File:Musei Vaticani - Mithra - Sol invictus 01136.JPG

Contents 1 Summary 1.1 Text 1.2 Translation 1.3 Image 2 Licensing

Summary

Roma, Musei Vaticani: Roman Mithras, described as sol invictus (the unconquered sun god). Reference: CIL VI 721= VI, 30820 cf. p. 3757 (ILS 1615).

Text

Soli Invicto Deo
Atimetus Augg. NN. Ser. Act.
Praediorum Romanianorum

= Soli Invicto Deo, / Atimetus, Aug(ustorum) n(ostrorum) servus, act(or) / praediorum romanianorum

Translation

Soli Invicto Deo = to the unconquered sun god. We would understand Sol Invictus here, except that the image is plainly of Mithras in his phrygian cap, not Sol Invictus in his chariot and radiate crown.

Atimetus = name of the dedicator

Augg NN SER means "Aug(ustorum) n(ostrorum) servus" = "slave of ours emperors"

act(or) Praediorum Romanianorum = cashier of the farms of Romanianii

Atimetus was an emperor's slave, he was acting of cashier in a great estate.

Image

The image is a standard one of Mithras killing the bull in the Tauroctony. This image is relatively simple and omits many elements found in other depictions. The killing takes place in a cavern. Top left is Sol, recognisable by his flaming crown. Top right is Luna. Beneath the bull, the dog and the snake lick up the blood.

Licensing

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• Mithraic mysteries