CIMRM 1359-1360 - Reconstructed tauroctony. Königshofen, Strasbourg, France.

1359. Relief in grey sandstone (H. ± 2.30 Br. 1.80 D. 0.36) in 360 fragments which were found near 8. Forrer, MH 59ff and Pl. XXI-XXIV and fig. 56-58a; BATH 1923, 148 and Pl. VI; CAHA XVI, 1923, III and Pl. VII; BRGK XV, 1923-1924, 106 fig. 14; Esp. Rec. Gaule VII, 164 No. 5530, 166ff No. 5534-6 and fig.; Colin, Vie Als., 49 No. 6; Forrer, Als. rom., Pl. XXXVI; Will in RA (S. 6) XXXV, 1950, 67ff and fig. I; Will, Rel. Cult., Pl. V. Due to Forrer's praiseworthy initiative and hard work the fragments have been pieced together into one relief, but Mr. R. Will's new studies clearly reveal some of its deficiencies. The relief was probably erected in the centre of the sanctuary before the backwall (and not moved slightly northwards) and it was placed on the ground. In Forrer's reconstruction some measures were exaggerated; besides the figures of Hesperus and Phosphorus have been added without sufficient proof. The head of the "Wind-god" and a bird are not of the same material and may have belonged to another relief. Because it is impossible to enumerate here all the fragments, I reproduce Mr. R. Will's reconstruction in fig. 355 on which one sees, however, the same elements of Forrer's reconstruction because according to Will "il est impossible avec les données dont on dispose, de proposer une restitution différente de celle de Forrer, encore que l'existence de figures supplémentaires ne doive pas écartée". The photograph fig. 356 clearly shows the existing fragments; for the surrounding scenes I follow Mr. E. Will's design. The whole monument consists of a base (H. 0.55) with an inscription, in the central relief with a pilaster (H. 2.36) on either side and in an architrave with a frieze (H. 0.37) and a cornice. The central panel shows, according to the elements preserved, Mithras in Oriental dress and in the normal attitude as a bullkiller. He wears a belt and a sheath. His head, his l. arm, his feet and the greater part of his body are lost; of the bull part of the neck and of the tail are preserved. Parts of the vaulted grotto are preserved as well as the head of the raven and the greater part of the dog's body. Cautopates is cross-legged, has a torch downwards in his r.h. and holds a pedum in his l.h. Only his feet are lost. The eyes were laid in with glass paste (J. J. Hatt in RAEst VII, 1956, 124 fig. 45; Hatt, Strasbourg, fig. 20). Of Cautes there are fragments of the tunic, of the cloak and of his r.h. in which he certainly held a torch upwards. Under the bull a vase encircled by a serpent. Above. the grotto trees were represented and also Sol's quadriga (there are, however, only fragments of two horses) and Luna's biga. A fragment shows the head of a bearded god (Forrer, Pl. XXIII, 3) to which part of Mithras' cloak is attached (Windgod or Saturn). From Mr. E. Will's design, one concludes that no traces of the scorpion remain whereas Forrer 61 and fig. 50 mentions a part of its body. It is not clear if the bird's body which does not belong to this relief and is mentioned by Will, 71 n. 1, is the foremost part with eagle's head, visible in the reconstruction on the grotto's border opposite the raven. The pilasters (see fig. 357) with leaf capitals. were decorated with scenes, separated by calyxes. From this very fragmentary material which has been found up to now, Mr. R. Will gives the following reconstruction in which he also tries to give a new composition of the frieze: L. Pilaster, from bottom to top: 1) Standing person whose body is only partly dressed in a cloak (Saturnus). He holds in his l.h. a curved object, probably a harpè (Saturnus and Jupiter). 2) A Giant with uplifted l.h. (Jupiter and the Giants). Cf. J. J. Hatt in RAEst VII, 1956, 125 fig. 4. 3) Reclining Oceanus on a rock above which the leaves of a tree. He holds a staff in his l.h. The reclining figure is lost. 4) Mithras being born from the rock. Lost. 5) Mithras cutting branches. Lost. 6) Mithras in the tree. Lost. R. Pilaster, from top to bottom: 7) Mithras carrying the bull on his shoulders. Lost. 8) Part of the bull's body. Mithras taurophoros. 9) Sitting lion above which leaves. Head lost. 10) Mithras. in Oriental dress raises a piece of meat with his r.h. Mithras and Sol (J. J. Hatt in RAEst VII, 1956, 125 fig. 46; REA LIX, 1957, Pl. XII). 11) Alliance between Mithras and Sol. Lost. 12) Mithras ascending the car of Sol. Lost. Frieze, from l. to r.: 13) Bow of Mithras as an archer. 14) The head of Mithras in Phrygian cap; Sol in a crown sitting behind a table on which a dish with a loaf. In his l.h. a bunch of grapes. Sacred repast. 15) Hand holding a sceptre (Jupiter enthroned amidst the Olympian gods). A fragment of a standing youthful god in a shoulder-cape may be Apollo; behind him part of a rock. 16) Lower part of a person dressed in a tunic who holds a burning torch against a rock (cf. CIMRM I No. 641 and fig. 180). As Mr. R. Will interprets this scene as Mithras or one of his helpers setting fire to the house of the bull, he supplies: 17) Mithras fighting the bull. The relief certainly was painted (cf. the Nos. 1361 and 1362 which originally were affixed to a wall or to the benches). In the base is the main inscription No. 1360. Of the painting only few traces remain; on the hand of Mithras as a bullkiller one distinguishes a red colour. J. J. Hatt in RAEst VII, 1956, 120ff clearly shows that the monuments of the Mithraeum were executed by a group of foreign sculptors who arrived at Strasbourg with the legio VIII. The monuments as well as the recent finds at Mackwiller (See Nos. 1329-1334) are assigned to the period between A.D. 150-180. 1360. Plate in red sandstone (H. 0.55 Br. 0.60) in many fragments. CIL XIII, 11611. L.H. 0.05-0.09. [In h(onorem)] d(omus) d(ivinae) d(eo) i(nvicto) M[ithrae] / ........ us M.P.D ........ / ....... us typu[m] .. , / ......... solo v ....