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| Keywords: Roman - Amulet of Mithras Slaying the Bull, and the God Abraxas - Walters 42868 - Impression.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 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 On the front of this two-sided intaglio is the scene of Mithras slaying the primeval bull Mithras dressed in Phrygian clothing kneels upon the bull with one leg while stabbing it with a dagger Also present are images of Sol and Luna a raven a scorpion a snake and a dog The back depicts Abraxas a cock-headed snake-tailed Near Eastern deity century 3 4 hematite gold mount cm 1 9 2 72 0 45 ; H without elaborate setting 1/2 x W 11/16 x D 1/8 in 1 3 x 1 8 x 0 3 cm accession number 42 868 40013 Marlborough Collection date and mode of acquisition unknown Henry Walters New York date and mode of acquisition unknown Sadie Jones Mrs Henry Walters New York 1931 by inheritance Mrs Henry Walters Sale Joseph Brummer New York 1942 Walters Art Museum 1942 by purchase Museum purchase formerly part of the Walters Collection 1942 Transcription Early Christian and Byzantine Art Baltimore Museum of Art Baltimore 1947 place of origin Syria Walters Art Museum license Ancient Roman art in the Walters Art Museum Tauroctony - Reliefs Luna mythology Radiant crowns | ||||
