The Church of San Clemente

Historically more important in some ways than St. Paul outside the Walls, is the basilica of San Clemente, which is just a little ways up a via from the Roman coliseum of Titus. It is important because what we have is an 11th century church built on top of a 4th century Constantinian church, which in turn is built on top of a house, which is said to be the home of either a 2nd century Roman Senator named Clement who was condemned as a Christian, having had Christian meetings in his home, or less possibly Clement of Rome himself, the so-called 4th Pope and important early Christian writer of one or two letters to the Corinthians in the 90s A.D., and possibly even the Clement mention as a co-worker of Paul in Philippians. Bonus— there was also found a mithraeum in a courtyard next to the original first or second century house. The following pictures gradually descend to the first century house space and mithraeum.

And descending to the 4th century church—-

And going even further down to the first century house and mithraeum in its courtyard….

There is in addition a small collection of busts and artifacts on the main floor, and here’s a sample….
This is a pendant in the form of a shield used to decorate the first or 2nd century house.