Tauroctony from Stixneusiedl
TNMM 278 ↔ CIMRM 1658 & 1659
Relief in limestone of the country (H. 0.57–0.97 Br. 1.53 D. 0.20). Inv. No. I, 254.
Mithras as a bullkiller. The relief has undergone a very thorough restoration. The upper part of the god’s body, the raven and the end of the bull’s tail are lost. The dog and the serpent hold their heads near the wound; the scorpion in the usual place. Cautopates standing cross-legged (head lost) with the torch downwards (l.). Cautes, not cross-legged, holds the torch upwards with his r.h. and holds a small round object (loaf?) in his l.h.
The relief was stuccoed and painted: the background is bright blue; the figures are red; the serpent is blue. On the bull’s neck there is a graffito:
CIMRM 1659
L.H. 0.045–0.05.
M(arcus) Val(erius).
In the base of the relief an inscription:
L.H. 0.06.
D(eo) in(victo) M(ithrae) S(oli) pro s(alute) Aug(ustorum) n(ostrorum) L. Sep(timii) / Valerius et Valerianus sex(viri) col(oniae) K(arnunti) / v(otum) s(olverunt) l(ibentes) m(erito).
The sculptor writes Aug. but NN. ± 200 A.D.
The upper body of Mithras has been largely restored. Remains of painting. The inscription comes in a different block.
Main inscription
References
Wiener Modezeitung, 19 June 1816 No. 25; Hormayr, Wien, CLX; Steinbüchel, Beschr. Thes., 10; Seel, Mithrasgeh., 324ff and Pl. XIV, c; Müller, Mithras, fig. 17; Lajard, Intr., LXXXVII, 1; Steinbüchel in Wiener Jahrbücher 66, 1834, 137; de Hammer, Mithr., 95 No. 17; Arneth, Meilensteine, No. 250; Sacken-Kenner, Samml., 49 No. 230; MMM II 332f No. 229 and fig. 207; LeRoy Campbell in Berytus XI, 1954, 48 No. 127; Nagy in AErt 85, 1958, 9 and fig. 1. See fig. 423. CIL III, 4539; MMM II No. 379; A. Betz, Litterae Latinae IX, 1955 fol. VII No. 8.
- Vermaseren, Maarten Jozef (1956) Corpus Inscriptionum et Monumentorum Religionis Mithriacae
