Prehistoric axe with Mithraic associations from Argolis

Black polished stone (H. 0.07–0.075 Br. 0.04), cone-shaped, originally a praehistoric axe, found at Argolis. Athens, National Museum. Inv. No. 10082.E. Cartailhac, L’âge du pierre dans les souvenirs et superstitions populaires, Paris 1877, 31 fig. 14; Perrot-Chipiez, VII, 119; Harrison, Themis², 57, fig. 6 (uncorrectly); Delatte in Mus. Belge XVII, 1913, 321ff; Mus. Belge XVIII, 1914, 5ff and fig.In the upper part Mithras as a bullkiller; the raven almost perched on the bull’s forefeet; the dog is represented near the bull’s hindlegs; the serpent creeping towards the wound…