Tauroctony relief from Biljanovac

TNMM 2059 ↔ CIMRM 2202

White marble relief (H. 0.50 Br. 0.44) in several fragments found near G.

The relief is divided into three parts and has traces of red and green colours on the rims. In a circular leaf-crown is the representation of Mithras as a bullkiller. The god’s head, cloak, r.h. and l. leg as well as the bull’s tail and parts of its legs are lost. The dog leaps up against the bull, the raven is perched behind Mithras; remnants of the scorpion; the serpent is represented under the bull. Before the bull standing torchbearer, cross-legged. His hand with the torch is broken off. The other torchbearer is lost.

In the upper border from l. to r.:

1) Mithras sitting on a rocky stone shoots an arrow towards a rock before which a person kneels with outstretched hands. Behind Mithras a walking person who puts his hands on the stone on which Mithras is sitting.

2) The bull in a small boat.

3) Four gods side by side: a) Standing Minerva. b) Standing Jupiter in long hair and beard. He is dressed in a cloak but the upper part of his body is not covered. He holds a sceptre and a patera(?). c) Standing Mercury with a caduceus (l.h.) and a marsupium (r.h.). d) Standing Mars holding a lance in his l.h. His r.h. rests upon a shield.

4) Sitting Mithras in Oriental dress with outstretched hands as if shooting, but the bow is not visible. Before him a projecting rock and a person kneeling before it with outstretched hands.

5) Naked Mithras being born from the rock. In his upraised hands a torch (r.h.) and a knife (l.h.).

On the lower part of the relief there are various scenes which are divided from each other by vertical rims. From l. to r.:

6) Mithras riding the bull. The lower part is broken off.

7) Mithras walks towards Sol who is kneeling before him and who stretches his hand out to him. Mithras puts his r.h. on Sol’s head.

8) Mithras and Sol reclining at the repast.

9) Naked Sol standing in a biga helps Mithras to ascend.

10) Above it a reclining figure with uncovered breast (Oceanus).