Procession Fresco from Santa Prisca

TNMM 115 ↔ CIMRM 480

On the side-walls of the Santa Prisca Mithraeum, two layers of painting have to be distinguished; these are set off with red bands. Dr C. C. van Essen, who studied the style of these paintings, dates the first layer in the end of the second cent. A.D. and the second layer in the first quarter of the third cent. A.D. Our description is partly taken from the publication of Ferrua, who was able to observe details, which now are lost.

On the Southern wall successively (cf. Ferrua, fig. 8):

1) A bearded man is sitting on a throne. He is dressed in a red tunic with long sleeves, piped with yellow stripes. Round his body a yellow band; from his shoulders a hanging, red cloak. He raises his r.h. Beside the head in Phrygian cap a dipinto:

L.H. 0.025.

Nama [patribus] / ab oriente / ad occidente(m) / tutela Saturni.

2) A bearded youth without Phrygian cap, but with a blue aureole and a gilt radiate crown is walking up to him. Dressed in red tunica with yellow belt; the cloak is fastened on his shoulders. He greets with his r.h., with his l.h. he presses a light-blue globe against his side. Above his upraised hand a dipinto:

L.H.0.02.

On the upper layer: [Na]ma H[eliodromis] / tute[l]a S[ol]is.

On the under layer: Nama H[el]iodrom[i]s / t[utela Solis].

3) Badly damaged. The walking person holds a bundle of ears in his upraised r.h. and in his l.h. a sickle. At the wrists his whitish tunic is boarded with yellow stripes. Above him a dipinto:

[Na]ma Persis / tutela [Mer]curis.

Mercuris instead of Mercurii (Ferrua); at Ostia the Perses is under the patronage of Luna (cf. Cumont in CRAI 1946, 402 n. 5 and supra No. 299, 9).

4) A person, entirely dressed in red. With both hands he holds a vague object (altar-shovel) in front of him. Above him a dipinto:

Nama L[e]on[i]b[us] / tutela Iovis.

5) A youth, dressed in a white tunic, boarded with red stripes at the wrists. With his r.h. he grasps the tunic of the preceding person. On his left shoulder he carries a bag; arrows dangle from his belt. Above his head a dipinto:

Nama Militibus / tutela Mart[is].

6) Walking person with long yellow velum over his head. In his covered hands he carries a burning lamp. Above the head, both on the upper and under layer a dipinto:

upper layer: N ama Nym[phis] / tut/ela Veneris.under layer: [N]a[ma] Nymph[i]s / tut[ela Ve]n[eri]s.

7) Only a few traces are preserved. It must be the corax, which is here not under Mercurius’ protection but under Luna’s.

Procession frescoes of Santa Prisca follows on TNMM 498.