CIMRM 187 - Initiation ceremony 1. S. Maria Capua Vetere, Italy.
See also: CIMRM 180 Mithraeum; 181 Tauroctony fresco; 182 Fresco of Cautes, altar, trees; 183 Fresco of Cautopates; 184 Fresco of Luna; 185 Unknown - Aion?; 186 Relief of Amor and Psyche; 187 Initiation ceremony 1; 188 Initiation ceremony 2; 189 A person in red, kneeling; 190 Standing person with 2 others; 191 Initiation ceremony 3; 192 Two more people; 193 Initiation ceremony 5; 194 Initiation ceremony 4; 195 Another figure; 196 Two damaged scenes; 197 Heads only of two people; 198 Small finds from sanctuary; 199 Small finds from antechamber;
The first panel shows us an assistant mystagogue dressed in a short white tunic guiding the initiand, whose naked body is rendered in red ochre, and whose eyes are covered by a white blindfold (V 187). This recalls the remark of Ambrosiaster (the name now given to an anonymous fourth-century commentator on the Epistles of Paul) that in spelaeo velatis oculis illuduntur, 'they are deceived in the cave when they have their eyes blindfolded'.107
These are the five panels which Clauss identifies as the initiation series, one per grade.
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CIMRM 187 - Initiation ceremony 1. S. Capua Vetere, Italy.
CIMRM 188 - Initiation ceremony 2. S. Capua Vetere, Italy.
CIMRM 191 - Initiation ceremony 3. S. Capua Vetere, Italy.
CIMRM 194 - Initiation ceremony 4. S. Capua Vetere, Italy.
CIMRM 193 - Initiation ceremony 5. S. Capua Vetere, Italy.Number of entries: 5CIMRM entry
On the front of the more recent benches several scenes have been represented, separated by red vertical bands. They refer to the initiation into the mysteries. On the r. bench (N. side) from the entrance to the niche successively:
187.
Minto, 368 and fig. 10. See fig. 57.
The mystagogus (H. 0.40) dressed in a short white tunica with red stripes, leads a blindfolded myste. The latter is painted red, the bandage white.
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