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Tauroctony with three-headed serpent from Mithraeum III, Ptuj

Marble tauroctony relief fragment from Mithraeum III at Ptuj, ancient Poetovio, notable for a three-headed serpent and a dog attempting to lick the blood; the bull's tail ends in three corn-ears.
 
The New Mithraeum
27 May 2026
Fragment of a marble relief (H. 0.50 Br. 0.73 D. 0.12). Inv. No. 298.Abramić, 188 No. 247. See fig. 409.Mithras as a bullkiller in the usual attitude and dress. A three-headed serpent and a dog try to lick the blood. Of both animals only the foremost parts are preserved. The bull's tail ends in three corn-ears; behind it standing Cautes with a torch which he raises up with both hands. Above him Sol in quadriga of which only the four heads of the horses are represented. Traces of red painting on Mithras' flying cloak. The raven, the scorpion, Mithras' r. foot, Luna, Cautopates and the lower…

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