Reverse of the Mithras the hunter relief depicting a naked Sol descending from a throne, Museum Schloss Fechenbach, Dieburg, Germany

The whole scene is represented inside a circular border in which an engraved inscription. The only figures outside this border are the busts of the four wind-gods; the one in the r. upper corner is lost.

The front of a temple with four Corinthian columns. Between these columns garlands are hanging. In the centre of the triangular pediment is a medallion with a head (Sol?).

1) In the front of this building a naked person (Helios-Sol) descends from a throne. His l. foot on a footstool; a cloth covers his r. leg and his l.h. in which he holds a staff or sceptre. His r.h. is lost; the head is damaged.
2) Standing youth dressed ouly in a long shoulder-cape (Phaeton-Mithras). He rests his l.h. on the throne and he raises up his r.h.
3) On Helios' left a standing woman only partly dressed in a mantle (Summer). She leans against the throne and in her l.h. she holds an oblong object (corn-ear).

Behind the central part three standing women are represented from l. to r.:

4) Standing woman the upper part of whose body is not covered, holds a plate with fruit in her outstretched l.h. (Autumn). She lifts her r.h. over her head. Both hands are damaged.
5) Youthful woman, the upper part of whose body is undressed holds her r.h. above Sol's head (Spring).
6) Standing older woman dressed in a mantle holds a long thin object (reed?) in her l.h. (Winter).
7) On the four sides of the throne naked youths dressed in shoulder-capes. Each of them leads a horse and holds a twisted club in his l.h.
8) Three figures are represented in the foreground. In the centre a bust of a man in beard and above him an arched velum (Caelus). On his right a reclining woman the upper part of whose body is undressed. She lifts up her r.h. and she holds in her l.h. a cornucopia (Tellus). To the l. of Caelus a reclining man in beard who wears a ribbon in his hair. The lower part of his body is dressed in a mantle. He holds a jug in his r.h. (Oceanus).

In the figures of Caelus, Tellus and Oceanus the elements of air, earth and water are symbolized. The element of fire is represented in the main scene which is unique in Mithraic monuments and which refers to the end of the world. According to Cumont (Cf. Les Mages hell., I, 92; II 147 No. 4; Rel. Or4., 274 No. 14; Symb. fun., 75 No. 1) Phaeton, who implores Helios to guide the quadriga, is a symbol of the Platonic and Stoic ekpuroosis. The Mithraists were of the opinion that Mithras himself was the author of the World-conflagration and so they identified Mithras with Phaeton.

Inscription on the border.

L.H. 0.04.

Silvestrius Silvinu[s] et Silvestrius Perpetus et Silvinius Aurelius d(eo) S(oli) i(nvicto) M(ithrae).

Source:
www.tertullian.org/rpearse/mithras/display.php?page=cimrm...

Some rights reserved

Taken in: Deutschland / Hessen / Dieburg (show map)

Taken on: July 18, 2013

Tags:

pleiades:findspot=118839

Sol

Mithras

relief

Museum

Schloss

Fechenbach

Dieburg « less

Sets appears in: • Museum Schloss Fechenbach, Dieburg (Germany)

Groups appears in: • The Four Rivers of Paradise • Mystery School of: The Greco-Roman World

Camera: Nikon D5100, f/3.8, 1/30 sec, 21mm (=31mm), ISO 2500 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D5100
Aperture:	f/3.8
Exposure Time:	0.033 sec (1/30)
Focal Length:	21mm (35mm equivalent: 31mm)
ISO:	2500
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Not Defined
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Gain Control:	High gain up
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Ver.1.01
Show full info

Stats: 18,327 views / 2 comments

go back

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: