The birth of Mitra from the rock

marble, 2nd half of the 2nd century

Pedestal with a plastic depiction of Mithra’s birth. A snake wraps itself around the rock on the pedestal. A god rises from the rock with a dagger and a torch in his hand. Mithra’s head is not preserved, nor is it the part of the dagger and torch he holds in his hands. On the front of the pedestal is a tab of ansata with the inscription:

Naturae. dei
prudens. Primi
Antoni. Rufi. p(ublici). p(ortorii)
vil(ici). vic(arius)

To the birth of God. Prudentus, under the management of Primus, caretaker of the public customs office (tenant) Antonius Rufus.