An interesting archaeological documentation related to the mithraic mysteries is preserved in the National Museum of Roman Art at Mérida. It is dated in the second half of the second century for the presence of inscriptions. The iconographic characteristics of some divinities (e.g. the lion-headed god, the “snake-encircled figure”, the statue of Mercury and the water-deity) show the possible influence of urban models and the quite good quality of the sculptures suggests the appreciable level of the workshops and reveals the economic connotation of the mithraic community. In particular a detailed discussion is dedicated to the interpretation of the “snake-encircled figure” related to the syncretistic relief at Modena, focusing upon orphic theories and “aionic” aspects.
Cacciotti, B. (2011). Riflessi della metropoli nella diffusione dei culti misterici nella Hispania romana. In Actas del XI Coloquio Internacional de Arte Romano Provincial (pp.951-962). Roma : ERMA DI BRETSCHNEIDER.
Riflessi della metropoli nella diffusione dei culti misterici nella Hispania romana
CACCIOTTI, BEATRICE
2011-01-01
Abstract
An interesting archaeological documentation related to the mithraic mysteries is preserved in the National Museum of Roman Art at Mérida. It is dated in the second half of the second century for the presence of inscriptions. The iconographic characteristics of some divinities (e.g. the lion-headed god, the “snake-encircled figure”, the statue of Mercury and the water-deity) show the possible influence of urban models and the quite good quality of the sculptures suggests the appreciable level of the workshops and reveals the economic connotation of the mithraic community. In particular a detailed discussion is dedicated to the interpretation of the “snake-encircled figure” related to the syncretistic relief at Modena, focusing upon orphic theories and “aionic” aspects.Questo articolo è pubblicato sotto una Licenza Licenza Creative Commons
