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Monumentum

Aion of Mérida

The Aion-Chronos of Mérida was found near the bullring of the current city, once capital of the Roman province Hispania Ulterior.
 
 
PublishedMithraeum.eu
3 Aug 2009
Updated on 22 Jan 2022
 
  • Aion / Cronos de Mérida

    Aion / Cronos de Mérida
    The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA) 

  • Detail of Aion legs of Mérida

    Detail of Aion legs of Mérida
    The New Mithraeum / Andreu Abuín (CC BY-SA) 

 

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This is part of a series of sculptures of gods who probably formed a sacred group in a shrine or temple. It was found during the building work on the bullring in Mérida in the early 20th century. It represents the oriental god Zervan Chronos, depicted with the head of a lion on his chest and a serpent encircling the god’s naked body. Two holes can be seen on the head for bronze lightning bolts, and the shoulder blades have grooves for inserting two wings, another distinctive feature of this god.

Marble statue (H. 1.75), found in 1902 and 1913. Mus. Merida, Inv. No. 86.
 
 

Related monuments

Casa del Mitreo de Mérida

Although this building is not a Mithraeum, archaeologists have found several monuments related to the cult of Mithras.

Altar of Merida consecrated by Marcus Valerius Secundus

This altar is dedicated to the birth of Mithras by a frumentarius of the Legio VII Geminae.

Lion-headed figure of Mérida

The lion-headed figure, Aion, from Mérida, wears oriental knickers fastened at the waist by a cinch strap.

Cautopates from Casa del Mitreo of Mérida

The sculpture of the solar god is signed by its author, Demetrios.

 

Naked figure from Mérida

This sculpture may be a naked dadophorus, probably Cautopates.

Mithras's feast from Mérida

This mithraic communion from Mérida shows three persons at table with other people standing besides, one of them with a bull's head on a plate.

Mercury of Mérida

The statue of Mercury in Merida bears a dedication from the Roman Pater of a community in the city in 155.

Cautes of Mérida

This nude male figure, found at Cerro de San Albín, Mérida, has been identified as Cautes.

 

Venus pudica of Mérida

The Venus pudica of Merida stands next to the young Amor riding a dolplhin.

Isis de Mérida

The Isis of Merida is covered by a long dress that reaches down to her feet.

Aesculapius of Merida

This standing sculptural figure from Mérida appears to carry the serpent staff, characteristic of the medicine god Aesculapius.

Altar by Caius Aemilius Superaius of Merida

Small white marble altar made in honour of Mithras found at San Albín, Mérida.

 

Altar from Mérida 'pro salute'

The small Mithraic altar found at Cerro de San Albin, Merida, bears an inscription to the health of Caius Iulius.

Oceaunus of Mérida

The sculpture of Oceanus in Merida bears an inscription by the Pater Patrorum Gaius Accius Hedychrus.

Venus of Mérida small sculpture

The lack of attributes and its decontextualisation prevent us from attributing a specific Mithraic attribution to this small Venus pudica from Mérida.

Altar of Mérida from Quintio

This altar, which has now disappeared, was dedicated by the slave Quintio for the health of a certain Coutius Lupus.

 

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