Silvered bronze tauroctony from Stockstadt

TNMM 2113 ↔ CIMRM 1216

Fragment of a silvered bronze plate (H. 0.05 Br. 0.105 D. 0.0015). Inv. No. 373.

Schleiermacher, 54 No. 3 and n. 8 (Drexel) and figs. 6, 7; Esp. Rec. Germ., 190f No. 308 and fig.; Stade, 39 No. 3 and figs. 5, 6. See fig. 319.

Only the upper part is preserved. Mithras grasps the bull in order to kill him. The god has a tunica manicata. The god's head, his r.h. and wrist and the bull's head are preserved. Cautes with upraised torch is turned to the bull. In the border of the grotto is the raven; in the field before Mithras are four stars (originally there certainly were seven). Outside the arch the bust of Sol(l) in radiate crown and the bust of Luna (r) with a crescent. Behind them are two busts of youthful figures. Traces of gilding on the heads of the deities, on the hand of Mithras and on the head of the bull, but not on the torchbearer. The heads behind Sol and Luna are interpreted by Drexel as belonging to Phosphorus and Hesperus, but it seems to me that the r. most figure has a pair of wings in his hair. If this should be so we have to do with a representation of the wind-gods. Upon the arch of the grotto and above Mithras' head a burning altar may have been represented.