Tauroctony from the Loggia Scoperta

TNMM 209 ↔ CIMRM 556

White marble relief (H. about 0.75 Br. about 0.50). Vatican Musea, Loggia Scoperta, No. 18.

In a cave, the representation of Mithras, slaying the bull, which wears a broad belt round its body. The raven is perched on the god’s flying cloak; the dog, the serpent and the scorpion on the usual places. Cautes stands before the bull; Cautopates on the other side, grasping with his left the bull’s tail. Both are not cross- legged. Above the latter Mithras, carrying the bull. Above the bull’s head, Mithras’ rock-birth (restored as Venus anaduomene).

In the small akroteria the busts of Sol (l) and Luna (r). On the lower rim Luna in a chariot, drawn by two oxen; and Sol (r) in a quadriga. Between them a third group is visible, in which Mithras is to be recognised, who is running towards a person, kneeling before him (Sol).

Restorations: Mithras’ head, r. shoulder, r.h., foremost part of l. arm; the brill’s head and neck; nearly the whole Cautes; part of the carried bull; head and arms of Mithras petragenes.

White marble relief (50x75 cm) found in 1776-1777 in Ocriculum (excavations of pope Pius VI), 3rd century CE. Currently preserved in Rome - Vatican City (Musei Vaticani, Museo Pio Clementino, inv. MV 839).

In the center of the cave, indicated by a thin band, Mithras, dressed with his usual attire, plunges his dagger in the shoulder of the bull whereas he holds the animal by the muzzle. The body of the bull is wrapped in a band.

At the usual places we can recognize the scorpion, the snake and the dog. The raven is on the left, perched on the flying cloak of the god. It was restored as a dove in modern times. The torchbearers flank the scene. Cautopates is on the left, he holds the tail of the bull in his left hand, whereas Cautes is on the right. Outside the cave, two acroteria host the busts of Luna (on the left) and Sol (on the right). Within the cave other two scenes are represented. On the left of Mithras we can recognize the transitus scene, which features the god with the bull on his back dragging the animal by its hind legs. On the right of Mithras’ face we can recognize the petrogenitus scene that is the birth of Mithras from the rock. The character was wrongly restored as a Venus in modern times. On the lower band of the relief three other minor scenes are represented. From the left to the right we have:

a) Luna driving her chariot pulled by two oxen to the right.
b) Two figures kneeling.
c) Sol driving his chariot pulled by two horses to the right.

The dedicatory inscription of this relief has been broken in two pieces and only recently associated with the monument. The two fragments of the inscription are preserved in Rome - Vatican City (Galleria Lapidaria, inv. MV 6794 and MV 6816).