Description:
Dr. Keefe notes that her visit to the Christian and Byzantine Museum was "wonderful: clay fish as lamps w/cross on them were hanging (4th-5th c. -- photo), a whole collection of Menas bottles - some only as big as my thumbnail (photo), 7th c.; marble acanthus leaves, carved to stick out, beautiful (photo), 5th c., Thessalonika?; Coptic articles, funerary figure holding cross (photo) from Anubis, 3rd-5th c.?? -- part of large wooden cross in same photo; a grave stone w/ a couple holding hands + waving farewell -- also Egypt -- even child's shoes had crosses on them. "Koimeteria diaphron" means "grave belonging to" (at top of numerous stele inscriptions). Many have curses at end not to touch tomb. One ends, "and may anyone who touches this tomb be struck with same anathema as Judas + ones who yelled 'away w/him, away w/him, crucify him.' "Martyrs' tables" are marble slabs w/indentations like cups in which people put offerings of money to the martyr (many in N Africa). Tomb of Clement, bishop of Athens, 5th c., has a hole in enter for pouring in oil. Twin tombs from Stamata (photo) w/inside walls w/inscription (even tho very thin space). One inscription is a cross w/ Phos + Soes (light and life) on either side. Among the icons, I found a 9th c. bleeding, agonized Christ (see postcard)."