There is no definite point of view regarding the origin of the catacombs. There is a hypothesis that they are the remains of ancient quarries or more ancient underground communication routes. There is also the opinion of Giovanni Battista de Rossi and his followers that the catacombs are an exclusively Christian structure, since their narrow passages are unsuitable for extracting stone from them, and the rock of the catacombs itself is unsuitable for use as a building material.
Burials in the catacombs were formed from private land holdings. Roman owners arranged a single grave on their plot, or a whole family crypt, where they allowed their heirs and relatives, indicating in detail the circle of these persons and their rights to the grave. In the future, their descendants, who converted to Christianity, allowed co-religionists to be buried on their plots. This is evidenced by numerous inscriptions preserved in the catacombs: [Family] tomb of Valerius Mercury, Julitt Julian and Quintilius, for his venerable freedmen and descendants of the same religion as myself» , « Mark Anthony Restut built a crypt for himself and his loved ones who believe in God". The underground passages corresponded to the boundaries of the possessions and were connected to each other by numerous galleries, thus forming a kind of lattice (the catacombs of St. Callistus). Some catacombs were branches from the main passage, sometimes also several stories high.
The catacombs also included hypogeums- from Latin (lat. hypogeum) - premises for religious purposes, but with an unspecified function, as well as often a small dining room, a meeting room and several shafts for lighting (lat. luminare). The “Apostolic Ordinances” (c. 5th century) contain a direct reference to the meetings of early Christians in the catacombs: “ ... without supervision, gather in the tombs, reading sacred books and singing psalms for the reposed martyrs and all the saints from time immemorial, and for your brothers who reposed in the Lord. And instead of the pleasant Eucharist of the royal body of Christ, bring it to your churches and tombs...". One of the inscriptions found in the 16th century by Caesar Baronius in the catacombs of St. Callistus testifies to the stable tradition of worshiping in the catacombs: “ What bitter times, we cannot perform the sacraments in safety and even pray in our caves!».
Historical evidence
The description of Jerome complements the work of Prudentius written around the same period “ The Sufferings of the Most Blessed Martyr Hippolytus»:
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"Decay" of the catacombs
Starting from the 4th century, the catacombs lose their significance and are no longer used for burial. The last Roman bishop who was buried in them is Pope Melchiad. His successor Sylvester was already buried in the Basilica of San Silvestro in Capite. In the 5th century, burials in the catacombs completely ceased, but since that period, the catacombs have become popular with pilgrims who wanted to pray at the graves of the apostles, martyrs and confessors. They visited the catacombs, leaving on their walls (especially near the tombs with the relics of saints) various images and inscriptions. Some of them described their impressions of visiting the catacombs in travel notes, which are one of the sources of data for studying the catacombs.
The decline in interest in the catacombs was caused by the gradual extraction of the relics of saints from them. In 537, during the siege of the city by Vitiges, the tombs of the saints were opened in them, and their relics were transferred to the city churches. This was the first extraction of relics from the catacombs, subsequent records of chroniclers report larger-scale actions:
Discovery and study of the catacombs
Again, the Roman catacombs became known after May 31, 1578, workers engaged in earthworks on the Salar road, stumbled upon stone slabs covered with ancient inscriptions and images. At that time, it was considered that these were the catacombs of Priscilla (in fact coemeterium Iordanorum ad S. Alexandrum). Soon after the discovery they were buried under rubble and only re-excavated in 1921.
Later, the catacombs were explored by Antonio Bosio (c. -), who in 1593 first descended into the catacombs of Domitilla. In total, he discovered about 30 cementeria (Bosio did not excavate), he described the results of his work in a three-volume essay “ Underground Rome "(lat. Roma soterranea), published after his death. Bosio hired two draughtsmen who made copies of images from the catacombs. Their works were often inaccurate or erroneous: the Good Shepherd was mistaken for a peasant woman, Noah in the ark - for a praying martyr, and the youths in a fiery furnace - for the scene of the Annunciation.
Full scale research work in the catacombs began only in the 19th century, when works devoted to their history and painting were published. Such works include the works of Giuseppe Marchi, Giovanni Batista de Rossi (discovered the catacombs of St. Callistus), the monumental work of A. Fricken " Roman catacombs and monuments of early Christian art"(1872-85). At the end of the 19th century, the Russian watercolorist F. P. Reiman (1842-1920) created over 100 sheets of copies of the best-preserved catacomb frescoes in 12 years of work.
In 1903, the book of the researcher Joseph Vilpert (1857-1944) “Painting of the Catacombs of Rome” (German) was published. Die Malerei der Katakomben Roms ), in which he presented the first photographs of frescoes from the catacombs (black-and-white photographs Vilpert personally painted in the colors of the original images).
Funeral rites
In the period of the II-IV centuries, the catacombs were used by Christians for religious rites and burials, since the community considered it their duty to bury fellow believers only among their own. The funeral of the first Christians was simple: a body previously washed and smeared with various incense (ancient Christians did not allow embalming with cleansing of the insides) was wrapped in a shroud and placed in a niche. Then it was covered with a marble slab and in most cases walled up with bricks. The name of the deceased was written on the plate (sometimes only individual letters or numbers), as well as a Christian symbol or a wish for peace in heaven. The epitaphs were very laconic: " Peace be with you», « Sleep in the peace of the Lord”, etc. Part of the slab was covered with cement mortar, into which coins, small figurines, rings, pearl necklaces were also thrown. Oil lamps or small jars of incense were often left nearby. The number of such items was quite high: despite the looting of a number of burials in the catacombs of St. Agnes alone, about 780 items were found, placed together with the deceased in the tomb.
Christian burials in the catacombs almost exactly reproduced Jewish burials and did not differ in the eyes of contemporaries from Jewish cemeteries in the vicinity of Rome. According to researchers, early Christian epitaphs (" Rest in peace», « Rest in God”) in the catacombs, the Jewish funerary formulas are repeated: bi-shalom, bi-adonai.
Fossors (lat. Fossorius, Fossorii). Also, their duties included preparing places for burials and mediation between sellers and buyers of graves: “ The land was purchased for the construction of a bisom for Artemisius. Value, 1500 folios, paid to Fossor Hilar, under the testimony of the Fossors of Severus and Laurentia". Their images are also often found in catacomb painting: they are depicted at work or standing with tools of their labor, among which stand out an ax, pick, crowbar and a clay lamp to illuminate dark corridors. Modern fossors participate in further excavations of the catacombs, keep order and guide scientists and those interested along unlit corridors.
Forms of burials
| Name | Image | Description |
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niches (lat. Loculi, loculi) |
Locules (literally "towns") are the most common form of burial in the catacombs. Designed for the burial of both one person and several (lat. loculi bisomi, trisomi…). They were made in the form of rectangular oblong recesses in the walls of the corridors of the catacombs or in cubes. | |
| Arcosolia(lat. Arcosolium) |  |
Arkosoliy - a low deaf arch in the wall, under it the remains of the deceased were placed in the tomb. Thus, the opening of the tomb was located not on the side, but on top. This more expensive type of burial has been known since antiquity. They most often buried martyrs and used the tombstone as an altar during the celebration of the liturgy. More common in cubicles than in catacomb corridors. |
| Sarcophagi(lat. Solium) |  |
Refers to the Roman tradition of burial, later borrowed by Christians. Not typical for Jewish burials. Burials in sarcophagi in the catacombs are rare. Sarcophagi could also be placed in arcosolia. |
| Cubicles(lat. cubeculum) and crypts |  |
Cubicles were small chambers located on the sides of the main passages. Verbatim cubiculum means " peace", rest for the sleep of the dead. The cubicles contained the burials of several people, most often they were family crypts. Cubicles were found, in which there are up to 70 or more loculi of different sizes, arranged in 10 or more rows. |
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Burials in the floor (lat. Form- "channel, pipe") |
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They are found in the floors of crypts, cubes, rarely in the main passages of the catacombs. Such burials are often found near the burial places of martyrs. |
Types of catacombs
The most famous Roman catacombs are the following:
Christian catacombs
Catacombs of Saint Sebastian
Catacombs of Saint Agnes(Italian Catacombe di Sant "Agnese) - got their name from the name of the early Christian martyr Agnes of Rome and date back to the III-IV centuries. There are no wall paintings, but many inscriptions can be found in two well-preserved galleries.
Above the catacombs is the Basilica of Sant'Agnese Fuori le Mura, built in 342 by the daughter of Emperor Constantine the Great, Constance. The relics of Saint Agnes, transferred from the catacombs, are currently kept in this basilica.
Catacombs of St. Callistus with open niches
According to their architectural plan, the Jewish catacombs practically do not differ from the Christian ones. The main difference is as follows: at first, not corridors arose, but separate crypts, which were later connected by passages. The passages are generally wider than in the Christian catacombs. Their walls are also decorated with frescoes depicting symbols and figures, for example, menorahs, flowers, animals (ducks, fish, peacocks), but among the drawings there are no images of scenes from the Old Testament.
Syncretic catacombs
Catacombs on Via Latina
Symbols and decor
general characteristics
The walls of about 40 catacombs (especially the walls of the crypts) are decorated with frescoes (rarely mosaics) depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments, pagan myths, as well as various Christian allegorical symbols (ichthys, "Good Shepherd"). The oldest images include the scenes of the "Adoration of the Magi" (about 12 frescoes with this plot have been preserved), which date back to the 2nd century. The appearance in the catacombs of images of the acronym ΙΧΘΥΣ or the fish symbolizing it also dates back to the 2nd century. In the Jewish catacombs on the Appian Way there are images of the menorah. The presence of images of both biblical history and saints in the burial places and gatherings of the first Christians testifies to an early tradition of veneration of sacred images.
Other common symbolic images, partly borrowed from ancient tradition, in the catacombs include:
- anchor - an image of hope (the anchor is the support of the ship in the sea, hope is the support of the soul in Christianity);
- phoenix - a symbol of resurrection;
- the eagle is a symbol of youth your youth will be renewed like an eagle"(Ps. 102:5));
- peacock - a symbol of immortality (according to the ancients, his body did not decompose);
- a rooster is a symbol of resurrection (the crow of a rooster awakens from sleep, and awakening, according to Christians, should remind believers of the Last Judgment and the general resurrection of the dead);
- the lamb is a symbol of Jesus Christ;
- the lion is a symbol of strength and power;
- the olive branch is a symbol of eternal peace;
- lily - a symbol of purity (common due to the influence of apocryphal stories about the presentation of a lily flower by the archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary at the Annunciation);
- the vine and the basket of bread are symbols of the Eucharist.
Researchers note that Christian fresco painting in the catacombs represents (with the exception of New Testament scenes) the same symbols and events of biblical history that are present in Jewish burials and synagogues of that period.
Most of the images in the Roman catacombs are made in the Hellenistic style that dominated Italy in the II-III centuries, only the symbol ichthys is of oriental origin. According to Joseph Vilpert, when dating images importance has a manner and style of their performance.
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Eucharistic bread and fish (catacombs of St. Callistus)
For early period(I-II centuries) are characterized by delicate, thin borders around the fields of frescoes, the use of light colors and the general pale pale background of the crypts, on which some frescoes seem to be monochrome. Gradually, the Hellenistic artistic style is replaced by icon-painting skill: the bodies begin to be depicted in a more material way, which is especially noticeable due to the ocher in the carnation, which makes the figures heavy. Art critic Max Dvorak believes that catacomb painting reflects the formation of a new artistic style: three-dimensional space is replaced by an abstract plane, the real connection between bodies and objects is replaced by their symbolic relationships, everything material is suppressed in order to achieve maximum spirituality.
Images of scenes from myths in catacomb painting are much less common (Demeter and Persephone, Cupid and Psyche). Often, the ancient tradition of depicting certain characters (including decorative motifs: jellyfish, tritons, eros) was adopted by Christians.
Pictures of Jesus Christ
In catacomb painting, there are no images on the theme of the Passion of Christ (there is not a single image of the crucifixion) and the Resurrection of Jesus. Among the frescoes of the late III - early IV centuries, there are often scenes depicting Christ performing miracles: the multiplication of loaves, the resurrection of Lazarus (there are more than 50 images). Jesus is holding a kind of "magic wand" in his hands, which is an ancient tradition of depicting miracles, also adopted by Christians.
| Image | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
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Orpheus | These are Christianized images of a pagan character, Orpheus. In his hand he holds a kithara, sometimes surrounded by animals in a Phrygian hat and oriental attire. The meanings of other pagan characters (Helios, Hercules) were also rethought. |
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good shepherd | Most of the images of the Good Shepherd in the catacombs date back to the 3rd-4th centuries. The emergence and spread of this symbolic image of Jesus refers to the period of persecution of the first Christians and arose on the basis of the plot of the gospel parable of the lost sheep. The Good Shepherd is depicted as a young man without a beard, mostly with short hair, dressed in a tunic. Sometimes he stands leaning on a staff, and also surrounded by sheep and palm trees. |
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Baptism | A common image in catacomb painting. It exists in two versions: the gospel story of the Baptism of the Lord from John the Baptist and simply the image of the sacrament of baptism. The main difference between the plots is the symbolic image of the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove on the frescoes of the Epiphany. |
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Teacher | When depicting Christ the Teacher, he was given the image of an ancient philosopher dressed in a toga. The students around him are depicted as young men, like students of ancient schools. |
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Christ | Such images differ from the ancient tradition: the face of Jesus takes on a more strict and expressive character. The hair is depicted as long, often with a parting in the middle of the head, a beard is added, sometimes divided into two parts. An image of a halo appears. |
Images of Oranta
| Image | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
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Adam and Eve | The image of the biblical progenitors of mankind is found in various versions: in the scene of the fall, along with their children. The appearance of this image in early Christian painting is due to the emergence in Christian doctrine of the perception of Jesus Christ as the new Adam, who atoned for Original sin by his death. |
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Jonah is thrown into the sea | Images of Jonah can often be found in the catacombs. The authors of the paintings presented not only the basis biblical story about Iona, but also details: a ship, a huge fish (sometimes in the form of a sea dragon), an arbor. Jonah is depicted resting or sleeping, personifying the “sleepers” in the cubicles and sarcophagi of the catacombs. The appearance of images of Jonah is associated with the prophecy of Christ about his three-day stay in the tomb, in which he compared himself with Jonah (Matthew 12:38-40). |
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The appearance of such images dates back to the 4th century, which was associated with the emergence of the veneration of the three Babylonian youths as confessors who remained faithful to their faith among the Gentiles (which was symbolic for the first Christians). |
Agapes
The fresco of the 2nd century with the image of agapa, discovered in 1893, is most interesting for the study of early Christian ritualism.
The number of loaves and fish depicted is reminiscent of the gospel miracle of the multiplication of loaves. From the analysis of images of agape, the researchers came to the conclusion that in the early Christian communities, believers received bread from the hands of the primate directly into their own hands, and then took turns drinking wine from the cup.
Inscriptions in the catacombs
Examples of catacomb inscriptions
The collection of inscriptions from the Roman catacombs, which currently consists of 10 volumes, began in 1861 by de Rossi, continued from 1922 by Angelo Silvagni, then Antonio Ferrois. Giovanni Battista de Rossi discovered the catacombs of Saint Callistus thanks to a fragment of a marble tablet with an inscription NELIUS MARTYR. The scientist suggested that we are talking about the martyr Cornelia ( CORNELIUS), which, according to de Rossi's sources, was supposed to be buried in the catacombs. Later, in the crypt, papa de Rossi discovered the second part of the tablet with the inscription EP (Episcopus).
Many inscriptions are found on loculae in Latin and Greek (Gr. ZOE- "life") languages. Sometimes Latin words are written in Greek, or there are letters from these languages in one word. In the catacomb inscriptions there are names of types of burials: arcosolium (arcisolium, arcusolium), cubiculum (cubuculum), form, names of fossors, description of their activities.
Visiting the catacombs
Of all the catacombs of Rome, only 6 are open to visitors as part of an excursion, with a mandatory guide (the above Christian catacombs, as well as the catacombs of St. Pancras). The rest of the catacombs do not have electric lighting and can be visited with permission from the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archeology. The most interesting are the catacombs of Saints Peter and Marcellinus (III-IV centuries) on Via Casilina.
In culture
painting: literature:
Procession in the Catacombs of Saint Callistus
- Some episodes of the novel The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas the Father (Monte Cristo and Franz d'Epinay save Albert de Morser captured by robbers, Danglars is forced to give the money he stole to the robbers) take place in the catacombs of St. Sebastian.
- Henryk Sienkiewicz. The novel "Kamo come" (a meeting of Christians of the 1st century in the Roman catacombs is described, but such meetings did not begin until the second half of the 2nd century).
- R. Monaldi, F. Sorti."Imprimatur: To Print". Historical detective. M: AST, . ISBN 5-17-0333234-3
- Charles Dickens in "Pictures of Italy" Pictures from Italy) described his impressions of visiting the catacombs of St. Sebastian (the only ones known in the 1840s):
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- The Pio Cristiano Museum in the Vatican is dedicated to the collection of early Christian works of art found in the Roman catacombs: marble pagan and Christian sarcophagi, statues, tablets with inscriptions in Latin and Greek.
- The Museum of Sacred Art in the Vatican Library (Italian Museo Sacro) contains artifacts from the Roman catacombs and churches: lamps with Jewish and Christian symbols, glassware, medallions.
- The Chiaramonti Museum in the Vatican presents many sarcophagi from the 1st-4th centuries.
- Part of the collection of the ancient period of the National Roman Museum consists of Jewish sarcophagi, tablets with inscriptions, a large number of artifacts from pagan tombs.
Notes
- Fink, Joseph Die romischen Katakomben. - Mainz: Philipp von Zabern, 1997. - ISBN 3-8053-1565-1
- Interactive map of Rome showing catacombs and hypogees. Retrieved February 13, 2009.
- Golubtsov A.P. From readings on church archeology and liturgy. St. Petersburg, 1917. S. 73
- Golubtsov A.P. Decree. op. S. 332
- Golubtsov A.P. Decree. op. S. 333
- Places of prayer meetings of Christians of the 1st-3rd centuries // Golubtsov A.P. From readings on Church Archeology and Liturgy
- lat. Monumentum Valerii Mercurii et Iulittes Iuliani et Quintilies verecundes libertis libertabusque posterisque eoiiim at religionem pertinentes (pertinentibus) meam
- lat. Marcus Antonius Restutus fecit ypogeum sibi et suis fidentibus in Domino
- Popov I.V. On the veneration of holy relics // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. No. 1. 1997.
- In the original εν κοιμητηρίοις .
- Apostolic Ordinances. VI:30
- Barony. Church Annals
- Zaraisky V. Two landmark discoveries
- John Meyendorff The unity of the empire and the division of Christians. Chapter II. Church structure
- Antonio Bosio
- Fink, Joseph. - Mainz: vom Zabern, 1997.-p. 77 ISBN 3-8053-1565-1
- Pokrovsky N. V. Painting of the catacombs (According to the ed.: Essays on the monuments of Christian art. St. Petersburg, Liga-plus, 2000)
The catacombs of Rome are a whole network of ancient dungeons, which at the time of their construction were used for burial, although later they became a haven for the first Christians, as a result of which they became famous. In the Roman environs there are about 60 catacombs with more than 700 thousand burials.
The history of the catacombs
The most ancient catacombs arose before our era, at first these catacombs were built to combat the lack of land for burial, because over the centuries of Rome's existence, the surrounding area was almost completely filled with ancient remains.
The famous Christian catacombs of Rome appeared in 107, during the decline of the Roman Empire. By this time, the persecution of early Christians began: they were killed, tortured and thrown unarmed into the arena of the Colosseum.
To get away from persecution, the idea came to perform rituals underground - the Roman soldiers simply could not find them. The Roman catacombs evolved from a simple burial place into the first Christian temples (although they did not lose their original purpose).
But after Emperor Constantine recognized Christianity and the persecution ceased, the Roman catacombs were soon forgotten for centuries and discovered in 1578.
Catacombs of Priscilla
The first discovered Christian dungeons were just these catacombs. We stumbled upon them by chance in 1578 during the construction of the Salaria road.
A little about the name of the catacombs: Priscilla was a Roman aristocrat, the owner of vast lands, during her lifetime she converted to Christianity and when she was building her burial crypt, she was allowed to bury her fellow believers on this land. Thus was the beginning of the catacombs of Priscilla.
When a detailed study of the dungeon was made, the scientists were surprised how well these catacombs were preserved. Untouched graves of people canonized as saints, frescoes and religious attributes for ceremonies were discovered.
Fresco in the catacomb
In general, the catacombs of Priscilla near Rome are a three-level dungeon from the 2nd-5th centuries. Frescoes and inscriptions praising God were found in the halls of the catacombs. The inscriptions were made by the first Christians.
Catacombs of Saint Callistus
These catacombs are the largest and most famous among all Roman dungeons, unlike Priscilla's dungeons, these catacombs have 4 levels. The catacombs of St. Callistus successfully functioned from the 2nd to the 4th centuries. The total number of burials in these dungeons is 500,000.
Kallistos was a deacon who was assigned to look after these catacombs, his main task was the timely burial of the dead Christians. For conscientious work, the catacombs were named after him.
Masses of frescoes, wall paintings and inscriptions have also been found in these underground caves.
The capital of Italy is full of mysteries. One of these are the catacombs of Rome, which are underground labyrinths. Since the 1st century, the deceased saints have been buried in them. Underground passages attract tourists with mystery, decoration and the opportunity to touch the history of the popular city.
Story
The first Christians were buried in tuff catacombs, as they considered this burial option the most worthy. So almost 750,000 people were buried in Rome. But in the 5th century, burials lost their significance and were discontinued. Pope Melchiad was the last to have his remains buried in underground labyrinths.
For some time, these places attracted pilgrims who wanted to pray at the graves of the martyrs, but due to the fact that the relics of the saints were gradually removed, interest faded more and more. In the 16th century, professor-theologist Onufry Panvinio was the first to study the tombs, his research was continued by Antonio Bosio.
Full-scale research work in the underground began in the 19th century. They are managed by a specially created Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archeology.
The catacombs of Rome are divided into:
- Christian;
- syncretic;
- Jewish
In total, there are more than 60 known tombs, with a total length of about 160 km. A significant part of them passes under the Appian Way.
Christian catacombs
The Roman catacombs, created for the first Christians, are considered the oldest. There are a lot of them, but only 5 are open for tourists, which are mentioned below. The visit is conducted with a guide as part of a full-fledged excursion tour. The rest of the labyrinths are not equipped with electric lighting and are dangerous, so entry into them is possible only with the permission of the Pontifical Commission.
The burial places are named after the martyr who lived in the early Christian years. It is noteworthy that initially these were pagan tombs, which eventually became Christian. The transition of religion is visible in the images, where pagan and Christian subjects are intertwined.
It is believed that in the 3rd century, the apostles Paul and Peter rested in the catacombs of Rome. Of the memos about this, only the inscription has survived: "Saints Peter and Paul rested here." In the 4th century, the eponymous temple of San Sebastiano Fuori le Mura was built over the graves, where the relics of Sebastian were transferred.
The address: via Appia Antica 136.
Working hours: daily, from 10:00 to 16:30 , except Sunday.
Price: 5 euros for children and beneficiaries, 8 euros for adults.
Official site
These burials are the oldest. Previously, this territory was owned by Aquilius Glabrius, to whose family Priscilla belonged. It is believed that she was executed for her loyalty to Christianity. In the catacombs of Priscilla, a chapel was erected with Greek inscriptions and drawings depicting the heroes of the Bible. The most significant drawing is the Virgin Mary with a child.
The address: via Salaria, 430.
Working hours: every day, from 09.00 to 17.00, except Monday.
Price: 8 euros for a full ticket and 5 euros for a reduced one.
Official site
The dungeon is named after the granddaughter of the Roman emperor Vespasian - Domitilla, who was martyred for her faith in Christ. So many people were buried here that the niches for the bodies are arranged in four floors, each of which is at least 5 meters high.
The tomb is interesting in design. On its walls there are paintings with a unique image of Jesus Christ, as well as early christian symbols with certain values. This dungeon is a real art that opens the door to the ancient world.
The address: Via delle Sette Chiese, 282.
Schedule: daily, from 9.00 to 17.00, except Tuesday.
Price: adult ticket - 8 euros, reduced ticket - 5 euros.
Official site
Agnes of Rome, after whom the tomb is named, was canonized for her unshakable faith. There are no traditional Christian drawings on the walls, but there are epitaphs in several galleries.
Above the labyrinth, in 342, the Basilica of Sant'Agnese Fuori le Mura was erected, where the relics of Saint Agnes have since rested. Constance insisted on this - the daughter of Emperor Constantine the Great.
The address: via Nomentana 349.
Working hours: 9.00-15.30.
Price: 8 euros - full ticket, 5 euros - for beneficiaries and children.
Official site
This underground complex is the largest in Rome. Its length is more than 20 km, and in the galleries there are 170,000 graves on four floors. The burial places are named after the Roman clergyman Callistus, who during his lifetime organized the funerals of Christians.
The labyrinths have not yet been fully explored, so tourists can visit only part of them. Among the galleries, there are three main crypts where the skeletons rest:
- Cave of the Popes, named after the 6 popes whose relics are kept within its walls. Many saints are buried here.
- The crypt of the holy sacraments, where there is enough space for the burial of the whole family. The room is decorated with frescoes depicting the sacrament of baptism, the rite of the future resurrection and communion.
- Crypt of St. Cecilia, which is the burial place of Cecilia of Rome - a martyr who canonized saints. She led almost 400 Romans to God and was faithful to her faith until her last breath.
Each gallery is amazing in its own way and decorated in unique style. According to drawings and inscriptions, historians and scientists study real events, legends, and the culture of Christianity.
The address: via Appia Antica 110/126.
Schedule: 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., every day except Wednesday.
Price: adult ticket - 8 euros, preferential - 5 euros, children under 6 years old admission is free.
Official site
Jewish catacombs
Archaeologists know the Jewish catacombs under Villa Torlonia and Vigna Randanini. They were discovered in 1859, but the entrance was walled up until the end of the 20th century. Only then they were restored and allowed to visit. Scientists have determined the age of the burials - approximately 50 BC.
The architecture of the Jewish and Christian catacombs is almost the same. The only difference is that the Jewish tombs were first created in the form of separate crypts, and only later connected by special passages.
The design is striking in its beauty and majesty, the drawings depict various animals, birds, symbols and figures. Only images of episodes from Old Testament, which is also a distinctive feature of these dungeons.
Syncretic catacombs
The mystery of the Roman catacombs lies in the questions of who and when exactly created them. For example, syncretic burials were made under temples, but their design combines the motifs of Christianity, as well as Greek and Roman philosophy. Therefore, it is difficult to accurately determine the year of their formation.
The most famous syncretic catacombs is the underground church discovered near Termini Station in 1917. Its depth is 12 meters, and stucco molding with images of mythological characters flaunts on the walls.
How to get there?
The main question that worries tourists is: "How to get to the Roman tombs?". Underground labyrinths are located in different parts of the city, so there is no definite answer to it. To build a route, you need to choose a specific excursion. Most of the catacombs have official websites where you can see the directions.
For example, the most visited catacombs of Priscilla are located near the Villa Ada park. Buses No. 92 and 86 run in this direction, the desired stop is called Piazza Crati.
Last modified: October 13, 2018
It is generally accepted that the catacombs of Rome are a network of underground corridors and tunnels formed as a result of the work of old quarries or abandoned bomb shelters. However, this is not quite true. In fact, the concept of a catacomb appeared hundreds of years ago: in ancient times, underground galleries were called that, which were used to bury the dead, there were also small chapels where religious rites were performed.
The first Roman catacombs were discovered in the 16th century. To date, there are at least sixty of them, with a total length of more than one and a half hundred kilometers, where there are about 750,000 ancient burials.
The catacombs of Rome are a network of underground corridors made in tuff, at a depth of several tens of meters from the surface of the earth, sometimes located at several levels. On both sides of the main passages there are so-called cubicles, small rooms that can accommodate several burials at once. Most often, such crypts were family crypts and, basically, only wealthy citizens could afford them. Ordinary townspeople and slaves were buried directly in the aisles, in narrow rectangular niches located on the sides in several rows.
The emergence of the Roman catacombs
Underground burials in ancient Rome arose during paganism. The first burial galleries appeared on the territories of private land holdings as early as the 1st century BC. Wealthy families could afford to build a separate tomb intended for the burial of not only family members, but also their servants. Naturally, the crypts of the latter were located in a separate chamber, but they were still connected to the main narrow passage.
One of the largest such cubes has more than seventy graves arranged in several rows.
With the advent of Christianity, the custom of burying the dead in the catacombs did not lose its significance, but vice versa. It was the underground galleries that became practically the only burial place for the first great martyrs and victims of persecution under pagan emperors in the 2nd-4th centuries AD.
Under Constantine the Great, when persecution for religious reasons was stopped and the first Christian churches began to be built, the tradition of performing the rite of the liturgy and worshiping the relics of saints spread in the catacombs.
In addition to cubicles, the so-called hypogeums, the purpose of which is still unknown, as well as small rooms for funeral meals and wide halls for holding all kinds of meetings, were found in the Roman catacombs.
Decline and desolation of the catacombs
Starting from the 5th century, almost all the catacombs of Rome were closed for burials. Underground galleries became a place of mass pilgrimage, there were apostolic tombs, graves of great martyrs and preachers. Many pilgrims left notes and drawings on the walls of the catacombs. Some of these inscriptions tell about the impressions of visiting the catacombs and, thus, are the most valuable source of information for historians and archaeologists.
In the middle of the VI century, the first opening of the tombs was carried out in the Roman catacombs. The relics of the saints, seized from the tombs, were transferred to city churches and basilicas.
In the 9th century, by order of Pope Paschal I, the relics of two thousand three hundred saints, martyrs, bishops and thirteen popes of Rome were removed from the catacombs and transferred to the Basilica of Santa Prassede. This is evidenced by a memorial marble plaque, installed at the same time in the crypt of the basilica.
In connection with such reburials, pilgrims soon lost interest in the Roman catacombs. Over the next six centuries, the ancient Christian necropolis was forgotten, many underground galleries were devastated, and some were destroyed over time.
Research and excavations in the catacombs
Interest in the catacombs arose in early XVI century. Then the librarian of the Roman Church, who had the opportunity to examine the early Christian manuscripts, began to study the ancient burials.
In 1578, as a result of building work on the Via Salaria, marble slabs with antique inscriptions and images from the caemeterium Jordanorum ad S. Alexandrorum were found, although it was originally assumed that these were the catacombs of St. Priscilla. Subsequent excavations led to the collapse of the premises of the necropolis and the work was decided to be suspended.
Later, Antonio Bosio took up the study of ancient burials, who opened more than thirty underground burial galleries and wrote a three-volume work on the results of his work. It was he who first descended into the catacombs of Saint Priscilla.
Large-scale work on the study and excavation of Roman necropolises has been carried out since the beginning of the 19th century. Then interest was riveted not only to the history of the formation of the catacombs and burials, but also to the discovered frescoes.
Roman catacombs today
To date, in Rome, or rather in its bowels, there are more than sixty catacombs, but only a few of them are open to the public, while the rest are closed for further research and reconstruction work.
One of the largest early Christian burials, forming a network of galleries located on four levels. There are more than 170,000 burials of the II-IV centuries. Of particular interest are the well-preserved frescoes, the papal cubicle, the crypt of St. Cecilia, and the cave of the Holy Mysteries.
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Catacombs of Priscilla
The most ancient catacombs of Rome, located at a depth of 35 meters and forming three levels of burials, of which there are about 40,000. In addition to Christian burials, there are also pagan burials, as well as a whole crypt, decorated with inscriptions in Greek.
Catacombs of Domitilla
The catacombs are formed from several pagan family crypts, presumably belonging to the imperial Flavian dynasty. By the end of the 4th century, underground burials were already the largest necropolis, consisting of four levels, each of which had a height of 5 meters. To date, the Catacombs of Domitilla are the largest underground cemetery in Rome.
The territory on which the catacombs are located belonged to a certain Flavia Domitilla in ancient times, as evidenced by the discovered epigraphs and ancient documents. There were two women with that name in the 1st century: the first was the wife of the Roman consul of 95, Titus Flavius Clement (great-nephew of Emperor Vespasian), the second was the sister of the emperors Titus and Domitian.
Since ancient times, the catacombs of Domitilla in Rome have been known among pilgrims as a place of worship for saints Achilles and Nereus. Here, according to ancient documentary sources, the remains of St. Petronilla, the daughter (most likely spiritual) of the Apostle Peter, are buried.
Catacombs of Saints Marcellino and Pietro
The Roman catacombs, dedicated to the martyrs Marcellino and Pietro, for a long time kept the tombs of Christian saints, whose names they bear. The saints were beheaded by order of the emperor Diocletian in 304 and buried in pits dug by Marcellino and Pietro before their execution.
The catacombs of Marcellino and Pietro, together with the basilica of the same name, the mausoleum of Helena and the remains of the cemetery of the imperial equestrian bodyguards Equites singulares, form a single complex, known since ancient times under the name "Ad duas lauros". Burials in these catacombs have been made since the 2nd century. Today, the underground cemetery covers an area of about 18,000 sq.m. and contains a huge number of burials, the exact number of which is difficult to establish. Scientists suggest that at least 15 thousand people were buried in this cemetery in the 3rd century alone.
Catacombs of Saint Sebastian
There are both pagan and early Christian burials here. Well-preserved frescoes and inscriptions reveal the period of religious conversion. It is assumed that it was here that the apostles Peter and Paul were buried.
Catacombs of Saint Pancras
The catacombs of St. Pancras, also known as the “Catacombs of Ottavila”, are located in the square of the same name in Rome, in the Gianicolense quarter and are dedicated to the Christian saint who suffered for his religious beliefs in 304 AD. According to legend, Pancratius, who arrived in Rome from the Greek city of Phrygia, refused to bow to the pagan gods, was beheaded. His body was discovered in the area of Aurelia Street by a Roman matron named Ottavilla, who buried the martyr in a small cemetery located nearby.
In addition to St. Pantkratius, in the catacombs bearing his name, Vera, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia, revered in the Christian church as martyrs, were buried.
catacombs of ponziano
Another Roman catacomb worthy of interest is located along Portuenze Street, in the dungeons of the Monteverde hill. They are named after the person who was the owner of this territory in ancient times. According to researchers, Ponziano, during the reign of Emperor Alexander Severus (222-235), provided asylum to Pope Calixtus I.
The catacombs, which consisted of several levels of underground galleries, also had a ground-based necropolis. To date, most of the catacombs of Poniziano in Rome have not been studied, and only one of their levels, dated from the end of the 3rd to the beginning of the 4th century, is accessible and does not pose a danger.
One of the most interesting premises of the Ponziano catacombs is the so-called "underground baptistery", which is a unique element of the hypogeal (i.e. underground) Roman cemetery.
Catacombs of Commodilla
In the Ostiense quarter, along Sette Chiese (via delle Sette Chiese), there are Commodilla catacombs, discovered in 1595 by archaeologist Antonio Bosio. The Roman underground cemetery, which has three levels of burials, was used for its intended purpose in the 6th century AD. The most interesting from an archaeological point of view is the central level, which is an ancient pozzolana mine, converted for funeral needs. There is also a small underground basilica dedicated to the martyrs Felix and Adavktus, who suffered under Diocletian. The frescoes of Cubicula Leone (Italian cubicolo di Leone) are of high artistic interest. The burial chamber of an influential Roman commander of the second half of the 4th century is decorated with paintings with biblical scenes.
Catacombs of Saint Agnes
Another important Roman catacomb is located in the complex of Sant'Agnese Fuori le Mura, in the modern quarter of Trieste. The catacombs are dedicated to Saint Agnes, the only Christian martyr buried here, of whom documentary evidence has been preserved. Most of the burials date back to the 3rd-4th century.
Catacombs of Rome - ancient underground labyrinths-necropolises in which pagans and early Christians buried their dead.The cities of the dead can tell a lot to the living, because they have practically not experienced outside influences for centuries, while the city of the living (Rome) has been repeatedly rebuilt and changed its appearance.
There are more than 60 catacombs in the vicinity of Rome, but this article will focus onlongest and most important– those that are located on the Appian Way built back in the pre-Christian era. The catacombs will introduce you to the early morning(II-V centuries AD) and will be transferred to the time of the first popes, starting with the Apostle Peter, when this religion was just beginning to win hearts and minds and acquired its own artistic language.
1. What you can see in the catacombs / Why you should visit the catacombs of Rome
Rectangular niches (loculi) where the remains of most of the deceased were keptWhen in the 5th century BC, back in the pre-Christian era, a ban was introduced on burials within the boundaries of Rome, arose the tradition of burying the dead outside the city. The Roman nobility built magnificent tombs for themselves - mausoleums and columbariums (repositories of urns with ashes), which can still be seen today, for example, along.
The rest, who could not afford yourself a separate tomb on the surface of the earth, got the underworld. There is a hypothesis that caves and tunnels of quarries were used for burials, in which soft tuff stone (travertine) was mined. Roman buildings such as the Colosseum were built from it. It is symbolic, isn't it, that this stone pursued the Romans both during life and after death.
Starting from the 2nd century AD, the first Christians began to bury their dead, including martyrs and saints who were persecuted and executed by order of pagan emperors, in the catacombs. So whole underground cities grew up near Rome - necropolises, where both Christians and pagans found eternal rest, only about 500,000 people.
In the corridors of the catacombs, along the walls of branched and narrow tunnels, hollowed out rectangular niches in several rows (loculi - literally "places") where the remains of the majority of the deceased (both pagans and Christians) were kept. The remains of saints and martyrs were honored with a separate tomb with a hole at the top and a low, blind arch, usually decorated with frescoes and Christian symbols.
Arcosolium - a low blind arch in the wall, under which the remains of the deceased, most often saints and martyrs, were placed in the tomb, and the tombstone was used as an altar during the celebration of the liturgy A visit to the catacombs will allow you to touch origins of modern Christian Rome and, the center of the Catholic world, and learn more about the history of Christianity. In the catacombs, the first services were performed on the tombs of the martyrs (hence the origin of the Christian tradition of celebrating the liturgy on the relics of saints), and the walls and ceilings of the tunnels were decorated with frescoes.
I pagan and secular drawings are side by side with frescoes illustrating scenes from the Bible and drawings with characteristic early Christian symbols -fish, lamb, dove with an olive branch in its beak, anchor, chrysms (a monogram of the name of Christ, which consists of two initial Greek letters chi and ro). So in the catacombscan see one of the first evidence of artistic understanding of the image of Jesus Christ and the entire Christian doctrine.
Cubicles (literally "peace") are small chambers located on the sides of the main passages. The cubicles housed the burials of several people, often they served as family crypts. The first Christians were persecuted by the Roman state as offenders to majesty (majestatis rei), apostates from state deities (sacrilegi), followers of magic prohibited by law (magi, malefici), confessors of a religion prohibited by law. However, for Christians, and this is at odds with popular belief, the catacombs did not serve as a refuge during the persecution, at least for long time, as there was very little space and air in the tunnels underground. The Roman authorities knew about the existence of burials, but did not touch them, because these areas, regardless of religious beliefs the dead were considered protected and inviolable.
In any case, the catacombs were used by early Christians not only for burials (many Christians wished to be buried next to the martyrs and saints), but also for worship and prayers at a time when Christianity was under the ban of pagan emperors.
In the 5th century, burials in the catacombs ceased, but since this period they have become popular with pilgrims who wished to pray at the graves. Christian martyrs and saints.
2. Catacombs of Rome on the Appian Way
Appian Way (Via Appia Antica)- one of the 7 main roads that connected the capital of the empire with the seaport of Brundisium (modern Brindisi), located on the "heel" of the Apennine "boot". Today uhthat road will lead you to a unique park where there are practically no tourists, but very crowded on weekends - the Romans themselves like to relax here: have picnics, play ball or just lie in the sun.By the way, scenes for films such as "Mama Roma", "The Great Beauty" and the television series "Rome" were filmed in the park.
Along the Appian Way there are mausoleums and columbariums of the Roman nobility, as well as largest catacombs of Rome with unique frescoes and drawings on the walls and ceilings. The most interesting and large-scalecatacombs open to the public on the Appian Way: the catacombs of St. Callisto (San Callisto), the catacombs of St. Sebastian (San Sebastiano), the catacombs of St. Domitilla (Santa Domitilla). A visit to the catacombs is carried out as part of organized groups. The guide, as a rule, is a priest or a monk who knows history well and understands the symbolism of these underground early Christian necropolises.
The catacombs of St. Callistus, the catacombs of St. Domitilla and the catacombs of St. Sebastian are close to each other, so it is possible to visit them all at once. Plan your day carefully, using information about the opening hours of the catacombs, if you want to visit all three attractions in one trip.
How to get to the catacombs on the Appian Way by public transport?
ROMA ATAC bus:
- No. 660 from the metro station "Colli Albani" (red line A)
- No. 118 from Colosseo metro station or Circo Massimo metro station (blue line B)
- No. 218 from San Giovanni metro station (red line A)
3. Catacombs of St. Callistus (San Callisto)
Catacombs of San Callisto- the most popular among tourists (and therefore the busiest), but also of the greatest interest. They are also considered the oldest and longest (over 20 km, 4 levels, going 20 meters deep into the earth). Here were the remains of 16 popes, as well as more than 50 Christian martyrs. These catacombs got their name in honor of the deacon and later Pope Callistus, who in the 3rd century AD. significantly expanded and improved them.
The underground necropolis includes several significant areas, consisting of crypts and cubes. Crypt of Popes- the most important and revered crypt of the cemetery, called the "little Vatican", because here was the official burial place of nine popes and, possibly, eight dignitaries of the Roman Church of the 3rd century.
AT Crypt of Saint Cecilia, the patroness of church music, who died a martyr's death, her remains were kept for several centuries, until in 821 they were transferred to the church in Trastevere, built in her honor.
Statue of St. Cecilia - a copy of the famous work made by Stefano Maderno in 1599 Near the crypt of popes are sacrament cubes– 5 small rooms that serve as family crypts. They are valuable for their frescoes from the beginning of the 3rd century, which depict early Christian symbols and scenes of the sacrament of Baptism and the Eucharist.
Mystery Cubicles The address: Via Appia Antica 110/126
Working hours: 9.00 - 12.00, 14.00 - 17.00. Closed Wednesday, December 25, January 1, at Easter Sunday. Catacombs of San Callisto will be closed from January 25 to February 21, 2018.
Price: adults - 8 €, children from 7 to 15 years old - 5 €, free for children under 6 years old. The price includes a guided visit.
4. Catacombs of St. Sebastian
These catacombs are named after Saint Sebastian,a Roman legionnaire who professed Christianity and was martyred. The Romans did not use the word "catacombs" in the modern sense, their cemeteries and burials were called "cemeterium" (tomb). Tomb of Saint Sebastian was in a place called ad catacumbas, which means "next to the depressions (pits)" - because of the tuff (travertine) mines, which was used to build Roman buildings. Since then, the custom has gone to call underground burials catacombs.
At the entrance to the catacombs, a room called triclia has been preserved. Many scientists believe that it was here that the remains of the apostles Peter and Paul were temporarily housed (you can learn more about them on our quest), as evidenced by symbols and inscriptionsdedicated to the most revered saints in Catholicism. Also in these catacombs is the crypt of St. Sebastian, where his relics were kept before being transferred to the church. The crypt has been restored, on a part of the ancient column there is a bust of St. Sebastian by Bernini.
The address: Via Appia Antica, 136
Working hours: 10:00 – 17:00. Closed on Sundays, December 25th and January 1st.
Price: adults - 8 €, children from 7 to 15 years old - 5 euros, free for children under 6 years old. The price includes a guided visit.
5. Catacombs of Saint Domitilla
The catacombs of Saint Domitilla are among the largest in Rome and are quite well preserved. Their length is 17 km, they have 4 levels and 150,000 graves., dating back to the II-V centuries AD. The catacombs are located under the Roman basilica of Saints Nereus and Achilles, on the site of the family burial place of the Flavians (the Roman imperial dynasty, under which the construction of the Colosseum, also called the Flavian amphitheater, began).
According to one of the existing versions, the site belonged to Domitilla, the granddaughter of Emperor Vespasian and the wife of the consul Titus Flavius Clemens. By order of the emperor Domitian, under which large-scale persecution of Christians began, Titus Flavius was executed, and Domitilla was exiled to a remote island. The official indictment stated that they were punished for« atheism ”- it is believed that the spouses either professed Judaism or converted to Christianity, abandoning the cult of the Roman gods that dominated the empire and the deification of the emperor. Anyway,Domitilla, who allowed Christians to be buried in her galleries, was canonized by the Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches.
Of greatest interest in these catacombs of St. Domitilla are frescoes - the first attempts to portray Jesus, apostles and scenes from the Bible, which gave impetus to the development of Christian artistic thought. One of the most precious drawings Jesus as the Good Shepherd with a lamb on his shoulders, illustrating the words from the Gospel of John "I am the good shepherd."
In 2014, images in the catacombs of Saint Domitilla, partially hidden under a layer of dirt, mold and calcium carbonate deposits, were cleaned by a group of restorers using a laser, and new unknown areas of ancient frescoes were revealed to the world. For example, an illustration was found for the story of how Jesus fed five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. Also found was an image of a baker with a measurement for grain and a cycle of frescoes showing how grain was delivered from Egypt to the seaport of Rome (the so-called "bakers' room").
"Baker's Room" The Bosio inscription was left by Antonio Bosio, who discovered the existence of the catacombs in the 16th century and studied them for 36 years. Visitors can also see the exhibits of a small museum that displays statues, parts of sarcophagi and other artifacts from the tombs.
The address: Via delle Sette Chiese, 280/282
Working hours: 9:00 – 12:00; 14:00 - 17:00. Closed on Tuesdays, December 25th, January 1st.
Price: adults - 8 €, children from 6 to 15 years old - 5 euros, free for children under 6 years old. The price includes a guided visit.
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