Exciting news for those with rather more money than myself – a two foot (67 cms) tall statue of Cautes, one of the torch-bearers (“dadophores”), the attendants of Mithras, is up for sale at the Interencheres sale “From Caesar to Caesar” in Monte Carlo on the 8th August 2026. The lot is here on the auction house website. Here’s one of the images:
The inscription is “Hymnus inbicto” (for “invicto”), “Hymnus (gives this) to the unconquered (god)”.
The estimate is 30,000 euros – about $34,000 – although of course it will undoubtedly go for more, and the auction house commission and the tax add 30%.
The item must have come originally from a Mithraeum somewhere. It’s immediate origin is from a “French private collection”. Earlier restorations indicate 18-19th century work.
The website tells us that it was published in F. Cumont, Textes et Monuments figurés relatifs aux Mystères de Mithra, vol. 2 (1898). The inscription is no 162 (on p.122), who gave its origin as from Capena. It’s in CIL XI, 3865. In Cumont the monument is no. 105 (on p.260):
*105. CAPENA. Statue de marbre blanc [H. Om,65] trouvée au commencement de ce siècle à Turrita. Aujourd’hui au même lieu dans la maison de M. Trasi.
Décrite: Tomasetti, Archivio della società Romana di storia patria, VII(1894), p. 420, n° 1, cf. CIL. XI,3865.
The CIMRM reference is 645 and 646, in Etruria, with location instead as “Torrita”:
645
Marble statue (H. 0.65), found at Torrita near Nazzano in the beginning of the 19th century. Formerly in Trasi’s house at Torrita, now at Rome (Tomasetti) but I do not know where.Tomasetti in Arch. Storia Patria VII, 1884, 420 n. 1; Campagna Romana, III, 328f; MMM II 260 No. 105; Taylor, Cults Etr., 58.
Standing torchbearer in Phrygian cap, tunica, cloak and anaxyrides. In the l.h. (broken off) a torch; the rh. is missing. On the base beside the r. foot an inscription:
646
ClL XI 3865; MMM II No. 162.
Hymnu/s inbic/to.
I hope whoever buys this item enjoys it!