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Monumentum

Mithras on a horse

This small bronze statuette of Mithras riding a horse is composed of two pieces.
  • Statuette of Mithras on Horseback, 1st–2nd century A.D.

    Statuette of Mithras on Horseback, 1st–2nd century A.D.
    The J. Paul Getty Museum, Villa Collection 

  • Statuette of Mithras on Horseback, 1st–2nd century A.D.

    Statuette of Mithras on Horseback, 1st–2nd century A.D.
    The J. Paul Getty Museum, Villa Collection 

  • Statuette of Mithras on Horseback, 1st–2nd century A.D.

    Statuette of Mithras on Horseback, 1st–2nd century A.D.
    The J. Paul Getty Museum, Villa Collection 

 
The New Mithraeum
30 Nov 2022
Updated on Jul 2024

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Bronze statuette (6 cm high) of figure in Persian dress, mounted on a horse. Period of Caracalla, 2-3rd century, because the picture of the young horseman is like portraits of the young Caracalla. Made of bronze in two pieces and soldered together with lead. This is the only known representation of an equestrian Mithras in the round. The left hand, which must have held the reins, is missing. The right hand holds what seems to be a patera, recognisable by its central umbo, as in CIMRM 1289, rather than a globe as in CIMRM 334. The patera by itself is depicted at Ostia, CIMRM 299.



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