[AmericaUnited]

Wrong! Where do in that context that St Clement is alluding to this as a symbolism, allegory, metaphor? Nowhere.

[dark_lord]

Strictly speaking, I suspect he was using it as an allegory (the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence); however it is true that his audience may have taken him literally. It does not matter since in either case he was trying to make a point regarding the concept of the resurrection. When Christ spoke in parables people didn't say "What sower? Where did he live? What was his name? When did this happen?" Etc.