34. Their meaning has been revealed through an inscription at Pergamum
published by Schröder, _Athen. Mitt._, 1904, pp. 152 ff.; cf. _Revue
archéologique_, 1905, I, pp. 29 ff.--The ideas on the development of that
ceremony, which we are summarizing here, have been expounded by us more
fully in the _Revue archéologique_, 1888, II, pp. 132 ff.; _Mon. myst. de
Mithra_, I, pp. 334 ff.; _Revue d'histoire et de litt. relig._, VI, 1901,
p. 97.--Although the conclusions of the last article have been contested by
Hepding (op. cit., 70 f.), it cannot be doubted that the taurobolium was
already practised in Asia Minor, in the cult of the Ma-Bellona. Moore
(_American Journal of Archeology_, 1905, p. 71) justly refers to the text
of Steph. Byz., in this connection: [Greek: Mastaura; ekaleito de kai hê
Rhea Ma kai tauros autêi ethueto para Ludois]. {228} The relation between
the cult of Ma and that of Mithra is shown in the epithet of [Greek:
Aneikêtos], given to the goddess as well as to the god; see _Athen. Mitt._,
XXIX, 1904, p. 169, and Keil und von Premerstein, "Reise in Lydien,"
_Denkschr. Akad. Wien_, 1908, p. 28 (inscription of the Hyrkanis plain).
35. Prudentius, Peristeph., 1027: "_Pectus sacrato dividunt venabulo._" The
_harpé_ shown on the taurobolic altars, is perhaps in reality a boar-spear
having a kind of hilt (_mora_; cf. Grattius, _Cyneg._, 110) to prevent the
blade from entering too far.