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Monumentum

Column to Nabarze of Protas

This column found in the Mithraeum of Sarmizegetusa bears an inscription to Nabarze instead of Mithras.
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The New Mithraeum
24 Sep 2023
Updated on Oct 2023

TNMM 631 ↔ CIMRM 2028 & 2029

Capital with a simple leaf wreath, with a figure of a bull above the inscription, a raven on the sides, and a bull's head at the back. Above the capital there is a cubic top with garland and rosettes on the front, above a raven and the bull's head triangular gable with leaf rosette, above the other raven an arched field with rosette. Inscription on the column shaft.

The name Nabarze is found at Sarmizegetusa in Dacia. In the mithraeum excavated in 1881-1883, a marble [sic] column decorated with a running bull, a bull's head and a bird with a leaf in its beak bears a dedication to the god Nabarze. In this text, which does not mention Mithras by name, Nabarze is a theonym.

CIL III 7938

Nabarze / deo / pro sal[ute] Ampliati / Aug[usti] n[ostri] disp[ensatoris] et / sua suorumq[ue] / omnium / Protas vikar[ius] / eius.
To the god Nabarze, for the salvation of Ampliatus, [slave] treasurer to our emperor, and for himself and all his people, Protas, his deputy.

References

CIL 03, 07938; Vermaseren 2, 1960 Nr. 2028-2029; Alicu - Pop - Wollmann, Figured Monuments from Sarmizegetusa, BAR 55, 1979, 116 Nr. 253; IDR-03-02, 00307.

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Inscription fragment from Sarmizegetusa

Fragmentary inscription from the Mithraeum at Sarmizegetusa, Dacia, partially illegible.

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Large tauroctony relief from Sarmizegetusa

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Rectangular tauroctony from Sarmizegetusa

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Tauroctony with Cautes from Sarmizegetusa

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Tauroctony with rock-birth above Cautes from Sarmizegetusa

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Cross-legged torchbearer from Sarmizegetusa

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Lower torchbearer from Sarmizegetusa

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Bull's head and dagger fragment from Sarmizegetusa

Marble fragment from the Mithraeum at Sarmizegetusa, Dacia, preserving the neck and head of the bull together with Mithras's dagger.

Torchbearer torso with downward torch from Sarmizegetusa

Fragment of a marble relief from the Mithraeum at Sarmizegetusa, Dacia, preserving the bust of a person in a tunic with a right arm and hand holding a torch pointed downward.

Bull and dagger detail from Sarmizegetusa

Small marble fragment from the Mithraeum at Sarmizegetusa, Dacia, preserving small parts of the bull and Mithras's dagger.

Standing figure in tunic from Sarmizegetusa

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Sheath and tunic fragment from Sarmizegetusa

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Three mantle fragments from Sarmizegetusa

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Bull's head fragments from Sarmizegetusa

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Coiling serpent fragment from Sarmizegetusa

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Dog's hindquarters from Sarmizegetusa

Marble fragment from the Mithraeum at Sarmizegetusa, Dacia, preserving the hindmost part of the dog.

Cautes head and torch top from Sarmizegetusa

Marble fragment from the Mithraeum at Sarmizegetusa, Dacia, preserving the head of Cautes in Phrygian cap and part of his torch.

Torchbearer mid-body from Sarmizegetusa

Marble fragment from the Mithraeum at Sarmizegetusa, Dacia, preserving the middle part of a torchbearer from the armpit to the knees.

Cautopates with downward torch from Sarmizegetusa

Marble fragment from the Mithraeum at Sarmizegetusa, Dacia, preserving the middle part of Cautopates holding a downward torch in his left hand.

 

Sol and Mithras upper corner from Sarmizegetusa

Fragment of a bluish marble tauroctony from the Mithraeum at Sarmizegetusa, Dacia, preserving the left upper corner with the bust of Sol and beside it the upper part of a person in Phrygian cap — probably Mithras as an archer.

Sol bust with Mithras riding from Sarmizegetusa

Fragment of a yellowish marble relief from the Mithraeum at Sarmizegetusa, Dacia, preserving the left upper corner with the bust of Sol and below it Mithras riding the bull.

Sol with Mithras sitting from Sarmizegetusa

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Sol and Phrygian figure from Sarmizegetusa

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Lion hind leg and serpent from Sarmizegetusa

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Multi-scene marble relief from Sarmizegetusa

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Standing Sol and burning altar from Sarmizegetusa

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Oceanus and rock miracle from Sarmizegetusa

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Fine Mithras head from Sarmizegetusa

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Torchbearer hand fragments from Sarmizegetusa

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Small marble lion's head from the Mithraeum at Sarmizegetusa, Dacia, seen frontally.

 

Kneeling figure leg from Sarmizegetusa

Marble fragment from the Mithraeum at Sarmizegetusa, Dacia, preserving the lower part of a leg and the left leg of a kneeling figure.

Border fragment with altar from Sarmizegetusa

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Cautes head and Luna from Sarmizegetusa

Bluish marble fragment from the Mithraeum at Sarmizegetusa, Dacia, preserving the right upper corner with the head of Cautes and his upraised torch, above which the bust of Luna.

Cautes mid-body fragment from Sarmizegetusa

Marble relief fragment from the Mithraeum at Sarmizegetusa, Dacia, preserving Cautes in Oriental dress from the hips to the knees.

 

Cautes with two torches from Sarmizegetusa

Two bluish marble fragments from the Mithraeum at Sarmizegetusa, Dacia, preserving the upper part of Cautes holding a torch in each hand, with traces of red on his neck, dress, and the torches.

Sol's head from Sarmizegetusa

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Sol bust with seven rays from Sarmizegetusa

Fragment of a white marble statuette from the Mithraeum at Sarmizegetusa, Dacia, preserving the dressed bust of Sol in a nimbus and seven-rayed crown with traces of red colour; two bolt-holes at the bottom for attachment.

Sitting lion from Sarmizegetusa

Bluish marble fragment from the Mithraeum at Sarmizegetusa, Dacia, preserving a sitting lion with its head slightly turned to the right.

 

Tauroctony relief from Lugoj collection

White marble tauroctony relief from the Mithraeum at Sarmizegetusa, Dacia, now in the Lugoj collection; the right lower corner is broken off and the scene depicts the standard bull-slaying.

 
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