Tauroctony relief from Friedberg

TNMM 1472 ↔ CIMRM 1053

Relief in quartzite (H. 1.15 Br. 1.87 D. 0.04) in three fragments. Found in the centre of the sanctuary. Townhall at Friedberg.

Goldmann in AHGA, 295 and Pl. I, 1; MMM II 356 No. 248b and fig. 228; Esp. Rec. Germ., 57 No. 83; Le Roy Campbell in Berytus XI, 1954, 49 No. 188.

The relief made in sandstone from Naumberg is badly weathered. Mithras kills the bull whose tail ends in three corn-ears. Dog, serpent and scorpion. Cautes (r) and Cautopates (l) cross-legged. Behind the bull's tail there is a bearded head which is turned to Mithras. One fragment shows the upper part of the head of Luna in crescent; another the lower part of Sol's head and part of his radiate crown. A piece of stone (D. 0.05) at the back of the monument served for fastening it to the back-wall. Traces of red painting.

Goldmann interprets the bearded head as Marcus Aurelius, I think it is Saturnus.