Tombstone of Bishop Clematius

Byzantine and Christian Museum, Athens, Greece

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Material: Marble
Date range: 5th century AD
Origin: Athens (discovered at the foot of Mount Lykabettos)

A large, rectangular fragment of a white marble tombstone. The upper portion of the slab bears an incised Greek inscription in capital letters. Above the inscription are three stylized crosses or staurograms (a cross combined with a rho, or P) . The full slab is identified as the Tombstone from the tomb of Clematius, Bishop of Athens.

A rectangular hole is cut into the center of the slab, interrupting the inscription. This hole was designed for pouring liquid offerings onto the tomb below. The tomb was discovered at the end of the 19th century near Mount Lykabettos in Athens. It  is dated to the 5th century.

English Translation: Tombstone from the tomb of Clematius, Bishop of Athens. The tomb was located before the sanctuary of the church discovered at the end of the 19th c. at the foot of Mount Lykabettos (at today's odos Tsakalof 22). Liquid offerings were poured into the tomb through the hole at the center of the tombstone. 5th c.

Original Text: Επιτύμβια πλάκα του επισκόπου Αθηνών Κληματίου. Κάλυπτε τον τάφο του, εμπρός από το ιερό βήμα της εκκλησίας που εντοπίστηκε στα τέλη του 19ου αιώνα στους πρόποδες του Λυκαβηττού (στη σημερινή οδό Τσακάλωφ 22). Η οπή στο κέντρο της πλάκας προοριζόταν για την έγχυση υγρών προσφορών στον τάφο. 5ος αι. BXM 410 

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Marble tombstone of Clematius, Bishop of Athens, 5th century

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Source:  Athens, Greece