suggests the coexistence of Illyrian and Roman-Oriental military cults. In the 2011 census, Močići had a population of 447, a testament to the enduring presence of this historically rich village.