Fragments of a Mithriac relief with Jupiter and Sol

TNMM 594 ↔ CIMRM 332 & 333

Three fragments of a white marble relief. Lost.

1) Standing, naked Jupiter, holding his sceptre in his l.h. and his thunderbolt in his r.h. He stands on a base, on which his chlamys lies. Beside him an eagle with his wings spread out, looking up to him. Before the base stands a naked youth in Phrygian cap, lifting a torch with his outstretched r.h.; in his outstretched l.h. a bird (cock?) is perched. In the field an inscr. No. 333, 1.

2) Sol, dressed only in a flying shoulder-cape, stands in a quadriga, urging on the horses with a whip. On his head a radiate crown. The hindmost part of the horses and part of the wheel have got lost. Above it the inscr. No. 333, 2.

3) Luna, of whom only a few traces are left, stands in a chariot drawn by two horses. In the field remnants of the inscr. No. 333, 3.

CIMRM 333

1) [Domi]no sanct[o / o]ptimo maxim[o / sa]lutari iussu eius / libens dedit / [M(arcus)] Modius Ag/[atho] cum / [suis pro Faus]to / pat[rono].

2) Dedit M. Modius [Agatho] / sancto domino / invicto Mithrae / iussu eius libens / dedit.

3) [Lunae... / M.] M[od]/ius [Aga]/tho [cum] / suis permissu …..

Several fragmentary bas-reliefs were found in Rome, on the Caelius, near the church of Santa Maria in Domnica, during excavations carried out by the Altieri family in the mid-sixteenth century (CIMRM 314). They all seem to have been dedicated by the same man, Marcus Modius Agatho, who was probably a freedman of a certain Faustus.

After being preserved in the collection of Hieronymus Altieri, traces of them were lost in the seventeenth century. Today, they are known only from drawings by Giovanntonio Dosio and Pighius, which assemble them in an arbitrary manner and are undoubtedly not entirely faithful to the originals.

Inscriptions, also fragmentary, accompany the reliefs. The one chosen here is placed above a representation of the quadriga of the Sun. The epithets attributed to Mithra are similar to those conferred on Jupiter [domi]nus sanct[us op]tumus maxim[us salu]ta(t)is on another of these reliefs, and associate the two sovereign powers with the supreme god, as confirmed by a third inscription addressed by the same man to optumus maximus Caelus aeternus lup[pi]ter (CIMRM 328).

By saving and reinvigorating the world, Mithras, in the eyes of his followers, had in a way monopolised divine sovereignty, to the point of merging with the supreme god and marginalising the other powers, which found themselves, at best, subordinate to his action.

Fragments of marble base with reliefs and inscriptions found together with 154a, last quarter of the 2nd century CE. Currently lost.

This monument survives thanks to two drawings. One is preserved in the codex Pighianus of Berlin (see Vermaseren 1978, planche VI), whereas the second one in a drawing by Dosio in Florence (see Vermaseren 1978, planche VII).

Three fragments can be recognized:

a) Fragment of the top left part of one side of the base. We can recognize the figure of Sol, naked except for his flying cloak, with radiate crown. He drives his chariot which is pulled by four horses, and he holds a whip in his right. On the upper band of the base:

Dedit M(arcus) Modio [Agatho]

Marcus Modius Agatho gave.

Above the figure of Sol:

Sancto Domino ǀ Invicto Mithrae ǀ iussu eius libens ǀ dedit

(The devotee) gave willingly to the holy master Unconquered Mithras, as ordered by (the god) himself.

b) Fragment of the bottom left part of one side of the base. The chariot of Luna (only her veil is recognizable) is pulled by two horses to the left. Above this representation:

[---]T M(arcus) ǀ [Mod]ius ǀ [Aga]tho ǀ suis ... Marcus Modius Agatho with his familiars …

On the bottom band:

Permissu[---]

With the permission of …

c) Fragment of a side of the base. This piece features Jupiter standing naked on a cylindrical base. He holds a bundle of lightning bolts in his right and a long scepter in his left. An eagle is represented on the left, together with a man wearing a Phrygian hat. This male figure is naked and holds a long stick in his right and a small bird in his left. Part of a dedicatory inscription can be read on the left and on the right of the figure:

[Domi]no sanct[o] ǀ [Op]tumo Maxim[o] ǀ [Salu]tari iussu eius ǀ [li]bens dedit ǀ [M(arcus)] Modius Aga[tho] ǀ TO ǀ AT

To the Highest holy god Salutaris, Marcus Modius Agatho gave gladly, as ordered by him (the god) himself.

Fragments a and b can be associate with Mithraic worship for the content of the inscription and for the subjects represented. It is not clear however how fragment c, which bears the name of the same devotee, could be integrated with the other two.