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Monumentum

Tauroctony relief of Sidon

The tauroctony relief of Sidon depicts the signs of the zodiac and the four seasons, among other familiar features.
Relieve de la Tauroctonia de Sidón, Líbano

Relieve de la Tauroctonia de Sidón, Líbano
Galdo Trounchky 

 
The New Mithraeum
18 Jun 2009
Updated on Sep 2023

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Relief of Parian marble (H. 0.445 Br. 0.77 D. 0.08).

Mithras puts his r. foot victoriously on the hind-leg of the bull and thrusts the dagger into its heart. The god is represented in Eastern attire: a short chiton with a tight-fitting string around the chest, a flying cloak adorned with stars, high boots and a Phrygian cap with a star on the point. Dog and snake want to lick the abundantly flowing blood; the scorpion clasps the testicles. The latter, however, belongs at the same time to the signs of the zodiac, which has been depicted round the scene.

Behind the bull there are four

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Mithraeum of Sidon

The Mithraeum of Sidon may have escaped destruction because the Mithras worshippers walled up the entrance to the underground sanctuary.

Taurcotony sculpture from Sidon

The Mithras killing the bull sculpture from Sidon, currently Lebanon.

Lion-headed Aion from Sidon

The controversial Italian journalist Edmon Durighello discovered this marble statue of a young naked Aion in 1887.

Mithras carrying the bull

Sculpture depicting Mithras carrying a young bull on his shoulders.

 

Cautes of Sidon

The Sidon sculpture includes a dog jumping between Cautes's legs.

Cautopates of Sidon

Cautopates sculpture of Sidon features a snake near his left leg.

Cautes with an axe

The Cautes of Sidon who wields an axe also wears a piece of cloth on his left arm.

Second Cautes of Sidon holding an axe

In this case, a quiver has been attached to the tree-stump behind the torchbearer.

 

Hekataion of Sidon

The Hekataion of Sidon shows a triple Hekate surrounded by three dancing nymphs.

Bronze Venus of Sidon

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