Tauroctony lower portion from Pautalia

TNMM 2475 ↔ CIMRM 2241

The lower part of a marble relief (H. 0.37 Br. 0.55 D. 0.04–0.05) discovered in a house at Küstendil where it was used as lid to a cauldron. It is not certain whether it comes from the town itself or from its surroundings. Küstendil, Museum.

Kazarow in Germania 1935, 25 No. 3 and Pl. 2, 2; BIAB VIII, 1934, 52f No. 15 and fig. 37; LeRoy Campbell in Berytus XI 1954, 51 No. 522. See fig. 618.

Mithras as a bullkiller; the upper part of the relief with the head of the bull is lost as well as by far the greater part of the torchbearers. The l. knee and the r. leg of Mithras, one foot of the l. torchbearer, two not crossed legs of the r. torchbearer are preserved, as well as the dog and the serpent. Under the bull are the following scenes:

1) The foremost part of a lion with its r. paw on a vase.

2) Mithras and Sol at the repast.

3) Mithras puts his l.h. on the head of Sol who kneels before him. He holds an indistinct object in his upraised r.h. The relief is surrounded by a leaf-wreath. Outside it in the l. bottom corner Mithras riding the bull; in the r. bottom corner Sol standing in a one-horse chariot. He holds the reins in his l.h. and he helps Mithras to ascend with his r.h.