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12. R E L I G I O U S G R O U P S<br />

5. Caiues (with raised torch) and Cautopar.es (with lowered torch). Cf. 4.6a n.4; 12.5g<br />

n.9.<br />

6. Jupiter fighting two snake-tooted giants.<br />

7. Saturn with sickle (as in 12.5a n.8) dreaming under a fig tree.<br />

8. Birth of Mithras from rock; two shepherds adoring him.<br />

9. Mithras on the back of a bull.<br />

10. Naked Sun kneeling on left with downturned dagger, grasping hand of Mithras hold­<br />

ing Persian sickle (as n. 7<br />

); flaming altar in centre.<br />

11. Mithras dubs kneeling Sun with shoulder of bull (cf. Hinnells and Gordon (1977-8)<br />

213-19).<br />

12. 'Apronianus the civic treasurer made it at his own expense'.<br />

12.5c Mithraic inscriptions<br />

This selection of texts ilhisttates various aspects of the Mithraic cult: the social<br />

standing of members (12.5c(i), (ii), (vii) imperial ex-slaves; 12.5c(v-vi), (viii)<br />

soldiers); the grades of initiation (12.5c(ii—iv), (vi)); the theology of the cult<br />

(12.5c(i) Persian word; 12.5c(viii) sacred cave); and its history (12.5c(ii) is the<br />

earliest extant text which presupposes a graded structure of initiation, 12.5c(iv)<br />

illustrates the revival of the cult in the fourth century).<br />

12.5c(i) Mithras' order to an imperial slave. A marble plaque found near<br />

Hadrian's villa outside Tivoli.<br />

ILS4237; CIMRM2U; Insc. Italiaeiv.67<br />

To Sun unconquerable Mithras, just as he himself ordered in a dream his image (?) to be<br />

repaired-, Victorinus a slave steward of our emperor undertook its repair for the ever<br />

present deity at his own expense and dedicated it. Hail to all. The attendant<br />

was [ . . .Jims Magnus.<br />

CIMRM 362; IGUR 179<br />

1. Nama is the one certainly Persian word attested in the cult (the other probable one is<br />

nabarze, 'victorious'). The cult claimed its origins in Persia (cf. 12.5d).<br />

12.5c(ii) An imperial ex-slave and his Father. On an altar (?) from <strong>Rome</strong>,<br />

possibly as early as A.D. 100.<br />

See further: R. L. Gordon (1978) 151-3.<br />

To Sun unconquerable Mithras, donated by Titus Flavius Hyginus<br />

Ephebianus, freedman of the emperor. To Helios Mithras Titus Flavius<br />

Hyginus, through Lollius Rufus, his own Father.<br />

308

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