Monumentum
Tauroctony relief fragment from the Villa Ludovisi, Rome
A white marble tauroctony relief fragment, in the seventeenth century at the Palazzo Caesiani near the Vatican and later in the Villa Ludovisi in Rome, showing Mithras slaying the bull with dog, serpent and raven, with a cross-legged torchbearer on a base; now lost.
The New Mithraeum
Updated on May 2026
Fragment of a white marble relief. In the seventeenth century it was in the Palazzo Caesiani near the Vatican; it later passed to the Villa Ludovisi. The relief is lost.Mithras slaying the bull. The dog and the serpent are present; the raven on the god's flying cloak. On a base a small torchbearer with upraised torch stands cross-legged. The upper part of his body and his feet are lost. The other torchbearer, whose lower body and arms are lacking, also holds the torch upraised.
The full article is reserved for our members.
Log in or create a free account to access the entire site.
