Images: Biblical Archaeology Society
Clavis number: ECMA 121
Other descriptors: none
Object Number: 67; Princeton Index of Medieval Art 97045
Location: Musei Capitolini, Rome, Italy
Category: sarcophagi
Related Literature: Acts of Paul and Thecla
Featured characters and locations: Paul (apostle), Thecla.
1. DESCRIPTION
Material: marble
Size: 21.26 × 10.24 in. (54 × 26 cm.)
Image: Paul, the bearded figure in the center of the single-masted ship, holds the tiller (identifiable by the engraving, “Paul” next to his figure). Another figure, who is unnamed, stands on the bow of the ship, which is partially broken. A third figure, who is also unnamed, sits on the shore. An engraving on the hull of the ship provides a name for the ship: “Thecla.”
Date: late 3rd or early 4th cent.
Provenance: Catacombs of Basilica de San Velentino, Rome
2. RELATION TO APOCRYPHAL LITERATURE
This marble relief is based loosely upon the canonical Acts of the Apostles and the apocryphal Acts of Paul and Thecla. Paul is portrayed on a ship in a number of places within Acts including Acts 20:13–16; 20:36–38; 21:1–7; 27; 28:11–15. The connection to the Acts of Paul and Thecla is through the name engraved upon the depiction of the ship. Possibly, the scene metaphorically depicts Thecla as a ship carrying or helping Paul spread his teachings, which is similar to the way that Thecla helped spread the teachings of Paul in the Acts of Paul and Thecla.
And Paul, taking her, led her to the house of Hermias and heard everything from her, so that he greatly wondered and those who heard were strengthened and prayed for Tryphaena. And Thecla rose up and said to Paul, ‘I am going to Iconium.’ Paul answered, ‘Go, and teach the word of God.’ And Tryphaena sent her much clothing and gold so that she could leave many things to Paul for the service of the poor.” (3:41; trans. J. K. Elliott, The Apocryphal New Testament [Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993])
Furthermore, it has been suggested that Thecla’s representation as a ship that was being controlled by Paul showcases the duality of her position within the Acts of Paul and Thecla, where she was dependent on Paul’s message but at the same time was an independent pursuer of baptism.
And while Paul was speaking in the midst of the church in the house of Onesiphorus a certain virgin named Thecla, the daughter of Theoclia, betrothed to a man named Thamyris, was sitting at the window close by and listened day and night to the discourse of virginity, as proclaimed by Paul. And she did not look away from the window, but was led on by faith, rejoicing exceedingly. And when she saw many women and virgins going in to Paul she also had an eager desire to be deemed worthy to stand in Paul’s presence and hear the word of Christ. For she had not yet seen Pail in person, but only heard his word. (3:7; trans. Elliott)
Then they sent in many beasts as she was standing and stretching forth her hands and praying, and when she had finished her prayer she turned around and saw a large pit full of water and said, “Now it is time to wash myself.” And she threw herself in saying, “In the name of Jesus Christ I baptize myself on my last day.” When the women and the multitude saw it they wept and said, “Do not throw yourself into the water!”; even the governor shed tears because the seals were to devour such beauty, She then threw herself into the water in the name of Jesus Christ, but the seals, having seen a flash of lightning, floated dead on the surface. (3:34; trans. Elliott)
3. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Barrier, Jeremy W. The Acts of Paul and Thecla: A Critical Introduction and Commentary. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2009 (p. 60, fig. 11).
Békés, Enikő. “The Physiognomy of Apostle Paul: Between Texts and Images.” Pages 37–55 in The Body As a Mirror of the Soul: Physiognomy from Antiquity to the Renaissance, edited by Lisa Devriese, 37-55. Leuven: Leuven University Press, 2021 (p. 54, fig. 4.8).
Cartlidge, David, and J. Keith Elliot. Art and the Christian Apocrypha. New York: Routledge, 2001 (pp. 148–50).
Cartlidge, David R. “Thecla: The Apostle Who Defied Women’s Destiny.” Bible Review 20.6 (2004): 24–33. Online version: https://library.biblicalarchaeology.org/article/thecla-the-apostle-who-defied-womens-destiny/.
Grabar, André. “Un Reliquaire provenant d’Isaurie.” Cahiers archéologiques 13 (1962): 49–59.
Marucchi, Orazio. “Una nuova scena di simbolismo sepolcrale cristiano.” Bullettino di Archeologia Cristiana 2 (1897): 103–12.
Nauerth, Claudia, and Rüdiger Warns. Thekla: Ihre Bilder in der Frühchristlichen Kunst. Wiesbaden: Otto Harrassowitz, 1981 (pp. 82–84, fig. 30).
4. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
“Catacombs of San Valentino.” Wikipedia.
Entry created by Joseph Foltz, under the supervision of Christy Cobb, University of Denver, 11 October 2023.