CIMRM 1257 - Mercury. Dieburg, Germany

Behn, fig. 33.

Behn, "Das Mithrasheiligtum zu Dieburg", 1928, p.32-33. Figure 33 on p.33. Labelled Find number 8 by Behn.

The ram, tortoise and cock are the companions of Mercury. Behn states that the tortoise is the most rarely depicted.¹

CIMRM entry

1257.
Statue in red sandstone (H. 1.04 Br. 0.535 D. 0.30). In 23 fragments which were found in various places in the Mithraeum but especially near 12 and 14. Inv. No. 3639/52.
Behn, 32f No. 8 and fig. 33.
Standing Mercury the upper part of whose body is dressed in a cape. He holds a purse in his r.h. and a caduceus in his l.h. Next to his r. foot lies a ram and between his winged feet the foremost part of a tortoise is visible. Next to his l. foot the foremost part of a cock. The head, the l.h. and the upper part of the caduceus are lost.

p.32-3: "Von den Begleittieren des Mercur erscheint die Schildkröte am wenigsten häufig (Mithräum von Stockstadt, ORL 33 Taf. X I II 6; Mercurtempel von Gundershöfen im Elsaß; Esperandieu Recueil V I I 5656), alle drei Tiere zusammen dagegen nur sehr selten. Sehr ähnlich ist der untere Teil eines Mercur mit Widder, Schildkröte und Altar aus Groß-Krotzenburg a. M. (ORL 23 Taf. VI 5)."