E02853: A complex of warehouses, excavated to the north of the praetorium in Caesarea Maritima (Roman province of Palaestina I), was richly decorated with religious wall paintings showing Christ with the *Apostles (S00084), and probably the Three Egyptian martyrs: *Ares/Aretas, Promos, and Elias (S00196), and *Philemon (martyr of Antinoopolis, Egypt, S00386). Finds of small objects and the biblical background suggest the existence of a shrine of *Paul the Apostle (S00008) at the site in the 6th/7th c.

The praetorium of Caesarea Maritima lies to the south of the Old City of Caesarea. Excavations, supervised by Joseph Patrich, started there in the 1990s, and revealed the existence of a 5th/6th c. complex of vaulted warehouses, and a 'Byzantine' palatial mansion, situated c. 300 m to the north of the actual praetorium.

The site was divided by the excavators into three areas: KK, CC, and NN. In area CC were located four long vaulted rooms that were identified as warehouses of the high imperial praetorium. Vault 1 was converted to a mithraeum, and subsequently at least a part of the complex was probably adapted as a Christian shrine, according to the excavators.

The western wall of Vault 9 bears a painting of Christ with the Apostles (see $E02854).

The wall painting in Vault 11 shows three figures with nimbi that were plausibly identified as the Egyptian martyrs of Askalon: Ares, Promos, and Elias (see E02845).

The painting in Vault 12 shows a figure with a sceptre, spear, and cross.

In the area KK, which lies to the south of CC, on the other side of the Roman street (decumanus), buildings were also identified as warehouses. In Warehouse I (KK 17) were found 'images of saint's heads and crosses' on plaster. In the long hall KK 22 the excavators came across pieces of plasters with fragments of paintings (CIIP 2, nos. 1156; 1157) and cruces gemmatae (CIIP 2, nos. 1154 = $E02855, 1155, 1166, 1167). Fragmentary paintings were also recorded in Warehouse III (KK 9, CIIP 2, no. 1158 = $E02856: probably *Thomas the Apostle and *Philemon, martyr of Antinoopolis), in the courtyard of Warehouse V (KK 25; CIIP 2, no. 1159), and in the building in the northwest corner (KK 39; CIIP 2, no. 1160).

A clay bread-stamp with a Greek inscription probably invoking the blessing of the Apostle Paul (E02840) and a pottery fragment with remnants of a Greek inscription allegedly referring to the Apostle Paul (E02844) were found in Warehouse I, Area KK 17.

Four ampullae of *Menas (the soldier and martyr of Abu Mena, S00073), and a single pottery(??) eulogia of *Symeon the Elder were found in Area KK (Patrich 2000, 382).

For a description of the site, see: Holum, Raban & Patrich 1999; Patrich 2000; Di Segni 2000. For a short description and re-assessment of the evidence by Walter Ameling, see CIIP 2, 76-78.