A man is initiated into the Mysteries of Mithras

TNMM 292 ↔ CIMRM 187

In the panel I (W. 1.17 m) of the right bench near the entrance a naked man (his body is colored red) is walking in the direction of the cult-niche. He is being pushed forwards by a much taller person who wears a short white tunic and a shoulder cape with red stripes. His height expresses his greater importance as mystagogue. Since he seems to have a small pointed beard he may be either the Pater (a cap however is not visible) or an initiate of a lower grade. The mists however has a blindfold over his eyes and he is therefore groping forwards with outstretched hands. He is naked and helpless like a new-born child who is not yet allowed to see the true mysteries and who is therefore introduced blindfold into the speleum.

The scene is comparable with one of the stuccoes in the Farnesina, where a priestess is introducing a child to be initiated into the mysteries of Dionysus. The boy’s head is covered with a cloth and he is carrying a long thyrsus—the young mystes, however, in Capua has no attributes. It is still the custom in certain secret societies for a new member to be solemnly introduced by some dignitary who walks at his left side; here in Capua the mystes has the honor of being introduced by the Father himself.

The great distance between the mystes and mystagogue is remarkable since the initiandus is apparently being pushed forward.

The name of this ceremony is not known from the Mithraic texts, but in the mysteries of Sabazius ’inductio’ seems to be at the proper term. […] The young adept who is being introduced into the speleum is beginning an initial leading step by step from lower to higher spheres towards the heavenly light of Mithras, the Sun-god.