Monumentum
Tauroctony of Bologna
The relief of Mithras killing the bull of Bologna depicts several scenes of the mithraic myth.
The New Mithraeum
16 Aug 2021
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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)
On the vaulted upper border the raven and the busts of the seven planets are represented: (from the left to the right)
- Sol, around whose head a radiate crown.
- Bearded Saturnus with long hair.