Tauroctony from Hermopolis
TNMM 301 ↔ CIMRM 91
Marble relief (H. 0.92 Br. 0.69). Inv. No. 85747.
Mithras in ochreous tunic and red cloak as bull-killer. Snake creeping over the ground, dog near the wound; scorpion on the usual place. The background is rocky; in it on the left side the raven and in the middle above Mithras’ head a bust, coming out of the rock (Saturn). On either side of this main scene a column with capitals of foliage, supporting the arch of the grotto. On these columns Cautes (r) and Cautopates (l) are represented, holding with both hands their torches. They do not stand cross-legged. In the upper corners, outside the niche, the busts of Sol in nimbus and radiate crown and of Luna in a crescent. This part of the relief has been richly adorned with leafy branches.
Lost: head and r. arm with dagger of Mithras; the rear quarter of the dog and the lower part of Cautes.
References
Virey, Gizeh, 95 No. 296 and 296bis; MMM II 407 and 520ff No. 285 with fig.; Wiedemann in Wiener Zeitschr.f. die Kunde des Morgenlandes XXXI, 1924, 310f; Maspero, Guide Caire, 219 No. 990; J. Strzygowsky, Catalogue general du Musee de Caire, s.d., 9ff with fig. (see fig. 34).
- Vermaseren, Maarten Jozef (1956) Corpus Inscriptionum et Monumentorum Religionis Mithriacae
