Catacombs of Rome: what the unexplored dungeons of the Eternal City keep in themselves. The catacombs of Rome - the bewitching underground world of the Eternal City The decline and desolation of the catacombs

There are over 60 catacombs in Rome. This is a system of underground passages, often reminiscent of labyrinths. Wall frescoes in the catacombs are optimistic and filled with faith in resurrection. Peace and tranquility reign here.

Roman catacombs - antique underground burials, photo peet-astn

About the catacombs

The catacombs of Rome (Catacombe di Roma) are huge multi-level galleries, intricate passages encircling and penetrating the space under the Eternal City. They originated in the pre-Christian era. Most of the Roman catacombs were created in the early Christian period. In total, more than 60 secret labyrinths (150-170 km long, about 750 thousand burials) were found in the Italian capital.

Types of Roman catacombs

pagan
syncretic
Jewish
Christian

Christian catacombs

The oldest Christian catacombs date back to around 107 AD. The early Roman Christians were persecuted. To perform rituals and bury the dead according to religious canons, believers used abandoned tuff quarries.

Christians felt safe in the dungeons. They arranged chapels and burial chambers, dug new labyrinths, expanded existing corridors, made niches in their walls. The width of the underground passages was about 1–1.5 m; the height reached 2.5 m. Niche-tombs were arranged on both sides of the corridors, in several tiers. One or more bodies were placed in each recess, then the tombs were walled up with bricks and stone slabs. Exits and ventilation shafts opened from the dungeons to the streets of Rome.

From 312, by the will of Emperor Constantine, Christianity was declared a legal religion, and the persecution of believers ceased. The catacombs became official and revered burial places. By the 5th century, they stopped burying underground, and even many of the remains were transferred to the churches of Rome, the Roman labyrinths fell into disrepair and were forgotten for a long time.

Catacombs of Priscilla

Agapa - "Meal of Love", which Christians arranged in the catacombs in memory of the Gospel Last Supper, and where they performed the sacrament of the Eucharist

Ten centuries later, in 1578, during the construction of the Via Salaria road, the first underground cemetery was discovered. These were the oldest catacombs of Priscilla in Rome (Catacombe di Priscilla) with burial chambers of early Christian martyrs. The aristocratic Priscilla of Rome came from the family of Consul Akilius Glabrio, who owned vast lands, on which an underground cemetery was formed.

These catacombs were not plundered by the barbarians in the 5th century, so the burials are well preserved. It was here that unique examples of early Christian art were discovered, skillful frescoes depicting the Good Shepherd with fish (a symbol of Jesus), drawings of the Holy Virgin Mary (2nd century AD), wall paintings with Old Testament scenes, scenes from the New Testament. The main attraction of the catacombs of Priscilla is Cappella Greca - a room with benches for memorial meals, with Greek inscriptions on the walls.

Il Cubicolo della Velata by Martin Conde

There is in the catacombs the "Room of a Woman in a Veil" (Il Cubicolo della Velata), famous for a fresco depicting a praying young woman in a purple dress and a white veil. Scenes from her life are written nearby, and the Garden of Eden is above her head. Image of the second half of the II century. and is in good condition.

How to get there

The entrance to the catacombs of Priscilla is located at Via Salaria, 430. It is next to the Villa Ada park.

Take bus 92 or 310 from Termini station to Piazza Crati stop,
from Piazza Venezia on bus 63 also to Piazza Crati.
Then go along via di Priscilla, following the sign.

Working hours

Tue-Sun 09:00 - 12:00 and 14:00 - 17:00.
Mon - day off.

Tickets

Full ticket - €8;
children (7-15 years old) - €5.

Read more about the catacombs of Priscilla on the website.

Catacombs of Saint Callistus

Entrance to the catacombs of St. Callistus, photo kiwioutthere

The largest and most famous underground Christian burial in Rome is the catacombs of St. Callistus (Catacombe di San Callisto) (II-IV centuries), founded by Bishop Callistus. The four-level labyrinth with hundreds of thousands of tombs stretches for 12 km. It covers an area of 15 hectares between the old Appian Way, Via delle Sette Chiese and Via Ardeatina. This is a real "city of the dead": several necropolises from different periods are combined in the dungeons of San Callisto. It has its own streets, squares, intersections.

In the underground square "Little Vatican" 9 popes, who led the church in the 3rd century, rested in peace (in total, 16 pontiffs and more than 50 holy martyrs were buried in San Callisto). The most visited place in the catacombs is the crypt of Santa Cecilia - the tomb of the holy martyr Cecilia with well-preserved reliefs, frescoes and mosaics.

The total length of the San Callisto underground corridors available today is about 20 kilometers. Archaeological research has been carried out since the middle of the 19th century, and not all burials have been discovered so far.

How to get there

The entrance to the catacombs of San Callisto is located at: Via Appia Antica, 110/126.

From Termini station you need to go:

Metro A (direction Anagnina) or bus 714 (direction Palazzo Sport) to Piazza di S. Giovanni in Laterano. Then take bus 218 to stop Fosse Ardeatine;
Take metro B (direction Laurentina) to the Circo Massimo stop.
From the Circo Massimo stop or from the Terme Caracalla/Porta Capena stop, take bus 118 (direction Villa Dei Quintili) to the Catacombe di San Callisto stop.

Working hours

Thu-Tue 09:00 - 12:00 and 14:00 - 17:00.

Tickets

Full ticket - €8;
children (7-15 years old) - €5.

Jewish catacombs

Epitaph with a menorah from the Jewish catacombs, photo by Marie-Lan Nguyen

The Jewish catacombs are considered the forerunners of the Christian ones. They appeared around the 1st century. BC e. The difference between the Jewish catacombs and the Christian ones is that at first separate crypts appeared, and then they were connected by corridors. Their walls are painted with frescoes depicting menorah, flowers, animals, but there are no scenes from the Old Testament.

famous Jewish catacombs

Burials under Villa Torlonia
Underground burials of Jews of III-IV centuries. Mussolini used the villa as a residence. During World War II, a bunker was located in the catacombs.
Vigna Apolloni
Funeral rites were held in small rooms, on the walls of which murals have been preserved. There are inscriptions in Greek and Latin; there are almost no religious images in Hebrew.
Vigna Cimarra
Vaulted niches, paintings on Jewish themes and inscriptions in Hebrew distinguish this burial. Skeletons were found in the crypts.
Vigna Randanini
The tomb was opened in 1859, but is well preserved. Burials from the beginning of the era. Paintings on the ceilings.
Monteverde
The inscriptions on the walls, made in 300 years in Italian square script, tell about Jewish history and traditions.

Syncretic catacombs, photo scoprendoroma.info

The underground temples of the syncretic catacombs are distinguished by a mixture of Roman and Greek philosophy with Christianity. There is an assumption that these are the burial places of the Gnostics sect.

Notable syncretic catacombs:

Underground basilica near Termini station
Discovered in 1917. In the 1st century BC e. it was used as a meeting place for neo-Pythagoreans. Known for plaster bas-reliefs.
Hypogeum Aurelius
Underground tunnels opened in 1919. There are frescoes on the walls and mosaics on the floor. Initially, the catacombs were two-story. The upper one was a spacious hall overlooking the surface. Lower - several mirrored rooms went underground.
Hypogeum Trebius Justus
In the catacombs, frescoes on religious themes and symbolic paintings are well preserved.
Hypogeum of Vibia
Catacombs at Villa Casali. These are 8 underground rooms, decorated with frescoes depicting Jupiter, Sabatius, Hermes, Psychopomp, animals and scenes from religious books.

Catacombs on Via Latina (Catacomba di Dino Compagni)

Catacombs of Santi Gordiano ed Epimaco, photo by sconosciuto

The catacombs were found in 1955. These are rich private burials. Perhaps both pagans and Christians were buried in them (about 400 graves). The wall paintings depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments in a new iconography.

Famous catacombs:

Aproniano
Excavations are still underway. A pagan and representatives of the early Christian confession were buried.
Burials on the Via Latina
1000 graves found in 1955. During the construction of the railway lines, many were destroyed.
Hypogeum Cava della rossa
Burials of wealthy families. There are several two-level galleries in the catacombs.
Ad Decimum
The tomb was opened in 1905. These are 5 galleries at different levels.
Santi Gordiano ed Epimaco
Buried people of different religions. The catacombs are multi-level.

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- (Italian Catacombe di Roma) a network of ancient catacombs used as burial places, for the most part during the period of early Christianity. In total, there are more than 60 different catacombs in Rome (150,170 km long, about ... ... Wikipedia

- (Latin catacumba, Italian catacomba), underground tombs built by pagans, Jews, Christians and Saracens; they consisted of corridors and chambers (crypts) for burial. Christian catacombs are known in the vicinity of Rome, in Naples, on the islands ... ... Collier Encyclopedia

Catacombs of Rome (Italian: Catacombe di Roma) a network of ancient catacombs used as burial places, for the most part during the period of early Christianity. In total, there are more than 60 different catacombs in Rome (150,170 km long, about 750,000 ... ... Wikipedia

JESUS CHRIST- [Greek. ᾿Ιησοῦς Χριστός], the Son of God, God manifested in the flesh (1 Tim 3:16), who took upon Himself the sin of man, and through His sacrificial death made his salvation possible. In the NT He is called Christ or Messiah (Χριστός, Μεσσίας), Son (υἱός), Son… … Orthodox Encyclopedia

- ... Wikipedia

Good Shepherd, Catacombs of Priscilla Catacomb art is one of the most basic aspects of early Christian art, paintings of early Christian catacombs, mainly the catacombs of Rome ... Wikipedia

Capital of Italy. The city is located on the river. Tiber, whose ancient name Rumo or Rumon served as the basis for the formation of the name Rome (Italian Roma). It is assumed that the name of the river is associated with the name of one of the ancient Etruscan tribes ... ... Geographic Encyclopedia

This term has other meanings, see Mother of God (meanings). Mary (dr. Hebrew מרים Miryam) ... Wikipedia

- "The Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God" is the most revered image of the Mother of God in Russia. Byzantium. 12th century Theotokos (Our Lady, Greek Θεοτόκος), Virgin Mary (lat. Virgo Maria) in the Christian and Islamic tradition, the mother of Jesus Christ, one of the most ... ... Wikipedia

Books

Akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos in honor of the icon of Her Mammal-giver, Plyusnin A. (ed.). The text of the akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos, which is read in honor of her icon "The Mammal". This icon depicts the Mother of God feeding the baby Jesus. The most ancient images of this type ...

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Catacombs of Saint Callistus

These catacombs are the oldest and best preserved necropolis on the Appian Way, equipped at the end of the 2nd century BC. AD over a large area. After being elected to the papacy, Bishop Zephyrinus (199-217) summoned the deacon Kallistos to himself and appointed him the overseer of the cemetery. Having become a pontiff in his turn, he expanded the burial complex, which became the resting place of sixteen Roman popes of the III century (this part is called the "Pontifical crypt"). A steep staircase leads to the catacombs; passing through the "Pontifical Crypt", through a small passage you find yourself in the cubicle, where the tomb of St. Cecilia was discovered. On the walls, paintings of the 5th-6th centuries have been preserved, including the most ancient image of a praying saint.

After leaving this chamber, you can go down to the ossuary, which consists of several levels and reaches 4 meters in height, and then go through the tunnel, which opens the entrances to the "Cubicles of the Sacraments", named after the scenes of baptism and the Eucharist depicted on the walls. Then you can see the monumental "sarcophagus of Pope Miltiades", other departments - Saints Gaius and Eusebius, as well as Pope Liberius (352-366), where three inscriptions of that era and arched niches with burials (arcosols), decorated with murals with scenes of their Old and New Testament. And only after that you will find yourself at the original core of the entire structure - the "Crypt of Lucina". Here stands the sarcophagus of Pope Cornelius, decorated with paintings in the Byzantine style, and two frescoes are noteworthy on the walls: “The Good Shepherd and those praying”, as well as a painting depicting two baskets full of bread and a glass goblet filled with wine in the middle (symbols of the sacrament of the Eucharist) .

Catacombs of Priscilla

Of the vast territory of the necropolis that stretched around the Via Salaria, the catacombs of Priscilla are the best preserved. The original core of these ancient catacombs were burials of the end of the 2nd century BC. AD, which are dated by numerous inscriptions mentioning the names of Peter and Paul. They are named after the Roman Christian Priscilla, the mistress of this land, whose son, according to legend, gave shelter to St. Peter.

The oldest part is called the "Greek chapel" because of the two inscriptions in the Greek alphabet, made in red paint in the niches of the room, which was originally used as a shelter from the summer heat; probably there were even fountains and decor. The wall paintings depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments. In the III century. a second level was excavated, including a long main tunnel and more than twenty smaller tunnels on the sides. Another section appeared around the old core, where there is a fresco with the oldest image of the Madonna and Child that has come down to us. In the IV century. over the catacombs they built the basilica of St. Sylvester; its current building is mainly the result of reconstruction.

Catacombs of Saint Sebastian

These catacombs have four levels; they are located in a deep hollow, where pozzolan was mined - a building material that is a mixture of volcanic ash, pumice and tuff. Pagans still buried their dead here, and towards the end of the 2nd century. AD the necropolis became Christian and was consecrated in honor of Saints Peter and Paul. According to legend, the remains of the saints were hidden here before the basilicas were built in the Vatican and on the road to Ostia. Only in the 4th century, when Saint Sebastian was buried here (died in 298), did the catacombs get their current name.

According to legend, the young Roman legionnaire Sebastian preferred torture with arrows to renounce the Christian faith; he miraculously survived, and barely got stronger, again challenged the emperor Diocletian. He took him into custody and ordered Sebastian to be taken to the Palatine hippodrome, where he was beaten with sticks; the body of the martyr was thrown into the Great Cloaca. Soon he was picked up by the Christian Lukina, to whom the saint appeared in a dream; it was she who transported the remains to the catacombs.

Catacombs of Saint Domitilla

These are one of the largest Roman catacombs, the original core of which was a series of burials in plots owned by Flavia Domitilla - the niece of the consul Titus Flavius Clement (died in 95 AD) and a relative of the emperor Vespasian - and presented to her by her freed slaves.

Catacombs of Pontian

It is assumed that the catacombs of Ponziana are named after the owner of the land. Burials here reached their maximum area in the 4th century BC. Saints Abdon and Sennen are buried here - freed slaves from Persia, who converted to Christianity and were killed in the Roman amphitheater, as well as other holy martyrs. There are murals of the 6th-7th centuries. and a room serving as a baptistery.

Jewish Catacombs of Vigna Randanini

These catacombs are privately owned and protected by the Roman Archaeological Authority. They were discovered in 1859 and are one of the best examples of such structures in the city. The Jewish community in Rome was formed already in the II century. BC, and became especially numerous in the era of the empire. The entrance to the catacombs is a spacious rectangular hall (originally without a roof, and then divided into two parts and covered with a vault - it was probably used as a synagogue). Below you can see graves dug out in the floor, burial niches walled up with bricks, arched niches with sarcophagi and traditional multi-level burials "kohim" of Phoenician origin. Some of the cubes contain paintings with floral ornaments and images of animals, as well as elements of traditional Jewish iconography (such as the Ark of the Covenant and the menorah lamp of seven candles); but there are no inscriptions in Hebrew here. The catacombs reached their maximum length in the III-IV centuries. AD

Catacombs of Saints Peter and Marcellinus

The sources call this complex "between two laurels" ("inter duas lauros") - that is how this area was once called. It includes the catacombs of Peter and Marcellinus, the basilica of the same name and the mausoleum of St. Helena (aka the mausoleum of Tor Piñattara). The entrance to the catacombs is located in the courtyard of the basilica. Initially, the crypt where the saints were buried consisted of two simple niches; in the 4th century Pope Damasius (366-384) - the legend says that their executioner personally told him about the martyrdom of Peter and Marcellinus - he ordered them to be decorated with monumental marble decor. An entrance staircase was built and a mandatory inspection route for pilgrims was equipped, passing through both the ground and underground parts. The bodies of the saints remained in the crypt until the ascension to the papacy of Gregory IV in 826, when they were transferred first to France and then to Germany.

Numerous inscriptions scratched on the walls of a small apse and tunnels leading to the graves of saints vividly testify to the popularity of this place among believers: here you can see prayers written not only in Latin, but also in runes (there were many Celts and Germans among the pilgrims). The walls of the catacombs are covered with paintings on biblical scenes (pay attention to the scene of the Epiphany with two figures of the Magi), and in terms of area they are the third in Rome.

Pope Honorius I (625-638) ordered the construction of a small underground basilica with an apse, capable of accommodating more and more pilgrims, and doubled the entrance staircase to the basilica, after which he consecrated the altar, installed directly above the two burials. In the V-VII centuries. here appears a new sanctuary in honor of the four crowned martyrs (Claudius, Kastorius, Simpronian and Nicostratus), connected to the original core of the complex by one-way corridors and skylights; to facilitate the movement of pilgrims, the entrances to secondary tunnels and cubicles were blocked, new stairs were built. The complex was expanded for the last time under Pope Adrian I (772-795).

Catacombs of Saint Agnes

The catacombs are part of a monumental complex that also includes the Basilica of Sant'Agnese Fuori le Mura and the mausoleum of St. Constance (Constantine), erected in the 4th century, the resting place of the daughters of Emperor Constantine the Great - Constantine and Helena. Tunnels of extensive catacombs stretched under the building of the basilica and covered neighboring areas; numerous inscriptions found there by archaeologists testify with all certainty that underground passages and rooms were dug even before St. Agnes was buried here. Scientists stumbled upon these catacombs by accident in 1865. There are no paintings here, and the space is divided into three levels and four departments. The oldest department is to the left of the basilica; the cubicle here is littered with a massive stone, as in Jewish burials. The fourth department is located directly under the portico of the original building of the church.

I already wrote earlier why I consider visiting the catacombs vital, worthy and correct, all-praised and so on. an event in the life of a Christian (could you really forget this speech? Well then, here you are:) So in Rome, there are more than 60 early Christian catacombs known to archaeologists in Rome. Only five are open for visiting so far:
1. catacombs of San Callisto (old Appian Way - via Appa Antica)
2. Catacombs of San Sebastiano (ibid.)
3. Catacombs of Domitilla (the area of the previous two)
4. catacombs of Sant'Agnese (via Nomentana)
5. Catacombs of Priscilla

The most advertised and promoted are San Callisto. Tourist buses constantly arrive there, there you have to wait a long time for your turn. There are the most incompetent excursions: the group follows the group; being in one cubicle, you listen to a couple more guides in neighboring cubicles.
The most "historical" are San Sebastiano. Unlike the other catacombs, these were always known, they were visited by all the celebrities who were in Rome. There are also many tourists there, but the guides are more gradual, they even allow themselves to answer visitors' questions. And the route is more interesting: there are many narrow winding corridors, electricity is saved, so that a pleasant cemetery twilight reigns in the side galleries.
I can’t say anything about the catacombs of Domitilla. I visit Rome in January, and it is in this month that these catacombs are closed.
The most uninteresting - Sant'Agnese. No frescoes, no inscriptions - long corridors with blackening niches. In no case should you start your acquaintance with the world of the catacombs from Sant'Agnese - you will be disappointed.
Well, let's start with the most difficult. Only connoisseurs of Rome and sophisticated aesthetes get to the catacombs of Priscilla (well, you understand, I'm talking about myself). Organized tourists are not taken there, you can’t walk there on your own. In general, only for you, dear reader, I will reveal the great secret of these catacombs.
How to get there? Buses 86 and 92 from Termini. Get off at the Piazza Crati stop. Please note: this is not the final one, and you need to follow the route so as not to pass. The general direction is this: the bus leaves for the Aurelian walls, writes out incomprehensible pretzels and eventually leaves for via Po. Further on, this street changes its name several times (via Tagliamento, via Sebino, via Nemorense), but remains relatively straight. At the same time, look at the Roman buildings of the Art Nouveau era. At a certain moment, a garden appears on the right side of the street - Parco Virgiliano, and this is a sign - a tourist, be ready! The end of this park is Piazza Krati. Another important sign is the permanent vegetable market on the square. In the far left corner of the square, a curve departs from it, like a mug after a bee sting, the street via Priscilla. There are already signs to the catacombs. Entrance to them - from via Salaria (via Salaria)
When are they open? As of January 2011: all days except Mondays from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and 2:30 pm to 5:00 pm. There are really few people here. Therefore, you either have to wait for another madman who wants to see the catacombs, or catch up with the group that has gone underground. But more on that next time.