This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience.
Find out more on how we use cookies in our privacy policy.

 
Support The New Mithraeum The New Mithraeum is an independent, non-profit project dedicated to Mithraic studies, ancient religions and classical culture. Developed and maintained independently since 2007, the site exists without advertising, paywalls or institutional funding. If you have found value in its articles, interviews, photographs or database, please consider supporting the project with a contribution. Every contribution helps keep The New Mithraeum open, free and alive. Thank you.
Support us →
Monumentum

Tauroctony from Antium

This marble relief depicting Mithras killing the bull, found at Porto d’Anzio in 1699 and now lost, is known from a engraving by del Torre.
  • Tauroctony from Antium.

    Tauroctony from Antium.
    CIMRM

  • CIMRM 204

    CIMRM 204
    Vermaseren's Corpus

 
The New Mithraeum
26 Dec 2024
Updated on May 2026

TNMM 908 ↔ CIMRM 204

Marble relief (Br. 1.50), found at Porto d’Anzio in 1699. Lost.

The relief, which is only known to us as an engraving, shows Mithras as a bull-killer in the usual attitude and dress. Dog, serpent and scorpion are present. The god looks back at two fighting ravens behind him. On either side in a short tunica only, the torchbearers Cautes (r) and Cautopates (l). Cross-legged. Beside the latter a small vessel on the ground. In the left upper comer the bust of Sol with radiate crown around his curly head. The r. upper comer got lost. Mithras’ r.h. is broken off.

MMM 86

Bas-relief de marbre [L. six palmes = env. 1m,50j trouvé en 1699 à Porto d’Anzio. Possesseur inconnu.

Mithra tauroctone, comme de coutume, avec le chien, le serpent, le scorpion et les deux porte-flambeau. Mithra saisit le taureau par la corne au lieu de lui prendre les naseaux. Aux pieds du dadophore de droite, tenant sa torche abaissée, est placé un vase. A gauche de la figure principale, deux corbeaux; au-dessus le buste de Sol radié. Le coin supérieur de droite est perdu.

Il est difficile de savoir jusqu’à quel point le dessin de del Torre est exact. La présence de deux corbeaux notamment serait fort extraordinaire.

References

Torre, Mon. Vet. Antii, 157f with fig.; Montfaucon, Ant. Expl. I (2) 379 and PI. CCXVI, 2; Eichhorn, De deo Sole, fig. 3; N. Müller, Mithras, fig. 4; Seel, 255 fig. a (See fig. 64); de Hammer, Mithriaca, No. 5; MMM II 247 No. 86 and fig. 79. Reproduit: Philippe a Turre, Monumenta veteris Antii, 1700, p 157 ; Montfaucon, Ant. expl., pl. CCXVI, 2; Eichhorn, fig. 3; Müller, fig. 4; Seel, pl Xa. La fig. 70 est une réduction de la gravure de Ph. a Turre. Mentionné : Zoega, Abhandl., 27; Hanimer, n° 5.

Back to Top