Limestone tauroctony relief from the Housesteads Mithraeum

A large limestone tauroctony relief in several fragments from the Mithraeum at Borcovicium (modern Housesteads), the vaulted main fragment showing Mithras slaying the bull with Cautes raising his torch beside the bull's foreleg, a crescent of Luna in the upper corner, and smaller fragments preserving a dog, a bull's head, Mithras' arm with dagger and a piece of his cloak with a fibula.

The New Mithraeum

Updated on May 2026

Limestone relief in several fragments, from the Mithraeum at Borcovicium (modern Housesteads).The vaulted main relief shows Mithras tauroctone. On the right side the bull's foreleg; above it Cautes with upraised torch in Eastern attire, cross-legged, leaning on a stick with an arch-shaped handle. In the upper right corner a crescent (Luna).On the smaller fragments: 1) a jumping dog; 2) part of the bull's head; 3) the foremost part of Mithras' arm with the dagger; 4) a piece of Mithras' cloak with a round fibula.

The full article is reserved for our members.