Tauroctony from the Mitreo delle Sette Sfere
TNMM 144 ↔ CIMRM 245, 246, 247, 248 & 249
A round, marble relief was found of Mithras killing the bull (a plaster cast is in situ). The relief (1.17 x 1.09) must have been inserted in the back wall. On the mantle of Mithras stars or planets and the moon can be seen. A dog and snake are sucking the bull's blood, a scorpion is biting the bull's testicles. The bull's tail ends in grain ears.
White marble relief with black veins (H. 1.09 Br. 1.27). Vatican, Gall. Lap. XXXIII, 10 found during excavations, undertaken by Petrini in 1802-1804 by order of Pope Pius VII. The exact spot is not known, yet from several data it has become highly probable (cf. Becatti, Mitrei Ostia, 53; 123), that it is from the very Mithraeum, which Lanciani laid open in 1886. In itself it is already remarkable, that this sanctuary should have been preserved so well, whereas the main relief and the votive altars should have entirely disappeared. Yet on the other hand it is astonishing, that in the detailed plan of Petrini's not a single indication should occur regarding excavations in this area (Paschetto).
Mithras, in the usual attitude and attire, as killer of the bull, whose tail ends in three ears. Probably the raven was seated on the bull's tail; Mithras is looking at it. Dog, serpent and scorpion in the usual places. Five stars and a crescent are visible on the flying cloak of the god; two more stars are represented in the field. Above the relief, probably walled in, there is an inscription (No. 246) in the form of an arch, indicating the cave-vault. Another inscription (No. 247) under the relief. Second half of the second cent. A.D.
CIMRM 246
CIL XIV 60; MMM II No. 134.
A. Decimius A(uli) f(ilius) Pal(atina) Decimianus s(ua) p(ecunia) restituit.
CIMRM 247
CIL XIV 61.
A. Decimius A(uli) f(ilius) Pal(atina) Decimianus aedem / cum suo pronao ipsumque deum solem Mithra / et marmoribus et omni cultu sua p(ecunia) restituit.
CIMRM 248
CIL XIV 62; MMM II No. 135.
L. Tullius Agatho / deo invicto Soli / Mithrae aram d(onum) d(edit) / eanque dedicavit ob / honore dei M. Aemilio Epaphrodito patre.
CIMRM 249
M. Aemilio / Epaphrodito / patre et sacerdote.
Main inscription
A. Decimius A[uli] f[ilius] Pal[atina] Decimianus aedem / cum suo pronao ipsumque deum solem Mithra / et marmoribus et omni cultu sua p[ecunia] restituit. //
M. Aemilio / Epaphrodito / patre et sacerdote.
References
CIL XIV 63; MMM II No.136. Labus, Bibl. It., III, 49 No. 2, Pl. III; Gerhard-Platner, 32 No. 26; Zoega, Abh. 147 No.4b; Lajard, Intr., Pl. LXXX, 1; MMM II 240 No. 82 and fig. 70; Paschetto in Bilychnis I, 1912, 467ff ,and fig. 4; Ostia, 398; Eisler, Weltenmantel I,62 fig. 8; CAH XII, 570; Amelung, Skulpt. Vat., I(2),274 No. 114a with Taf. 30; Becatti, Mitrei Ostia, 123 and Pl. XXXIV, 1; Moscioni, No. 22954. See fig. 73 with kind permission of the Direction of the Vatican Musea.
- Vermaseren, Maarten Jozef (1956) Corpus Inscriptionum et Monumentorum Religionis Mithriacae
- Ostia-antica.org. Regio II - Insula VIII - Mitreo delle Sette Sfere (II,VIII,6).
