CIMRM 1879 - Tauroctony relief in white limestone, possibly from Narona. Zadar, Croatia.

NARONA 1879. Relief in white limestone (H. 0.68 Br. 0.93 D. 0.12). The place of discovery is not known, but probably it is Narona (Vid near Metkovic). Zadar, Archaeological Museum. I am very grateful to Dr. Mate Suic, the Director of the Arheoloski muzej for sending me information and the photograph fig. 186. MMM II 501 No. 232bis; Reisch, Führer Zara, 92 No. 154 and fig.; Patsch in WMBH VII, 1900, 161 No. 2 and fig. 148; Arch. Star. Dalmazia XI, 267ff and fig. 5; Gabricevic in AJ I 1954,37, No. 8; LeRoy Campbeil in Berytus XI, 1954,47 No. 124. Mithras in Oriental dress kills the bull whose tail ends in three corn-ears. The dog, the serpent and the scorpion in the usual places. The raven is perched on Mithras' flying cloak. Behind the bull Cautes stands not cross-legged, turned towards Mithras. He holds the burning torch upwards with two hands. Above him Sol in shoulder-cape and whip standing in a quadriga. Lost: the r. upper corner with Luna, Cautopates, the l.h. and part of the r. arm of Mithras. The god's face is damaged. Cumont was of the opinion that the monument came from Zadar but up to now no Mithraic monuments have been found between the rivers Krka and Zrmanja. Patsch gives as the placo of discovery Citluk-Aequum.