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| View Original: | Greek - Intaglio of a Mithraic Sacrifice - Walters 421342.jpg (1800x1387) | |||
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| Keywords: Greek - Intaglio of a Mithraic Sacrifice - Walters 421342.jpg Mithras was a Persian creation god as well as the god of light Mithraism the mystery religion associated with him spread throughout the Roman Empire Initiation into Mithraism was restricted to men and was especially popular with soldiers in Rome and on the northern frontier during the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD According to the Persian myth the sun god sent his messenger the raven to Mithras and ordered him to sacrifice the primeval white bull At the moment of its death the bull became the moon and Mithras's cloak became the sky stars and planets From the bull also came the first ears of grain and all the other creatures on earth This scene of sacrifice central to Mithraism is called the Tauroctony and is represented as taking place in a cave observed by Luna the moon god and Sol the invincible Sun god with whom he became associated in Roman times Mithras is generally depicted flanked by his two attendants Cautes and Cautopates and accompanied by a dog raven snake and scorpion In front of the cosmic cave Mithras flanked by his two torchbearers Cautes and Cautopates sacrifices the primeval bull He is surrounded by his attributes a dog a snake and the heads of the sun and moon gods This is a rare early representation of the Tauroctony and its fine carving and realistic detail differ from later versions of the god's image late 1st century BC Augustan sard gold mount cm 2 2 2 3 0 8 accession number 42 1342 23774 Evans date and mode of acquisition unknown Evans Collection Sale 1938 no 216 Hirsch date and mode of acquisition unknown Walters Art Museum 1942 by purchase Museum purchase 1942 place of origin Nemea in present-day Greece Walters Art Museum license Ancient Greek art in the Walters Art Museum Ancient Roman art in the Walters Art Museum Art from Greece Tauroctony - Reliefs | ||||
