Tauroctony relief of Fertőrákos

The Mithraic relief discovered near Fertőrákos is similar to cult images from other Mithraic caves in the Roman Empire. The coloured relief, measuring 2 x 1.5 m, depicts the god Mithras in Persian dress, kneeling on the ground and pushing a bull with his dagger into its neck. From below, a dog and a snake throw themselves towards the blood spurting from the wound, while the scorpion stings the bull's testicles with both scissors. To the right and left are two torch-bearing figures. Above them, a representation of the sun and moon provide the celestial backdrop to the cave scene…