Monumentum
Tauroctony of Osterburken
Franz Cumont considers the bas relief of Osterburken 'the most remarkable of all the monuments of the cult of Mithras found up to now'.
PublishedMithraeum.eu
18 Jul 2009
Updated on 21 Mar 2022
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Large bas-relief in a reddish sandstone. It was found in 1861 and is kept in the Great Ducal Museum of Antiquities at Garlsruhe.
At the centre is Mithras tauroctonous (as bull killer) in a curved niche (grotto), with the dog (disfigured) which is licking the blood from the wound. The scorpion is suspended from the testicles of the bull, and the raven is perched on the right, on the rocks near the edge of the niche. Under the belly of the victim there is a crater, where a snake has come to drink. Facing it a lion is crouching.
At the centre is Mithras tauroctonous (as bull killer) in a curved niche (grotto), with the dog (disfigured) which is licking the blood from the wound. The scorpion is suspended from the testicles of the bull, and the raven is perched on the right, on the rocks near the edge of the niche. Under the belly of the victim there is a crater, where a snake has come to drink. Facing it a lion is crouching.
Brothers
Data
- Location
Mithräum von Osterburken, Germania superior (Gallia) Osterburken (Germany) - Current location
Badisches Landesmuseum [118] Karlsruhe (Germany) - Type
- LabelsAltarAnaxyridesAquariusAriesAtlasBloodBullCancerCapricornCautesCautopatesChitonChlamysCrowDaggerDogGeminiGrottoHerculesInscriptionJupiterKraterLibraLionLunaLuna in bigaMithrasMithras taurophorusNakedPetrogenyPhygian capPiscesRockSagittariusScorpionSculptureSnakeSolSol in quadrigaStaffSubmissionTail with earsThunderTorchTreeTunicVenusVirgoWhipWind godsZodiac
- Dimensions H. 176 W. 170 D. cm
- Dating 231
- Discovery date 1861
- Material Sandstone
- Canonical URI
mithraeum.eu/monument/176
- CIMRM 1292, 1293
- CIL XIII 6576
Related
- Mithraeum Mithräum von Osterburken
- Monumentum Mithräum von Osterburken