Monumentum

Petrogeny of Santo Stefano Rotondo

The sculpture of Mithras rock-birth from Santo Stefano Rotondo bears an inscription of Aurelius Bassinus, curator of the cult.

Mithraeum.eu

3 Jul 2009

Updated 27 Aug 2021

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Mithras born from the rock (petra genetrix), statue dedicated by Aurelius Bassinus, ædituus (curator of the cult installations) of the principia of the castra peregrina of the Imperial horseguards (equites singulares).

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Marble, age of Commodus (180-192 CE). From the area of S. Stefano Rotondo, Rome.

Related monuments

Mitreo di Santo Stefano Rotondo

The pagan temple was discovered under the church of Santo Stefano Rotondo in Rome, in one of the buildings of Casta Peregrinorum.

Tauroctony of Ottavio Zeno

The relief of Mithras slaying the bull by Ottavio Zeno is lost, but two tablets of Cautes and Cautopates, which were part of the same ensemble, has been exposed at the Louvre.

Head of Mithras from Santo Stefano Rotondo

The head was part of a stucco relief of the Tauroctony found under the church of Santo Stefano Rotondo in Rome

Second Petrogeny of Santo Stefano Rotondo

The second statue of Mithras rock-birth was found in the Mitreo di Santo Stefano Rotondo shows a childish Mitras emerging from the rock.

Tauroctony of Santo Stefano Rotondo

The relief of Mithras killing the bull of Stefano Rotodon preserves part of his polycromy and depicts two unusual figures: Hesperus and an owl.