Tauroctonia de Walbrook

TNMM 120 ↔ CIMRM 810 & 811

White marble relief (H. 0.38 Br. 0.55 D. 0.08), found in London’s City near Walbrook (1889). At first in the Coll. F. Ransom at Hitchin; from 1915 in the London Museum, Inv. No. A 16933.

In the middle of the relief the representantion of Mithras tauroctone. A part of the god’s flying cloak with the raven are lost. The dog and the serpent with their heads near the wound; the scorpion at the testicles. On either side a torchbearer: Cautes (l) and Cautopates (r).

This main scene s surrounded by a broad circle, in which the signs of the Zodiac. Beginning at Cautes’ feet we see subsequently: Scorpion-Virgo-Leo-Cancer-Gemini-Taurus-Aries-Pisces-Aquarius-Capricorns-Sagittarius.

In the upper corners on the left Sol’s quadriga driving upwards (damaged), and on the right Luna’s biga, drawn by tow bulls. Luna’s head has got lost.

In the lower corners the naked busts of two Winds, both with long hair and with two wings on their foreheads. The left is bearded, the r. one is more youthful.

CIMRM 811

Between the figures in the corners an inscription.