Replica of the Reconstructed Mithras Tauroctonos Statue from Ostia (with Phrygian Cap)

This replica is based on the impressive original sculpture, carved in Greek marble, discovered in situ at the Mithraeum of Ostia Antica. The statue, standing at approximately 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m), presents Mithras in a bold and uncommon pose. Unlike traditional representations where he appears in Eastern attire, here the youthful god wears a short Greco-Roman tunic that exposes half of his chest, and he stands barefoot. Mithras grasps the bull beneath its muzzle with his left hand while raising the dagger high in his right, ready to strike. He pins the animal down with his knees, while a serpent winds itself around the base. Missing from this version are the scorpion and dog, animals usually featured in similar scenes. Carved into the bull’s chest is a Greek inscription that reads: “Kriton the Athenian made this.” This likely refers to Marcus Umbilius Kriton, an artist known to have been active in the early second century CE. His name appears in connection with other Mithraic sites, including the Mitreo della Planta Pedis. The original statue was found damaged and had undergone ancient repairs using grayish marble. Drawing from scholarly sources, the sculptor at Hephaisteion has carefully reconstructed several elements: the fingers of Mithras, the blade and sheath of the dagger, the bull’s horns and limbs, as well as the god’s head which now includes a Phrygian cap. While some scholars debate whether the original statue had the cap, it has been added here following the most widely accepted interpretations. The arms of Mithras were also reconstructed based on the evidence of Roman-era restorations. The statue originally rested on a diagonal masonry base, positioned beneath one of the vaulted skylights of the sanctuary. These skylights were deliberately designed to cast dramatic natural light on Mithras’s head during ritual ceremonies. The Mithraeum itself is believed to have been built during the first half of the third century CE. Over time, fragments of the statue, including Mithras’s head and one arm, as well as the bull’s head, were discovered in a drainage channel inside the shrine. They were likely discarded by early Christians who built a small structure directly above the sanctuary. The statue’s torso was later part of the Giustiniani Collection and was returned to Italy in 1999, following an investigation into its illicit removal and sale. This sculpture is truly exceptional. Mithras is shown more as a Greco-Roman hero than in his traditional Eastern form. He is not accompanied by the usual side figures or animals found in other tauroctony scenes. His ecstatic gaze and dramatic upward gesture reflect a highly individualized interpretation of the bull-slaying myth, distinct from other known examples. This replica aims to honor both the original statue’s composition and the unique atmosphere of the Ostia Antica sanctuary, faithfully capturing the figure of Mithras in his symbolic triumph over darkness.