Kelsos the soldier (Ṭafas)

 

A tombstone in the form of a rectangular slab. A relief of a bearded man occupies the upper two-thirds of the front of the sculpture, and a Greek inscription the lower third. The man is dressed in a military cloak fastened upon the right shoulder with an ovoid brooch. A short sword is seen hanging from the waist on the left. The beard is short and carefully trimmed. The front is framed on top with rows of thick, curly hair. The eyes are almond-shaped with clearly delineated eyelids. The facial features —the nose in particular— are worn. 

ΚΕΛΣΟΣ ΣΤΑΤΙΩΤΗΣ

The lower part of the slab carries a Greek inscription of three lines, the translation of which is as follows:

Kelsos (Celsus), the soldier. 

The surface is entirely coated with a thin, transparent patina with light brownish incrustations at various points. 

  

Provenance: Ṭafas. 

Era: first half of the second century CE.

Substance: dark grey basalt. 

Dimensions: no measurements available. 

Text: adapted from Weber (p. 50). 

Collection: the National Museum of Damascus (garden). Acquired by the Syrian Antiquities in 1929. 

Thomas M. Weber. Sculptures from Roman Syria in the Syrian National Museum of Damascus. Vol I, from Cities and Villages in Central and Southern Syria. Wernersche Verlagsgesellschaft. Worms. 2006.