Monumentum
Petrogeny with a sheaf of wheat of Cologne
In this relief of the rock birth of Mithras, the child sun god holds a bundle of wheat in his left hand instead of the usual torch.
Petrogeny relief of Cologne
Carole Raddato
The New Mithraeum
7 Nov 2023
TNMM 728
This 3rd century relief depicting the birth of Mithras, now in the Römisch-Germanisches Museum in Cologne was found in 1969 in the Mithraeum II at the historical site of Colonia Agrippina. The relief differs from the conventional depiction of Mithras; whereas he is usually shown emerging from a rock holding a dagger and torch, this relief uniquely depicts him holding a sheaf of wheat in his left hand, while retaining the traditional dagger in his right.
