Tauroctony from Bologna

TNMM 325 ↔ CIMRM 693

Mithras is slaying the bull, whose tail ends in one single ear. Round its body there is a wide, decorated band. The dog is licking the blood from the wound; the serpent and the scorpion; the torchbearers in Eastern attire, cross-legged. Before them a tree with an animal attached to the trunk; before Cautopates (l) a scorpion and before Cautes (r) an animal's head (bull?).

On the vaulted upper border the raven and the busts of the seven planets are represented: (from the left to the right)

1. Sol, around whose head a radiate crown.
2. Bearded Saturnus with long hair.
3. Venus as a young woman with diadem in the hair.
4. Bearded Jupiter with kalathos on the wavy hair.
5. Mercurius with winged petasus.
6. Bearded Mars in helmet.
7. Luna with crescent above her head.

On the lower border (from I. to r.) three representations:

1. On a couch three persons, reclining at table, the upper part of the body of the first person is uncovered. A table in front of them.
2. Naked child-like figure on a biga; in his r.h. a garland. He wears a flying shoulder-cape and on his back a quiver is visible or is it part of a person behind him (Sol in his chariot ?).
3. Bearded, reclining person, dressed in a cloak, which leaves the upper part of his body uncovered (Oceanus).

White marble low-relief (H. 0.22 Br. 0.27), kept at Bologna, formerly in the University's Museum, now in the Museo Civico, Room VI. The exact find-spot is unknown.

Comments

Alicia Carter

For more information, see Beck, R 1988, Planetary Gods and Planetary Orders in the Mysteries of Mithras, pp. 15-34.

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