Syndexios

Absalmos

Of Semitic origin, Absalmos has dedicated a tauroctonic relief to Mithra in ancient Syria.

Tauractony with several mythical scenes at the Israel Museum
Carole Raddato (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Biography

Active circa 3rd century in Syria.

The name Absalmos, derived from the Aramaic ‘b(d)šlm’ ‘servant of Shalman’, is only found in Dura, Palmyra, Hatra, Edessa, and the mid-Euphrates in general, and is a further confirmation, alongside the Duran iconographic parallels, of the relief’s Syrian provenance. We may assume that Absalmos was the current Father of the community. De Jong suggests a date between late II and late III cent. AD: it is not possible to be more specific.

—Gordon. A new Mithraic relief in the Israel Museum, Jerusalem

Mentioned in

Tauroctony of Absalmos

The relief depict several unusual scenes from Mithras's myth.

ἐκ τῶν τοῦ θεοῦ ἐπὶ ̕Αβσάλμου

Because of the things (received) from the God, in the time of Absalmos.

Canonical URI https://www.mithraeum.eu/person/138

Published on 10 Feb 2022