Ceiling Tile with Portrait of Heliodoros, an Actuarius (Roman Fiscal Official)
Clay with Layer of Painted Plaster, H. 30.5 cm, W. 44.0 cm, D. 6.7 cm
From the House of the Scribes, Dura-Europos, 200–256 CE
Yale University Art Gallery, Yale-French Excavations at Dura-Europos: 1933.292
Photography © 2011 Yale University Art Gallery
This ceiling tile comes from a building known as the House of the Scribes, named after the men whose portraits are depicted on some of the tiles. The bearded figure shown here may have been one of the patrons of the building. A Greek inscription provides his name, Heliodoros, and occupation, actuarius, a Roman official responsible for the distribution of wages to the military.