The «Women of Clement»: The Importance of Being a Woman in a Newly Recovered Pseudo-Clementine Fragment

The Importance of Being a Woman in a Newly Recovered Pseudo-Clementine Fragment

Resum

An unknown fragment, whose discovery was announced in 2018 and whose edition is inprint, provides us with a new perspective on the pseudo-Clementine topic. The recovered fragment,which is thought to date from the second half of the 4th century but is based on a main source from the 3rd century, describes the beginning of the Clementine saga, of which Rufinus’Recognitiones tells the end instead. In the fragment, a number of women stand out for their role, their characterisation, and their contribution to the development of events. These women are not only distinct in character and beliefs, but also in their customs. Despite these differences, they share certain values and virtues that facilitate the growth and maturation of the young Clement. The recovered fragment is an emblematic expression of the cultural melting pot and trans-religious environment of the early canturies of Christianity. It was also the most effective means by which the contents of the new religion were transmittedto and internalized by the most sensitive and receptive personalities of the pagan culture and mentality of the time: educated women.