Catacombs of Rome

The Catacombs of Rome (Italian: Catacombe di Roma) are ancient catacombs, underground burial places in and around Rome, of which there are at least forty, some rediscovered since 1578, others even as late as the 1950s.

There are more than fifty catacombs in the underground of Rome in which about 150 km of tunnels run. Though most famous for Christian burials, either in separate catacombs or mixed together, Jews and also adherents of a variety of pagan Roman religions were buried in catacombs, beginning in the 2nd century AD, occasioned by the ancient Roman ban on burials within a city, and also as a response to overcrowding and shortage of land. The most extensive and perhaps the best known is the Christian Catacomb of Callixtus located near the Park of the Caffarella, but there are other sites, both Christian and not, scattered around the city, some of which are now engulfed by modern urban sprawl.

The Christian catacombs are extremely important for the history of Early Christian art, as they contain the great majority of examples from before about 400 AD, in fresco and sculpture, as well as gold glass medallions (these, like most bodies, have been removed). The Jewish catacombs are similarly important for the study of Jewish culture at this early period.

Etymology

The word catacombs comes from a Latin word meaning either "among the tombs" or "next to the quarry." This name comes from the first places where these underground tunnels were dug, which were close to an old quarry outside of Rome.

Precursors

The Etruscan civilization lived in the area that is now Rome from around 900 to 100 BC. They buried their dead in underground chambers, like the Tomb of the Capitals, or in simple tumuli. Romans usually practiced cremation, keeping the remains in pots or urns in special buildings called columbaria.

As Rome grew in the 2nd century CE, there were too many people and not enough space. Burials were not allowed inside the city, and early Christians did not agree with cremation. So, underground cemeteries became a practical choice. Around this time, people began burying bodies without burning them, either in simple graves or in fancy sarcophagi. By the 4th century, burial became more common than cremation.

Jews and Christians preferred burial because they believed in preserving the body for resurrection. Many important roads leaving Rome, such as the Via Appia, had grand tombs along them. Building these tombs was very expensive, so digging catacombs was a more affordable option.

These tunnels were mainly for burial, not regular worship. But Christians did hold memorial services and celebrate special days for their martyrs there. There are about sixty known underground burial places in Rome, built outside the city walls along major Roman roads, including the Via Appia, the Via Ostiense, the Via Labicana, the Via Tiburtina, and the Via Nomentana. The names of some catacombs, like St. Calixtus and St. Sebastian, come from martyrs who may be buried there. Most of the Christian burial spaces were made after times of persecution.

Discoveries

Researchers discovered that the people living in ancient Rome often ate freshwater fish. One sample, from a child about two years old, showed that children were breastfed. This child had not yet stopped nursing from its mother.

Fish was very important in Roman life. It was a regular part of meals for everyone. For Christians, fish also had special meaning. It appeared in their art and was eaten during meals to remember people who had passed away.

Christian catacombs

Roman law did not allow burial places inside city limits, so all catacombs were built outside the walls of Rome. The first large catacombs were dug from the 2nd century onward, carved from a soft type of volcanic rock called tufa.

Early Christians used these catacombs as burial places, with inscriptions and wall art left behind. By the end of the sixth century, there were over sixty Christian catacombs. Researchers have shown that Christians did not use these catacombs as hiding places during times of persecution. Instead, they went there to hold special meals to remember family members who had passed away, similar to what other families in Rome did. The art found in the catacombs gives us important clues about early Christian beliefs and how they saw the world.

History of original tunnelling

The tunnels that later became known as the catacombs were first dug by the Etruscan people who lived in the area before the Romans. They dug these tunnels to get resources like limestone and sandstone. Later, the Romans used these tunnels for the same purpose. Eventually, Christians and Jews used the tunnels as places to bury their dead and for mass graves.

Decline and rediscovery

After the Edict of Milan in 313, many Roman Christians visited the catacombs to find relics from the martyrs. This led to damage in the catacombs. In 380, Christianity became a state religion. Over time, people stopped using the catacombs for burials and began using church cemeteries instead. By the 6th century, catacombs were only used for special services for martyrs, and some paintings were added as late as the 7th century, like a picture of Saint Stephen in the Catacomb of Commodilla. Groups like the Ostrogoths, Vandals, and Lombards who attacked Rome also entered the catacombs, likely looking for treasures. By the 10th century, the catacombs were mostly abandoned, and holy relics were moved to above-ground basilicas.

The catacombs were forgotten for many years until they were rediscovered in 1578. Antonio Bosio spent many years studying them and wrote about his findings in Roma Sotterranea in 1632. Later, archaeologist Giovanni Battista de Rossi (1822–1894) did more detailed research on the catacombs. In 1956 and 1959, more catacombs were found near Rome. Today, the catacombs are important monuments of the early Christian church.

Today

The Holy See takes care of the Christian catacombs. It uses special groups, like the Pontifical Commission of Sacred Archaeology, to dig and fix them up. Another group, the Pontifical Academy of Archaeology, helps study these old places. Some catacombs are looked after by local church groups or religious orders nearby.

Today, with the internet, you can often find up-to-date information online about visiting the catacombs. This includes where they are, their opening times, ticket prices, guides who speak different languages, group sizes, and how to get there by public transport. Like many historical sites in Italy, the catacombs sometimes close at certain times or days and may need to be booked online in advance. Right now, only five catacombs are open to visitors: San Sebastiano, San Callisto, Priscilla, Domitilla, and Sant'Agnese.

Typology

Roman catacombs have underground passages called ambulacra. In the walls of these passages, there are horizontal spaces called loculi where bodies were placed. These loculi were often stacked one above the other and could hold one or more bodies. Bodies were usually wrapped in a cloth and covered with lime to help reduce smell.

There were also special burial spaces called arcosolia, which were curved niches under a marble slab. Some rooms, known as cubicula, were for families, and others, called cryptae, were decorated with paintings. When space ran out, additional graves called formae were dug into the floor of the corridors.

List of catacombs in Rome

The Roman catacombs are underground burial places built along roads outside Rome, such as the Via Appia, the Via Ostiensis, the Via Labicana, the Via Tiburtina and the Via Nomentana. These catacombs were used by Christians, Jews, and followers of various pagan Roman religions starting in the 2nd century AD. This was because Roman law did not allow burials inside city limits, and also because land for burials was limited.

Catacombs of Marcellinus and Peter

Main article: Catacombs of Marcellinus and Peter

These catacombs are located on the ancient Via Labicana, now called Via Casilina in Rome, Italy, near the church of Santi Marcellino e Pietro ad Duas Lauros. They are named after the Christian martyrs Marcellinus and Peter, who were traditionally buried here along with St. Tiburtius.

Catacombs of Domitilla

Main article: Catacombs of Domitilla

Near the Catacombs of San Callisto are the large Catacombs of Domitilla, named after Saint Domitilla. They spread over 17 kilometres (11 miles) of caves.

Catacombs of Commodilla

Main article: Catacombs of Commodilla

Located on the Via Ostiensis, these catacombs contain one of the earliest images of a bearded figure. They originally held relics of Saints Felix and Adauctus. Excavations were conducted by archaeologist Bellarmino Bagatti between 1933 and 1934.

Catacombs of Generosa

Main article: Catacombs of Generosa

Found on the Campana Road, these catacombs may have temporarily held Simplicius, Faustinus and Beatrix, Christian Martyrs who died in Rome during the Diocletian persecution around the year 302 or 303.

Catacombs of Praetextatus

These catacombs are along the Via Appia and were built at the end of the 2nd century. They include a large underground burial area used by both pagans and Christians. One special part is called the "cubiculum of the coronation", which has a rare painting from that time showing a figure being crowned with thorns.

Catacombs of Priscilla

Main article: Catacomb of Priscilla

The Catacomb of Priscilla is located at the Via Salaria near Villa Ada. It likely gets its name from the landowner whose land it was built on. It is cared for by Benedictine nuns.

Catacombs of San Callisto

Main article: Catacomb of Callixtus

These catacombs are along the Appian Way and were built after 150 AD. They include private areas and a funeral area linked to the Catholic Church. The catacombs were named after Saint Callixtus, who was appointed to manage this burial place. They grew to become the official burial site for the Roman Church. The catacombs cover a large area and have four levels deep underground.

Catacombs of San Lorenzo

Built beside San Lorenzo fuori le Mura, these catacombs are thought to have held St. Lawrence. The church was built by Pope Sixtus III and later changed, with Sixtus also decorating the shrine in the catacomb and being buried there.

Catacombs of San Pancrazio

Main article: San Pancrazio

Underneath the San Pacrazio basilica, built by Pope Symmachus where the young martyr Saint Pancras was buried. In the 17th century, it was given to the Discalced Carmelites, who changed it greatly. The catacombs contain pieces of sculpture and early Christian writings.

Catacombs of San Sebastiano

Main article: Catacombs of San Sebastiano

One of the smaller Christian burial places, this catacomb is easy to reach but not well preserved. Parts of old walls and collected stone boxes (mostly from the 4th century) were found here. It is where the martyrs Sebastian and Eutychius were buried.

Going down a few steps, you find areas with different rooms, including one with nice paintings from the end of the 4th century. There is a restored area called the crypt of S. Sebastiano, and from there you can reach a platform. Under the platform is a special space that may have given these types of tombs their name. Three burial places from the 2nd century open off the platform.

A room called the "Triglia" is above the platform. It was used for funeral meals, and its walls have many writings by people who attended these meals between the late 3rd and early 4th centuries.

Catacombs of San Valentino

Main article: Catacombs of San Valentino

These catacombs were dedicated to Saint Valentine. In the 13th century, his remains were moved to the Basilica of Saint Praxedes.

Catacombs of Sant'Agnese

Main article: Catacombs of Saint Agnes

Built to keep and honor the remains of Saint Agnes of Rome. Her bones are now in the church of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura in Rome, and her skull is kept in a side chapel in the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone in Rome's Piazza Navona.

Catacombs of via Anapo

On the via Salaria, the Catacombs of via Anapo date to the late 3rd or early 4th century and have many paintings of biblical stories.

Jewish catacombs

There are six known Jewish catacombs in Rome, two of which are open to the public: Vigna Randanini and Villa Torlonia.

These Jewish catacombs were found in 1918, and excavations continued for twelve years. They have two entrances and cover more than 13,000 square metres (140,000 sq ft), dating from the 2nd to 3rd centuries, possibly used until the 5th century. The walls have writings and some paintings with classic Jewish symbols, such as the Temple menorah. Unlike Christians, Jews did not visit their dead in the catacombs. Because of wet conditions, bones have not been well preserved.

Gallery of paintings from the catacombs of Rome

The Catacombs of Rome contain many artworks, mostly with religious themes. Some paintings show important Christian events like baptism, or tell stories such as "The Three Hebrews and the Fiery Furnace," and feature Bible characters like Adam and Eve.