Tauroctony from Santa Prisca

TNMM 717 ↔ CIMRM 479

On the main side of the niche, there certainly was a representation in stucco of Mithras, slaying the bull. Parts of the flying cloak and the front part of the jumping dog are preserved. A gilded head (H. 0.25) in Phrygian cap and turned to the right may have belonged to this group (see fig. 132).

On the r. side of the niche, in stucco the front part of a foreshortened representation of Mithras with a white bull. The bull’s breast and neck and Mithras’ r.h. are preserved as well as the greater part of his flying cloak.

On the l. side of the niche there must have been a representation as well, as a number of nail-holes prove. Ferrura suggests the scene on which Mithras climbs a tree, it seems to me however, that there was a representation of Mithras’ rockbirth. Large parts of Mithras’ red cloak are preserved; the head has been found in 1954. The border of the niche has been decorated with the heads of the seven planets. A head of Saturnus-Sarapis has been found near the entrance of the sacristy. It is bearded and supports a modius (H. 0.50). See fig. 133 and cf. No. 818.

CIMRM II 479

New studies in the niche have shown that its wall did not have any representation except the raven of which parts of the wings are visible. The parts of Mithras' cloak on this side were unrightly attached here by the Augustine Fathers in 1936. After the complete restoration of the niche it seems impossible that the stucco head of Saturn should have decorated its border.