Krispos Monumental Tomb is a 2nd-century Roman-era monument located in the garden of the Ereli Museum in Karadeniz Ereli, Zonguldak; it was built for the Egyptian pantomime artist Krispos and features a 19-line Greek poem on its base.
Krispos was an Egyptian-born pantomime artist. During the Roman period, he came to Heracleia Pontica, today's Karadeniz Ereli, for a performance and died there at the age of 29. This tomb monument, erected in his memory, stands today in the garden of the Ereli Museum.
The monument, including its base, is 2.10 meters high. It consists of two Corinthian-capitaled columns, a niche between them containing a headless bust, and a triangular pediment at the top. On the base, there is a 19-line Greek inscription; verses about death, the tomb being an 'eternal home,' and Krispos coming from Egypt, from the banks of the Nile, are carved. The text can be read next to the monument today in its Turkish translated form.
It is not a large area, just a single artifact, but it is a tangible representation of the respect shown to a performing artist in ancient times. The fact that an Egyptian performer was honored in Anatolia in this way is also an interesting example of the intercultural relations of the period.
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Guide's Note
Who Was Krispos?
Krispos was an Egyptian-born pantomime artist. Pantomime was a stage art that used dance and body movements for non-verbal expression and held a respected status during the Roman period. Krispos died at the age of 29 in Heracleia Pontica (today's Karadeniz Ereli) where he had come to perform. This monument, built in his memory, is one of the rare examples showing the value given to artists of his time.
Architecture of the Monument
The monument, standing 2.10 meters high with its base, rests on two Corinthian-capitaled columns. Between the columns is a niche containing a headless bust, and above it is a crown section consisting of a triangular pediment. On the front face of the base, a 19-line Greek inscription is carved; it contains verses about the tomb being an 'eternal home' and death equating man to earth.
How to Get There?
The monument is located in the garden of the Ereli Museum in Orhanlar Mahallesi, in the Karadeniz Ereli district center. It takes approximately 5 minutes to walk from the city center and 10 minutes from the bus terminal. If you come by your own car, finding parking around the museum is usually not difficult.
How Much Time Should You Allocate?
Seeing the monument itself takes 5-10 minutes. However, if you want to visit other artifacts in the Ereli Museum, it would be more logical to extend your visit to 45 minutes-1 hour. The museum is small but rich in content, and can be explored without rushing.
What to See in Karadeniz Ereli?
After visiting the Krispos Monumental Tomb, you can also allocate time for Karadeniz Ereli's coastline or other historical structures in the city center. Since the district is built on ancient Heracleia Pontica, it is possible to encounter other archaeological remains.
Things to Know Before Visiting
Since the monument is in an open-air exhibition, it is subject to the museum's operating hours. We recommend confirming the museum's current opening hours and entrance fee before you go. The Turkish translation of the inscription is located next to the monument, so take some time to read it.
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