Tauroctony relief from Alba Iulia

TNMM 480 ↔ CIMRM 1958 & 1959

Oblong relief (H. 0.63 Br. 0.74 D. 0.03) Muzeul Regional Inv. No. 225/1. The l. bottom corner is lost.

The relief is divided into three parts by two horizontal rims of which the higher bears an inscription. On either side of the central panel there is a column with a volute-capital. In the grotto which is indicated by a leaf border is the usual representation of Mithras as a bullkiller. The raven is perched on this border; the scorpion is not visible; the dog and the serpent hold their heads near the wound. Cautes (r) raises up a torch with his r.h. and holds another torch in his l.h.; Cautopates has a bow in his l.h.; the torch, his head and the upper part of his body are lost. Both torchbearers are in Oriental dress and cross-legged. Outside the leaf-border are the busts of Sol (l) in radiate crown and of Luna (r) in crescent. Next to Sol a representation of Mithras taurophorus. Beside Luna the scene of Mithras' rockbirth. The naked youthful god is in Phrygian cap and holds in his upraised hands a torch (r.h.) and a knife (l.h.). Underneath it a lion in vertical position and with lolling tongue above a krater.

In the upper part of the relief from l. to r.:

1) Mithras sitting on a rocky stone shoots an arrow. Behind him a person in Oriental dress who grasps him by the shoulder and who raises up his r .h.
2) Mithras climbs a tree.
3) The bull standing in a boat.
4) Two lying rams.
5) The bull in a small house.
6) A goat leaps up against a man in Oriental dress and puts its forelegs on the man's shoulders.
7) Standing man in Oriental dress and cross-legged.
8) A kline with a bearded man partly wrapped in a cloak. He holds a cup(?) in his r.h.

In the lower part of the relief:

9) Lost. Probably Sol kneeling before Mithras in a grotto.
10) In a grotto, indicated by a leaf border, are Mithras and Sol reclining at the repast. Before the kline a tripod. The l. part is lost.

CIMRM 1959

L.H. 0.015.

D(eo) i(nvicto) M(ithrae) T(itus) Aur(elius) F(abia) (tribu) Marcus vet(eranus) leg(ionis) XIII g(eminae)