Stone statuette of Cautopates from Bordeaux

The New Mithraeum

10 Jan 2026

TNMM 1303 ↔ CIMRM 893

Stone statuette (H. 0.36 Br. 0.17 D. 0.13). Found at Bordeaux and kept there in the Mus. Ant.

Standing torchbearer, cross-legged. He is dressed in a tunic, anaxyrides and cloak, fastened on his r. shoulder. He points the torch downwards with both hands (Cautopates).

References

Esp. Rec. Gaule, II, 139 No. 1081 with fig.

Vermaseren, Maarten Jozef (1956) Corpus Inscriptionum et Monumentorum Religionis Mithriacae

Comments

Pattie L

Spent the day trying to find a better image of the tauroctony surround on the right in the case... but in the meantime, 893 is right next to it.

The New Mithraeum

Mmmm… do you mean this one?

Pattie L

This him! ^__^

Now we need a better picture of that tauroctony.... 😉

The New Mithraeum

Hmmm… Vermaseren says the figure "points the torch downwards with both hands", so that would mean Cautopates. But this one actually looks like it’s doing the opposite? Maybe the missing head (which Vermaseren doesn’t mention) makes the gesture harder to read?

Anyway, I’ll check my photo collection and see if I can find a better pic for the frame!

Pattie L

I think it would depend on which end the flame was originally carved. Either way, he was burning a hand for sure! 😉

https://archive.org/details/recueilgnral02espuoft/page/138/mode/2up

Pattie L

Better image from Mitrei Ostia. What we need is a road trip to go see it ourselves. I call shot gun!!

The New Mithraeum

Not sure it’s on diplay but I’d never say no to a trip to Ostia Antica!