Mithra sacrificing a bull
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Order PrintImage ID
1624829
Item data
Title
Mithra sacrificing a bull
Collection
Wonders: Images of the Ancient World
Religion -- Ancient
Date / Origin
Date Issued: 1890
Library Location
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection
Subjects
Bulls -- Religious aspects
Sacrifices
Phrygians -- To 499
Mithras (Zoroastrian deity)
Gods, Zoroastrian
Mythology, Iranian
Rome -- Religion
Bas-reliefs
Genres
Notes
Content: "Bas-relief in the Louvre. This is the most important monument remaining to us of the Persian worship of Mithra in the Roman Empire. Mithra in his cavern (spelaeum) sacrifices to Jupiter Sabazius the bull whose blood will give regeneration. Around the prostrate bull are a scorpion, a serpent, and a dog. To the right and left the Genius of the day, with lighted torch, and of the night with torch extinguished. Overhead is the earth with its productions; higher still, Aurora about to disappear, and the sun ascending from the horizon. Upon the bull the inscription: 'To Mithra, the invincible Sun-God.' This bas-relief was consecrated at Rome in a vault beneath the Capitol." -- printed note to caption on bottom of sheet.
Source Note: History of Rome and of the Roman people from its origin to the invasion of the barbarians : containing over three thousand engravings, one hundred maps and plans and numerous chromolithographs. (Boston : Estes and Lauriat, 1890) Duruy, Victor (1811-1894), Author. Mahaffy, John Pentland, Sir (1839-1919), Editor.
Physical Description
Line photoengravings
Extent: image 10 x 12 cm (sheet 24.2 x 15.6 cm)
Identifiers
Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): 8c11e770-c5bf-012f-80b7-58d385a7bc34
Rights
The New York Public Library believes that this item is in the public domain under the laws of the United States, but did not make a determination as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. This item may not be in the public domain under the laws of other countries. Though not required, if you want to credit us as the source, please use the following statement, "From The New York Public Library," and provide a link back to the item on our Digital Collections site. Doing so helps us track how our collection is used and helps justify freely releasing even more content in the future.
Type Of Resource
Date Issued
1890
Cite this item
MLA format
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. "Mithra sacrificing a bull" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1890. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/8c11e770-c5bf-012f-80b7-58d385a7bc34
APA format
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. (1890). Mithra sacrificing a bull Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/8c11e770-c5bf-012f-80b7-58d385a7bc34
Chicago/Turabian Format
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. "Mithra sacrificing a bull" New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed December 7, 2025. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/8c11e770-c5bf-012f-80b7-58d385a7bc34
Wikipedia citation
<ref name=NYPL>{{cite web | url=https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/8c11e770-c5bf-012f-80b7-58d385a7bc34 | title= (still image) Mithra sacrificing a bull (1890) | author=Digital Collections, The New York Public Library | accessdate=December 7, 2025 | publisher=The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations}}</ref>