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Monumentum

Antiochus I shakes hands with Mithras

Antiochus I of Commagene shakes Mithras hands in this relief from the Nemrut Dagi temple.
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The New Mithraeum
16 Jun 2009
Updated on May 2026

TNMM 134 ↔ CIMRM 30

Antiochus, in richly decorated attire with a tiara on his head, holds out his r.h. to Mithras. He carries a short dagger at his side and holds a sceptre in his l.h. Mithras wears a similar attire with only this difference, that he wears a Phrygian cap with two hanging ribbons, covering his ears. Around the head a nimbus and a crown with 21 rays. The attire consists of a cuirass and a cloak, fastened in front with a round fibula. Beneath the cuirass a long tunica, which is held up between the legs with straps or strings to facilitate walking. Around the neck a necklace. Mithras extends his r.h. to Antiochus and has a bundle of twigs (baresman) in his left. Their feet are shod

References

Humann-Puchstein, Reisen, 321ff and Pl. XXVIII, 2; MMM II l.c. with fig. 10; MM, Pl. I, 5; Cumont, Rel. Or., 133 fig. 9; RRR 1,195,2; DS, Dict. Ant., fig. 5083; Gressmann, Or. Rel., 143 fig. 53; Sarre, Kunst Pers., fig. 56; Saxl, fig. 5; Leipoldt, fig. 6 (see fig. 5).

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