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Rare Bronze Mithras Figure
Circa 2nd Century AD
Description: Rare Romanized bronze representation of the Persian god Mithras. The figure is carefully incised with fine detail. The deity is depicted as a beardless youth with long curly hair wearing a Phrygian cap and holding a patera. His elaborate costume consists of a belted long-sleeved tunic over leggings with a cloak fastened at his right shoulder. The leggings and sleeves are impressed with decorative grooves while impressed dots enhance the back of the cloak. Mithras's face is well defined with brows, nose and full lips in relief, and eyes with impressed pupils. An extremely rare well modeled example.
Height: 3.5 in. (9 cm)
Condition: Intact with smooth dark patina and sharp detail.
Provenance: Formerly a British property acquired prior to 2000.
Background: The Mithraic religion's roots are Persian. However, the mystical all-knowing god appealed to Roman legionaries as he represented truth and integrity. Thus, the widespread dissemination of the Mithraic cult was largely due to the Roman military. Born from rocks, the deity was worshipped in natural or artificial caves. A devotee must complete a series of arduous tasks before being initiated into the mysteries of Mithras.
Published: This object was recently published in the scholarly archaeological journal Boreas, volume 28/29, pages 117-131, and illustrated as Figure #41, by Christina Drees in which she analyzes and compared that statue to similar bronzes in university museums in Istambul and Münster.
Price: SOLD
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