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Monumentum

Altars to Cautes and Cautopates of Stefano Rotondo

These two parallel altars to the diophores were dedicated by the Pater and a Leo from the Mithraeum of S. Stefano Rotondo.
Altar to Cautes found in S. Stefano Rotondo

Altar to Cautes found in S. Stefano Rotondo
Jastrow (Public domain) 

 
 
The New Mithraeum
1 Feb 2022
 

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Altar to Cautes and Cautopates, divine attendants of Mithras, symbolizing respectively dawn and sunset. Dedicated by Aurelius Sabinus, pater of the mithraeum of the castra peregrina of the Imperial horseguards (equites singulares). Marble, reign of Commodus (180-192 CE). From the area of S. Stefano Rotondo, Rome

Altar to Cautes

Marble altar to Cautes, found upside down near the entrance (n.inv.205832). 46 x 34 x 27 cm. Patera on right face, fulmen on the left face. Pinacles, and upper face pierced with five holes, perhaps for some metal object.

Related monuments

Mitreo di Santo Stefano Rotondo

The Mitreo dei Castra Peregrinorum was discovered under the church of Santo Stefano Rotondo in Rome.

Tauroctony of Ottaviano Zeno

The relief of Mithras slaying the bull by Ottaviano Zeno is lost, but two tablets of Cautes and Cautopates, which were part of the same ensemble, has been exposed at the Louvre.

Petrogeny of Santo Stefano Rotondo

The sculpture of Mithras rock-birth from Santo Stefano Rotondo bears an inscription of Aurelius Bassinus, curator of the cult.

Head of Mithras from Santo Stefano Rotondo

The head was part of a stucco relief of the Tauroctony found under the church of Santo Stefano Rotondo in Rome

 

Second Petrogeny of Santo Stefano Rotondo

The second statue of Mithras rock-birth was found in the Mitreo di Santo Stefano Rotondo shows a childish Mitras emerging from the rock.

Tauroctony of Santo Stefano Rotondo

The relief of Mithras killing the bull of Stefano Rotodon preserves part of his polycromy and depicts two unusual figures: Hesperus and an owl.