CIMRM 268 - Painted fresco. "Mitreo delle pareti dipinte", Ostia, Italy.

268. On the back wall of the sanctuary there must have been a large painting, probably the scene of Mithras as a bullkiller, because many traces in blue and brown (the grotto) and red are visible. The right wall of the inner part of the sanctuary is divided in three parts: 1) In the left section a standing woman, frontal (Becatti, Pl. XII, 1), in short hair dress, dressed in a violet tunica and yellow himation. In her right outstretched hand she holds a mirror; with her left hand she arranges a leaf-crown (Venus-Nymphus). The woman is standing on the greenish soil and on her right side there is a tree with red and yellow flowers: See fig. 78. 2) In the middle section (Br. 2.20) equally on a greenish soil, there are on either side of a large tree two young men. The left one in long violet tunic, which, however, does not cover the front part of his body; he runs in the direction of the tree. In his left hand he holds a long javelin. On the other side a youth dressed in short violet tunic, which blows out. With both hands he holds a long torch. The heads of both figures are encircled by a nimbus. 3) In the right section (Br. .15) a standing youth in green tunic, violet cape and red Phrygian cap. He seems to be cross-legged. With his left hand he keeps down a torch (Cautopates). On his left side a tree (Becatti, Pl. XII, 2). 4) On the opposite wall there are remnants of a painted procession, which progresses in the direction of the cult-niche. Underneath it different plants have been painted. a) A leg of a walking person; b) two legs and remnants of a yellow tunic; c) head and bust of a person in red tunic and blue nimbus; d) blue globe; e) traces of another person in reddish-yellow; f) traces of a person with torch. 5) The right wall of the foremost part of the Mithraeum is divided by red lines in four (originally eight?) panels in each of which is represented a standing or walking person; the figures are turned to the cult-niche (Becatti, Pl. XIII,2). In the two upper panels: a) standing person in short yellow tunic with red bands. In his hand he holds a red cloth (flammeum). Head and shoulders lost (Nymphus). b) Walking person in the same dress with upraised left hand in which some yellow. traces are visible (ears?) (Perses). Both persons are standing on a green soil. In the lower panels: c) walking bearded person in short tunic and small cap. In his upraised r.h. a torch (Leo). d) Upper part of a person, looking back. His l.h. is outstretched without torch. The whole painting of the Mithraeum has been correctly dated by Becatti to the end of the second century A.D.