Tauroctony relief of Villa Borghese

White marble relief (H. 1.63 Br. 1.87 D. 0.23-Q.35). At first in Rome, Villa Borghese; nowadays Paris, Louvre, Inv. No. 1024. Probably third century A.D.

Montelatici, Villa Borghese, 165; 181; Zoega, Abh., 148 No. 4; Clarac, Mus. Sculpt., II 307 No. 58 and Pl. 204 No. 58; de Hammer, Mithriaca, Pl. XXII; Lajard, Intr., Pl. LXXVI, 2; Froehner, Not. Sculpt., 502 No. 570; MMM II 223ff No. 57 and fig. 53; 481 No. 57a; Cecchelli in Roma 1941, Taf. XXII.

In a rocky cave Mithras as a bullkiller: The god’s face has an expression of effort or grief. The dog and the serpent are present; the

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