Altar from Mitreo di San Clemente

TNMM 469 ↔ CIMRM 339 & 340

Altar of Parian marble (H. 1.12 Br. 0.63), discovered partly in the sanctuary itself, partly in the irregular room opposite the Mithraeum. Kept in the spelaeum.

The altar has been decorated with reliefs on four sides. In the front side Mithras is slaying the bull in a grotto. Dog and serpent with their heads near the wound; scorpion on the usual place. The god is looking at the raven perched on the rock border. In the upper corners the dressed busts of Sol with, seven rays around his head, and of Luna.

On the left side Cautopates in Eastern attire, not cross-legged. On the r. side standing Cautes who lifts his torch with both hands. On the back a big, twisting serpent. The upper part of the altar consists of a square marble plate with on the front side an inscription between a palm-branch and crown. On the four corners the busts of the wind-gods, one of which has got lost. The bust of Luna is damaged.

CIMRM 340

L.H. 0.02-0.03.

Cn(aeus) Arrius Claudianus / pater posuit.

Claudianus is a libertus or descends from the Arrii-family, to which belonged also the Emperor Antoninus Pius of mother’s side. ’Si Claudianus n’a pas dil son nom illustre a un affranchissement. on supposera avec une grande vraisemblance que le gens Arria possedait sous les Antonins la maison de l’epoque d’Auguste’ (Cumont). Dr C. C. van Essen however, draws my attention to the fact that the house was built on the layers of the fire of Nero.