Two-register tauroctony from Philippopolis

Arched marble relief (H. 0.23 Br. 0.195 D. 0.03), found at Philippovtsi near Sofia. Sofia, National Museum (Inv. No. 6503).Welkow in BIAB 1932–1933, 402 and fig. 152; LeRoy Campbell in Berytus XI, 1954, 28 No. 28. See fig. 648.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…