The «Women of Clement»

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

Abstract

An unknown fragment, whose discovery was announced in 2018 and whose edition is in print, provides us with a fresh perspective on the pseudo-Clementine topic. The recovered fragment – probably dating from the second half of the 4^th century but based on a main source from the 3^rd 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: different not only in character but also in beliefs and customs, these women share certain inner values, the same ones that allow young Clement to grow and mature. The recovered fragment is an emblematic expression of the cultural melting pot and trans-religious environment of early Judaeo-Christianity. It was also the most effective mean by which the contents of the new religion were transmitted to and internalized by the most sensitive and receptive personalities of the pagan culture and mentality of the time: educated women.