CIMRM 542

TNMM 1078 ↔ CIMRM 542

White marble relief (H. and Br. about 1.20). Museo Torlonia. I have not been allowed to study any of the monuments of the Torlonia-Collection. This relief, according to Zoega, dates from the days of Commodus, and may have belonged to a same Mithraeum as well as the two following Nos. Morcelli-Fea-Visconti, Villa Alb., No. 921; Winckelmann, Storia Dis., 30, 1, PI. XVI, cf. 156 No.1; Muller, Mithras, fig. 16 (erroneously states that this reproduction is taken from de Montfaucon); Zoega, Bass., PI. LVIII; Abh., 148 No. 13 and 126f; Millin, Gall. Myth., XVIII No. 82; Creuzer, Symb., (transl. Guign.), PI. XXVI No. 131; Lajard, PI. LXXVII, 2; MMM II 215 No. 38 and fig. 45; Eitrem in Symb.Osl., 1928, 77, fig. 5. Mithras in the traditional attitude and attire kills the bull, whose tail ends in two ears. The dog and the serpent near the wound; the raven on Mithras' cloak. It is remarkable, that apart from the scorpion a large ant grasps the testicles. Both torchbearers are not represented. In the upper comers the heads of Sol in radiate crown and of Luna with a diadem in her hair. Restorations: Mithras' r. arm and the greater part of his dagger; 1. arm; the bull's head and half of the dog.