Tauroctony relief from Scythia Minor

TNMM 2530 ↔ CIMRM 2315

Nine fragments of a white marble relief (H. 0.155 Br. 0.155 D. 0.008). Prof. Dr. D. Tudor informed me that it probably came from Scythia Minor. Bucarest, National Museum (Inv. No. 1483).

Unpublished! See fig. 642. By courtesy of Prof. Dr. Dorin Popescu and Prof. Dr. D. M. Pippidi who gave me the permission to photograph and publish it.

In the centre Mithras as a bullkiller; traces of red colour on the god's cloak on which the raven is perched. The serpent and the foremost part of the dog. Cautes (r) and Cautopates (l) are cross-legged and hold the torches upwards or downwards and they rest a pedum against their l. shoulders. In the upper corners the busts of Sol (l) and of Luna (r).

Between Mithras' head and Luna is a representation of Mithras' rockbirth. Behind the head of Mithras tauroctone a cross has been engraved. Between Cautopates and Mithras there are three altars in a row.

The relief has many other scenes:

A. Behind Cautopates:

1) Mithras taurophorus.

2) Mithras riding the bull.

B. In the upper border from l. to r.:

1) Three altars.

2) One sheep.

3) Mithras sitting on a rock. Behind him a person with outstretched hands.

4) The bull in a boat.

5) Person kneeling before a rock (cf. 3: Water-miracle).

C. In the bottom border separated from each other by vertical rims:

1) Lion to the r.

2) Standing person with uplifted r.h.

3) Mithras probably standing before kneeling Sol (lost).

4) Mithras and Sol at the sacred repast.

5) Mithras and Sol in a one-horse car.