Tauroctony relief from Romula

TNMM 2000 ↔ CIMRM 2171

Relief in yellow marble (H. 0.35 Br. 0.24–0.20 D. 0.03), found in the ruins of Romula in 1912. Bucarest, National Museum (L. 710).

Parvan in AAcRom (S. II) XXXVI, 1913, 56 No. 22 and Pl. VII, 1; AA 1913, 377ff No. 22 and fig. 12; LeRoy Campbell in Berytus XI, 1954, 51 No. 421 and Pl. IV, 2; Tudor, Oltenia, 312 and fig. 78. See fig. 591.

The relief has the form of a trapezium; it is arched at the top and by two horizontal rims it is divided into three parts. In the centre is the representation of Mithras as a bullkiller and on either side a torchbearer who hold the torch downwards. The raven is perched on Mithras' flying cloak; the dog and the serpent in the usual places; it is not clear whether the scorpion is represented. Next to Mithras' head are the busts of Sol (l) and of Luna (r). Beside Luna Mithras' rockbirth; the youthful god holds a torch (l.h.) and a knife in his upraised hands.

In the upper part from l. to r.:

1) Mithras taurophorus.

2) Mithras riding the bull.

3) Mithras shooting at a rock against which a kneeling person holds his hands.

4) Bull in a small house.

In the lower part from l. to r.:

5) Mithras with an indistinct object in his upraised r.h. is standing before kneeling Sol who lifts his hands up to him.

6) Mithras and Sol at the repast.

7) Sol helps Mithras ascending his one-horse chariot.

8) Reclining god encircled by a serpent (Saturnus).