Second tautoctony of Sî`

TNMM 390 ↔ CIMRM 89

A second relief (H. 1.15 Br. 1.06), certainly made by the same sculptor, had been inserted in a larger basalt-stone, which is beside the entrance of a grotto. Museum at Damascus.

Representation of Mithras tauroctone. Except for some minor differences it is identical with the preceding one, but now the two torchbearers are represented.

Above the relief the inscription:

D(eo) S(oli) I(nvicto)

Both reliefs may have belonged to the same spelaeum, from which No. 88 must have been dragged away to the temple of Dusares.

CIMRM II 89

Mr. Selim Abdul-Hak generously entitled me to publish a relief in basalt (H. 1.31 Br. 1.16). The relief was carved out in the rock of a mountain near Sl and transported to the Museum at Damascus in 1947.

Mithras as a bullkiller with dog, snake and scorpion. The bull’s tail is hanging downwards. The raven is perched on Mithras’ cloak. Cautes (l) and Cautopates (r) hold with both hands the torches up- and downwards; they are not cross-legged. The bust of Sol in a crown of six rays (l); the bust of Luna (r) in crescent.

Above the relief the inscription: D(eo) i(nvicto) S(oli).