Monumentum

Mercury of Mérida

The statue of Mercury in Merida bears a dedication from the Roman Pater of a community in the city in 155.
 
 
PublishedMithraeum.eu
13 Jan 2022
Updated on 16 Mar 2022
 
Mercury of Merida

Mercury of Merida
The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA)

 

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The material employed for this statue comes from the quarries of Estremoz. Lusitanian marble was primarily used in Colonia Augusta Emerita, beginning with the reign of Tiberius, as much for architectural adornment as for this provincial capital's exceptional production of statuary.

The figure undeniably is derived as much from a theme, i.e. Hermes seated, as from an aesthetic attributed to Lysippus, the sculptor of the Greek Hellenistic period.
 
 

Related monuments

Casa del Mitreo de Mérida

Although this building is not a Mithraeum, archaeologists have found several monuments related to the cult of Mithras.

Aion of Mérida

The Aion-Chronos of Mérida was found near the bullring of the current city, once capital of the Roman province Hispania Ulterior.

Lion-headed figure of Mérida

The lion-headed figure, Aion, from Mérida, wears oriental knickers fastened at the waist by a cinch strap.

Cautopates from Casa del Mitreo of Mérida

The sculpture of the solar god is signed by its author, Demetrios.

 

Naked figure from Mérida

This sculpture may be a naked dadophorus, probably Cautopates.

Mithras's feast from Mérida

This mithraic communion from Mérida shows three persons at table with other people standing besides, one of them with a bull's head on a plate.

Altar of Merida consecrated by Marcus Valerius Secundus

This altar is dedicated to the birth of Mithras by a frumentarius of the Legio VII Geminae.

Cautes of Mérida

This nude male figure, found at Cerro de San Albín, Mérida, has been identified as Cautes.

 

Venus pudica of Mérida

The Venus pudica of Merida stands next to the young Amor riding a dolplhin.

Isis de Mérida

The Isis of Merida is covered by a long dress that reaches down to her feet.

Aesculapius of Merida

This standing sculptural figure from Mérida appears to carry the serpent staff, characteristic of the medicine god Aesculapius.

Altar by Caius Aemilius Superaius of Merida

Small white marble altar made in honour of Mithras found at San Albín, Mérida.

 

Altar from Mérida 'pro salute'

The small Mithraic altar found at Cerro de San Albin, Merida, bears an inscription to the health of Caius Iulius.

Oceaunus of Mérida

The sculpture of Oceanus in Merida bears an inscription by the Pater Patrorum Gaius Accius Hedychrus.

Venus of Mérida small sculpture

The lack of attributes and its decontextualisation prevent us from attributing a specific Mithraic attribution to this small Venus pudica from Mérida.

Altar of Mérida from Quintio

This altar, which has now disappeared, was dedicated by the slave Quintio for the health of a certain Coutius Lupus.

 

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