Mithras Tauroktonos I

 

The dominant character of this ancient relief is a familiar representation of Mithras wearing the Phrygian cap. He is shown attempting to ride the bull, grasping the animal's head with his left hand, and plunging a knife into the bull's shoulder with his right hand. A dog jumps from the right toward the knife in order to lick the blood squirting from the wound. A scorpion and a serpent approach from the bottom, apparently to bite the animal's genitals. The upper left-hand corner of the slab is occupied by a bust of Helios, corresponding to Luna crowned with a crescent on the opposite side. Besides the Sun god, a bird seems to be perching on Mithras' flying cape. On the left, under Helios, is a small human figure clad in a short tunic, wearing a Phrygian cap and holding what appears to be a torch. He may represent Cautes, a companion of Mithras. 

Provenance: Si'a. Found by the Princeton University Archaeological Expedition in front of the temple of Dusares, it was stored at the Teacher's College (Dār al-Muʿallimīn) at al-Mazzā, and subsequently brought to the National Museum.  
Era: 3rd century CE. 
Substance: basalt.  
Dimensions: H 72 cm, W 58 cm, D about 10 cm. 
Text: Weber (p133). Also published by Wulzinger and Watzinger (p. 108, pl. VII,7) and Abdul-Hak (p. 64).    

Collection: National Museum of Damascus. 

Thomas M. Weber. Sculptures from Roman Syria in the Syrian National Museum of Damascus. Vol I, from Cities and Villages in Central and Southern Syria. Wernersche Verlagsgesellschaft. Worms. 2006.

Sélim et Andrée Abdul-Hak. Catalogue Illustré du Département des antiquités Gréco-Romaines au Musée de Damas, 1951.     

Wulzinger & Watzinger. Damaskus, die antike Stadt 1921.

Mithra Tauroctone