Two-register tauroctony from Philippopolis

TNMM 1449 ↔ CIMRM 2332

Arched marble relief (H. 0.23 Br. 0.195 D. 0.03), found at Philippovtsi near Sofia. Sofia, National Museum (Inv. No. 6503).

The relief is divided into two parts by a horizontal rim. In the upper part the usual representation of Mithras tauroctone. Of the animals only the serpent is clearly visible. Cautes (r) and Cautopates (l) standing cross-legged. Above them the busts of Sol (l) and of Luna (r). Next to Luna the scene of Mithras’ rockbirth; the god emerges from the rock with upraised hands.

In the lower part of the relief are the following scenes separated from each other by vertical rims:

1) The foremost part of a lion.

2) Standing Mithras puts a hand on the head of Sol who kneels before him.

3) Mithras and Sol reclining behind a table on which a round object (loaf?).

4) Sol standing in a one-horse car. He helps Mithras to ascend.