Mosaics from Mitreo degli Animali

TNMM 168 ↔ CIMRM 279

In the black and white mosaic of the central aisle, number of figures are still discemable. (Becatti, Pl. XVIII).

Visconti saw the outlines of a figure, which he held to be belonging to one of the Corybantes "nell’azione consueta di percuotersi a vicenda gli scudi". Further a standing, bearded man. He is dressed only in a subligaculum and holds in his outstretched l.h. a falx and in his r.h. a shovel (lea or Perses).

Further a raven (by Visconti taken for an owl); near it a cock and in front of it a scorpion.

In the centre of the aisle a serpent with a crest on the head and lastly, in front of the cult-niche, a bull’s head which seems to be decorated with bands.

Next to it a dagger sticking in the ground.

On the floor, between the piers and the podia, is a black-and-white mosaic. It contains a marble threshold at the point where the podia begin. There are five depictions, from south to north:

• A naked man, holding a pruning knife and some sort of shovel. A few white tesserae suggest that the latter object is perforated. A similar symbol is found in the Mithraeum of Felicissimus, where it refers to the grade Leo. It was used to carry fire. The hair of the naked man may be the lion’s mane. But in the Mithraeum of Felicissimus the knife refers to the grade Perses. Apparently this depiction is a reference to two grades of initiation.
• A cock, announcing the morning, attribute of Cautes, and a raven, the herald of Mithras and a grade of initiation (corax).
• A scorpion, that on reliefs attacks the testicles of the bull that is killed by Mithras.
• A snake with a comb, on reliefs drinking the blood of the bull.
• The head and tail of the bull, and in front of the head part of a knife (half of which is missing, as if it is in the neck of the bull).