Tauroctony relief from Enns

TNMM 2295 ↔ CIMRM 1422

Relief in limestone (H. 0.26 Br. 0.195 D. 0.025), found about 100 mtrs east of the N-E corner of the Castra Lauriacum. Enns, Museum. See fig. 364.

J. Amstler in Pro Austria Romana II, 1952, 30f; H. Deringer, Ein Mithrasrelief aus Lauriacum in JOAI XL, 1953 (Beibl.) 179ff and fig. 86.

In the centre Mithras as a bullkiller with dog and serpent near the wound. Cautopates (l) and Cautes (r); the head and the l. arm of the latter are lost. Between Mithras and Cautopates a lion's head is visible. In the arched border of the grotto there are several scenes:

1) Mithras carries the bull.

2) Mithras standing and leaning one hand on a staff.

3) Mithras sitting on a rocky stone; he probably carries a bow in his hand. Before him a person kneeling with outstretched r.h. in order to scoop the water from the rock.

4) The bull in a ship; the l. and r. upper corners are missing.

5) The bull's head popping out of a small house; underneath the scene of Mithras tauroktonos from l. to r. and represented in small niches:

a) Mithras riding the bull.

b) Sitting man with upraised r. arm.

c) Sol kneeling before Mithras.

d) Mithras and Sol at the repast.

e) Sol helps Mithras to ascend the car.