Petrogeny of Sarmizegetusa — The New Mithraeum

The New Mithraeum

26 Jan 2022

Updated on Mar 2022

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Statue in yellowish marble (H. 0.67 Br. 0.365).

Youthful Mithras is being born from the rock which is encircled by a serpent. The serpent's head is visible next to the r. thigh of the god. Mithras is in Phrygian cap, his arms are lost.

Studniczka, 224 fig. 69; Kiraly, 26 No. 80 and PI. IX, 2; MMM Il 302 No. 177 and fig. 159; RRS III 140, 1; Floca in ED 1935,218 fig. 3. See fig. 579.

Related monuments

Mithraeum of Sarmizegetusa

The large number of monuments found at the Mithraeum of Sarmizegetusa and the sheer size of the temple are unusual.

Tauroctony relief of Sarmizegetusa

This relief of Mithras slaying the bull incorporates the scene of the god carrying the bull and its birth from a rock.

Cautopates of Sarmizegetusa with scorpion

The Cautopates with scorpion found in 1882 in Sarmizegetusa includes an inscription of a certain slave known as Synethus.

Cautes with bull head of Sarmizegetusa

This sculpture of Cautes holding a bull’s head was found in 1882 in Sarmizegetusa, Romania.

Altar of Sarmizegetusa by Hermadio

This altar was erected by Hermadio, who also signed other monuments in Dacia and even in Rome.

Column to Nabarze of Protas

This column found in the Mithraeum of Sarmizegetusa bears an inscription to Nabarze instead of Mithras.