Mithraic reliefs from Arsameia

TNMM 1448 ↔ CIMRM 90C

F. K. Doerner and Theresa Goell in ILN 1955, 23ff published a first account of their very interesting excavations on the mountain top of Eski Kahta or Arsameia, the site of the tomb sanctuary of Mithridates Kallinikos, king of Kommagene.

Mithridates was the father of King Antiochus I, whose tomb-site was found at Nemrud-Dagh (see Nos. 28–32) and who made a treaty with Pompey the Great in 62 B.C.

At Arsameia a Sacred Edict of Antiochus I was found. 'The Nomos is given for the protection of the tomb and sanctuary of his father and for the maintenance of his cult. Of the ancient royal city, no vestige of a superstructure remained standing on the surface'. On Platform III a fine relief depicted a scene of greeting between Mithridates and Heracles (ILN fig. 11).

'Stepped platforms, approximately similar, with two sockets, were located in two other places on the southern slope of the citadel, and we were also fortunate in finding some of the scattered fragments of the stelai which had stood on their summits. The fragments were part of reliefs of Mithras and royal or priestly personages. The reliefs with Mithras were both found near Platform II. One fragment (ILN, fig. 9, see fig. 246 kindly offered by Prof. F. K. Doerner) shows (right) Mithras in Phrygian cap and in radiate crown, facing Antiochus I; the other fragment also shows Mithras in Phrygian cap and radiate crown but the person he is greeting is missing (ILN fig. 10).

Prof. F. K. Doerner informs me that the publication 'Arsameia am Nymphaios. Die Ausgrabungen im Hierothesion des Mithradates Kallinikos von 1953–1956' is printing.