STATUE OF CAUTES, DADOPHORE OF THE MITHRAIC CULT Marble with yellowed patina H. 67 cm (26 3/8 in) Roman art, 3rd century Provenance European private collection, 18th-19th century (proven by old restorations) French private collection Votive statuette representing Cautes, one of the two dadophores (torchbearers) accompanying the god Mithra in Mithraic iconography. The male figure is shown standing, dressed in Oriental style: short belted tunic, anaxyrids (Persian trousers), chlamydia clasped over the right shoulder and the characteristic Phrygian cap. The left arm, raised, holds a torch upwards - a distinctive attribute of Cautes, as opposed to Cautopates, who carries his torch downwards. The curly hair falls out from under the headdress. The face, turned to the right, shows idealised youthful features. On the base, in capital letters: HYMNUS INBICTO Or "Hymnus [has dedicated this] to the Invincible" - a classic votive formula referring to Sol Invictus or Mithra himself, the two divinities being closely associated in the cult. In Mithraic iconography, Cautes and Cautopates systematically frame the central scene of the tauroctony (Mithra sacrificing the bull). These twin figures, always dressed in Persian fashion, embody complementary cosmic principles. Together, they symbolise the solar and cosmic cycle at the heart of the Mithraic mysteries. Some researchers also see it as a representation of the ascending and descending nodes of the lunar orbit, linked to eclipses. This statuette probably adorned a mithraeum (underground sanctuary), where it flanked the main cult image. Its large size (67 cm) suggests a substantial sanctuary, perhaps linked to a military garrison or a prosperous community of initiates. Parallels British Museum, inv. 1846,0507.1: Marble Cautes from Rome Museum of London: fragments of Cautes and Cautopates from the Walbrook Mithraeum Great North Museum, Newcastle: pair of limestone dadophores from Housesteads Mithraeum (Hadrian's Wall) STATUE OF CAUTES, TORCHBEARER OF THE MITHRAIC CULT Marble with yellowed patina H. 67 cm (26 3/8 in.) Roman Art, 3rd century AD Provenance Private European collection, 18th-19th century (attested by early restorations) Private French collection Votive statuette representing Cautes, one of the two dadophores (torchbearers) attending the god Mithras in Mithraic iconography. The male figure is depicted standing, dressed in Oriental fashion: short belted tunic, anaxyrides (Persian trousers), chlamys fastened on the right shoulder, and the characteristic Phrygian cap. The raised left arm holds a torch pointing upward-the distinctive attribute of Cautes, as opposed to Cautopates who carries his torch lowered. Curly hair escapes from beneath the cap. The face, turned to the right, displays idealised youthful features. On the base, in capital letters: HYMNUS INBICTO Meaning "Hymnus [dedicated this] to the Invincible"-a classic votive formula referring to Sol Invictus or Mithras himself, both deities being closely associated in the cult. In Mithraic iconography, Cautes and Cautopates systematically flank the central scene of the tauroctony (Mithras slaying the bull). These twin figures, always dressed in Persian attire, embody complementary cosmic principles. Together, they symbolise the solar and cosmic cycle at the heart of the Mithraic mysteries. Some scholars also interpret them as representations of the ascending and descending nodes of the lunar orbit, linked to eclipses. This statuette most likely adorned a mithraeum (underground sanctuary), where it flanked the main cult image. Its considerable size (67 cm) suggests a sanctuary of substantial dimensions, perhaps associated with a military garrison or a prosperous community of initiates. Comparanda British Museum, inv. 1846,0507.1: marble Cautes from Rome Museum of London: fragments of Cautes and Cautopates from the Walbrook Mithraeum Great North Museum, Newcastle: pair of limestone torchbearers from the Housesteads Mithraeum (Hadrian's Wall)