Tauroctony of the Loggia Scoperta

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; Cauto- pates 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

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