[

2 *4 ]

VI. Account of a Bas-relief of Mithras found ^York, explain d by the Rev. Dr. Stukely,
F. R. S. communicated to the Royal Society >

Mr. Francis Drake of York, Antiquary and F* R. S.

by
York, Oftoher 25, 1749.

bead Nov. 23.

'

Jk S 2V was undoubtedly the Roman, * 749 JljL Imperial City of Britain: Soisitftill, cafually throwing up Remains of its antient Grandeur and Magnificence Even down to our Time. About two Years ago, in digging the Foundation of a large Houfe, fince built, in our Trans Tyberim Street, caUed Micklegate, quaji Muckle, or Great Street, the Workmen went much below any former Foundation that could be obferved on this Spot. And at
:

the Depth of ten Feet, came to a Stone, which upon taking up, appeared to have Figures upon ir,

but mifcrably defaced.

Upon my

viewing of

it

foon after, 1 confefs, I was at a Lofs what to make but judged it fome Reprefentation of an of it Heathen Sacrifice, or Game, and therefore fent as juft a Drawing of it, as could be taken, to my very learned Friend Dr. Stnkely, who according to his deep Knowledge in the Learning of theAntienrs,foon after returned" me the following fhort, but curious Explanation of this uncommon Piece of Sculpture. u The Drawing (fee Tab. II.) you fent me, of the Bas-relief, dug up in a Cellar in Micklegate y anno 1747. isa great Curiofuy. Tis a Scul P ture of ^** " thras, as ufual, facrificing a Bull. He has on, the " Terfian Mantle, called Candy s, and the "Phrygian " Bonner,
$

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"

Bonnet, called Tyara.

:,

He

reprefents the Archi-

" magus, performing the great annual Sacrifice, at " the Spring Equinox According to the Patriarchal " Ufage.
" Thefe Ceremonies to Mithras, were generally " celebrated in a Cave of a Rock 5 therefore, this " Sculpture was found fo deep in the Earth/' There is, commonly a Figure on each Side of him, habited in the fame manner, ftanding crofs-lcgg'd : The one holds a Torch up, the other down Here
:

is

only the imperfed.

c e '
c

latter, in

your Sculpture

the ether

is

'

' Underneath, is the Figure of an Horfe, intimating thereby, the Sun's Courfe : For in time, when the old patriarchal Cuftoms became profaned and defecrated into Idolatry 5 they made Mithras to be the Apollo, or the Sun. Whence thefe Sculptures had a Number of Symbols, relating to the folar Circuit of the Year, thro' the twelve Zo-

diacal Conftellations.
*

The two

Figures attending

1
6

are inferior Officers to

him.

on the Archimagus7 There is a Myltery

in their ftanding crofs-legg'd, like our Effigies of Croiiaders in Churches, and it means the fame

<
* c c

For the Crofs was one Part of the Mithriac Ceremonies. Thefe two, by the different Attitude of their Torches, reprefent Day, and Night, as Mithras reprefents the Sun. The Figure imperfeftly drawn, at the Tail of the Horfe, is I believe, a Genius, twifted round with a Snake 5 which means the Vitality, imparted to all Things, by the folar Power, and Circle.
thing
:

p 1"
<

"i

[
*

2l6

other Figures are too imperfed, to trouble you with Conje&urcs about them / but they alt regard the fame Defign. They are officiating
Priefis, and dreft in fuch a fymbolic manner, as intimates the Sun's Influence, and annual Motion. 4 The Mithriac Ceremonies, as likewife the My-

The

of the Antients, were but the expiring Remains of the antienr, patriarchal Religion j and Worfhip of the true God As it were, iwallowed up by Paganifm, and the Devil's Inventions. For indeed the Patriarchal Religion was no other than
fteries
:

Chriftianity antedated.

For in the Mithriac Ceremonies, and Myfteries, they had plainly, the two Chriftian Sacraments And the fublimc CommuInitiation by Baptifm nion by Bread, and Wine. Mithras is but another Name of a Meffiah, in his ptieftly Character ; It ftenifies Mediator. c Thus writes Tertullian, c. 40. fpeaking of the Devil perverting the Rites of true Religion " (He), it the Devil perfuades thofe that are initiated into the <c Mithriac Ceremonies, to believe an Expiation of IC their Sins by their being baptized ; And they are crofled on the Forehead, as his faithful Soldiers. it And likewife they there celebrate the breaking of
: :
:

But they did not take thefe Ceremonies from the Chriftians they are of a much antienter Date 1 perhaps from the Beginning of the World. The Romans became extremely fond of the Mithriac Sacreds, whence here you find this SculpI faw an Image of ture in the Imperial City. Mithras at Chejler, and no Doubt there are many
Bread/'
5

more

in Britain, either deflroy'd, or undifcover'd.

"

St.

r 217 ]
" St. Jerom in his Epiftlc to Z^<2, writes, A few Years ago, your Cozen Gracchus> a Name of ^Patrician Quality, when he was Prasfeft of the City, deftroy'd, broke, and burnt the Cave of Mi" thras" This was at Rome, and about the Year Not long after, we may well imagine, your 378. Roman Praefeft of Tork followed his Example, and
%

demolifhed the fubterranean Temple in Micklegate * where this Sculpture of him was found.
Stamford) July 30, 1747.
**

^* bTUKELEY.

VII. P#r/ of a L^//^r

/m# James Mounfey,

the

M.
to

>.

Phyfician

to

Czarina^ Army^

Mr. Henry
RufHa

the

Baker, F. R. S. concerning Caftor, the Baths at Carlfbad f

the Salt-mines near Cracau,

and

various

other Notices.

*Dear Sir y

MN0v.23.TAM
f

highly fenfible

&w> J*h *> *749of the Honour the

J^ Royal Society does me, in taking Notice of what I communicated to you, and only wifh I were as capable as I am zealous to contribute any thing that might be fatisfa&ory and acceptable to that illuftrious Body, for which I have the sreateft
Veneration. I cannot as yet perfectly anfwet your Enquiries concerning the RuJJia Caftor which is not all from the fame Animal, fome of it being the c Profiat
Tefles,

749-

and Kidneys of the Beaver, gathered in the

j

Spring

but the true Sort comes from. quite a different

Creature*

Initios.

Trans* JV? 403* TKBJL.Jr.xjtj.

ffrSSttAt'/st/S Js/ttt