- (Italian: Catacombe di Roma) a network of ancient catacombs used as burial places, mostly during the period of early Christianity. In total, Rome has more than 60 different catacombs (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's Encyclopedia
The Catacombs of Rome (Italian: Catacombe di Roma) is a network of ancient catacombs used as burial places, mostly during the early Christian period. In total, Rome has more than 60 different catacombs (150,170 km long, about 750,000... ... Wikipedia
JESUS CHRIST- [Greek ᾿Ιησοῦς Χριστός], the Son of God, God who appeared in the flesh (1 Tim. 3.16), who took upon himself the sin of man, making his salvation possible by His sacrificial death. In the NT He is called Christ, or Messiah (Χριστός, Μεσσίας), Son (υἱός), Son... ... Orthodox Encyclopedia
- ... Wikipedia
Good Shepherd, Priscilla's Catacombs 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, the ancient name of which 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... ... Geographical encyclopedia
This term has other meanings, see Mother of God (meanings). Mary (Heb. מרים Miryam) ... Wikipedia
- “Vladimir Icon of the Mother of God” is the most revered image of the Mother of God in Rus'. Byzantium. XII century Theotokos (Mother of God, Greek Θεοτόκος), Virgin Mary (Latin 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, Plyusnin A. (ed.). The text of the akathist to the Most Holy Theotokos, which is read in honor of her Mammal icon. This icon depicts the Mother of God nursing the baby Jesus. The oldest images of this type...
Catacombs of Saint Callistus
These catacombs are the oldest and best preserved necropolis on the Appian Way, built at the end of the 2nd century. AD on a large plot of land. After his election to the papal throne, Bishop Zephyrinus (199-217) summoned Deacon Callistus and appointed him caretaker of the cemetery. After becoming pontiff, he expanded the funerary complex, which became the resting place of sixteen third-century popes (this part is called the “Papal Crypt”). A steep staircase leads into the catacombs; After passing through the “Papal Crypt”, through a small passage you enter the cubicula where the tomb of St. Cecilia was discovered. Paintings from the 5th-6th centuries have been preserved on the walls, including the oldest image of a praying saint.
After leaving this chamber, you can go down into the ossuary, which consists of several levels and reaches 4 meters in height, and then walk through a tunnel in which the entrances to the “Cubicles of the Sacraments” open, named after the scenes of baptism and the Eucharist depicted on the walls. Next you can examine the monumental “sarcophagus of Pope Miltiades”, other sections - Saints Gaius and Eusebius, as well as Pope Liberius (352-366), where three inscriptions of that era and arched niches with burials (arcosolia), decorated with paintings with scenes of them, have been preserved Old and New Testaments. And only after this you will find yourself at the original core of the entire structure - the “Crypts of Lucina”. Here stands the sarcophagus of Pope Cornelius, decorated with paintings in the Byzantine style, and on the walls there are two notable frescoes: “The Good Shepherd and the Prayers”, 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 entire vast territory of the necropolis, which stretched around Via Salaria, the catacombs of Priscilla are the best preserved. The original core of these ancient catacombs were burials from the end of the 2nd century. AD, which are dated by numerous inscriptions mentioning the names of Peter and Paul. They are named after the Roman Christian Priscilla, the owner of this plot of land, whose son, according to legend, gave shelter to Saint Peter.
The oldest part is called the "Greek Chapel" because of 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; there were probably even fountains and decorations. The paintings on the walls depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments. In the 3rd century. a second level was excavated, including a long main tunnel and more than twenty small tunnels on the sides. Around the old core, another section appeared, where there is a fresco with the oldest image of the Madonna and Child that has reached us. In the 4th century. the Basilica of St. Sylvester was built above the catacombs; 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 - building material, which is a mixture of volcanic ash, pumice and tuff. Pagans also 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, it was here that the remains of saints were hidden 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 receive their current name.
According to legend, the young Roman legionnaire Sebastian preferred torture with arrows to renunciation of the Christian faith; He miraculously survived, and barely recovered, he again challenged 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 woman 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 among the largest Roman catacombs, the original core of which was a series of burials in plots owned by Flavia Domitilla - niece of the consul Titus Flavius Clement (died 95 AD) and a relative of the Emperor Vespasian - and given to her to her freed slaves.
Catacombs of Pontian
© Wikimedia Commons
It is assumed that the catacombs of Pontian are named after the owner of the land. Burials here reached their maximum area in the 4th century. 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 paintings from 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 2nd century. BC, and became especially numerous during the era of the empire. The entrance to the catacombs is a spacious rectangular hall (originally roofless, then divided into two parts and covered with a vault - probably used as a synagogue). Below you can see graves dug into the floor, burial niches walled with bricks, arched niches with sarcophagi and traditional multi-level burials "kohim" of Phoenician origin. Some cubiculas contain paintings with floral designs and animal images, as well as elements of traditional Jewish iconography (such as the Ark of the Covenant and the seven-branched menorah); but there are no inscriptions in Hebrew here. The catacombs reached their maximum extent in the 3rd-4th centuries. AD
Catacombs of Saints Peter and Marcellinus
© laboratorio104.it
This complex of springs is called “between two laurels” (“inter duas lauros”) - this is what 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 (also known as the Mausoleum of Tor Pignattara). The entrance to the catacombs is in the courtyard of the basilica. Originally, the crypt where the saints were buried consisted of two simple niches; in the 4th century Pope Damasius (366-384) - legend says that their executioner personally told him about the martyrdom of Peter and Marcellinus - ordered them to be decorated with monumental marble decoration. An entrance staircase was built and a mandatory viewing route for pilgrims was equipped, which passed both above and underground. The bodies of the saints remained in the crypt until the accession of Gregory IV to the papal throne in 826, when they were transported first to France and then to Germany.
Numerous inscriptions scrawled on the walls of the small apse and the tunnels leading to the tombs of the 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 (among the pilgrims there were many Celts and Germans). The walls of the catacombs are covered with paintings of biblical scenes (note the scene of the Epiphany with two figures of the Magi), and they are the third largest in Rome in terms of area.
Pope Honorius I (625-638) ordered the construction of a small underground basilica with an apse, capable of accommodating the increasingly numerous pilgrims, and the doubling of the entrance staircase to the basilica, after which he consecrated an altar installed directly above the two burials. In the V-VII centuries. here a new sanctuary appears in honor of the four crowned martyrs (Claudius, Castorius, 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, and new staircases 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 Saint Constance (Constantina), built in the 4th century, the resting place of the daughters of Emperor Constantine the Great - Constantina and Helena. The tunnels of vast catacombs stretch under the basilica building and cover the neighboring areas; Numerous inscriptions discovered there by archaeologists testify with certainty that underground passages and rooms were dug even before St. Agnes was buried here. Scientists stumbled upon these catacombs by chance in 1865. There are no paintings here, and the space is divided into three levels and four sections. The most ancient section is to the left of the basilica; The cubicula here is filled with massive stone, as in Jewish burials. The fourth section is located directly under the portico of the original church building.
I have already written earlier why I consider visiting the catacombs vital, worthy and correct, universally praised, and so on. event in the life of a Christian (could you really forget this speech? Well then, here you go:) So in Rome, there are more than 60 early Christian catacombs known to archaeologists in Rome. Only five are open to the public so far:
1. catacombs of San Callisto (old Appian Way - via Appa Antica)
2. Catacombs of San Sebastiano (ibid.)
3. Catacombs of Domitilla (area of the previous two)
4. Catacombs of Sant'Agnese (via Nomentana)
5. Catacombs of Priscilla
The most advertised and promoted is San Callisto. Tourist buses constantly arrive there, and you have to wait a long time for your turn. There are also the most mediocre excursions: group follows group; being in one cubicle, you listen to a couple more guides in neighboring cubicles.
The most “historical” ones are San Sebastiano. Unlike other catacombs, these were always known, they were visited by all the celebrities who were in Rome. There are also a lot of 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 during this month that these catacombs are closed.
The most uninteresting are Sant'Agnese. No frescoes, no inscriptions - long corridors with blackened niches. Under no circumstances should you begin your acquaintance with the world of the catacombs from Sant'Agnese - you will be disappointed.
Well, let's start with the most difficult one. Only connoisseurs of Rome and sophisticated aesthetes get to Priscilla’s catacombs (well, you know, I’m talking about myself). They don’t take organized tourists there; you can’t get 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 end, and you need to follow the route so as not to miss it. The general direction is this: the bus leaves 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, take a look at the Roman buildings of the Art Nouveau era. At a certain moment right side a garden appears on the street - Parco Virgiliano, and this is a sign - tourist, be prepared! The end of this park is Piazza Crati. Another important sign is a permanent vegetable market on the square. In the far left corner of the square, a curved street, like a face after a bee sting, departs from it, Via Priscilla. There are already signs to the catacombs. The entrance to them is from via Salaria
When are they open? As of January 2011: all days except Mondays, from 8:30 to 12:00 and 14:30 to 17:00. There really aren't many people here. Therefore, you will 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.
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 entirely true. In fact, the concept of a catacomb appeared hundreds of years ago: in ancient times, this was the name given to underground galleries that were used to bury the dead, and there were also small chapels where religious ceremonies were performed.
The first Roman catacombs were discovered back in the 16th century. Today 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 in several levels. On both sides of the main passages there are so-called cubiculas, 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 passages, 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 one by a narrow passage.
One of the largest such cubiculas has more than seventy graves located in several rows.
With the advent of Christianity, the custom of burying the dead in 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 on religious grounds was stopped and the first Christian churches, in the catacombs the tradition of performing the liturgy and venerating the relics of saints became widespread.
In addition to the cubicula, so-called hypogeums were found in the Roman catacombs, the purpose of which still remains unknown, as well as small rooms for funeral meals and wide halls for holding all kinds of meetings.
Decline and desolation of the catacombs
Beginning in the 5th century, almost all of Rome's catacombs were closed to burials. The underground galleries became a place of mass pilgrimage; here were the 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 a valuable source of information for historians and archaeologists.
In the middle of the 6th century, the first opening of tombs was carried out in the Roman catacombs. The relics of saints removed 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 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.
Due to 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 ravaged, and some were destroyed over time.
Research and excavations in the catacombs
Interest in the catacombs arose at the beginning of the 16th century. Then the librarian of the Roman Church, who had the opportunity to study early Christian manuscripts, began to study the ancient burials.
In 1578, as a result construction work on Via Salaria, marble slabs with ancient inscriptions and images from the cemeterium Jordanorum ad S. Alexandrorum were found, although it was initially assumed that these were the catacombs of St. Priscilla. Subsequent excavations led to the collapse of the necropolis premises and it was decided to suspend the work.
Later, Antonio Bosio began researching ancient burials, who discovered 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 St. 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 focused not only on the history of the formation of the catacombs and burials, but also on the discovered frescoes.
Roman catacombs today
Today in Rome, or more precisely in its depths, 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 from the 2nd-4th centuries. Of particular interest are the well-preserved frescoes, the Papal Cubicula, 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 ones, there are also pagan burials, as well as an entire crypt decorated with inscriptions in Greek.
Catacombs of Domitilla
The catacombs are formed from several pagan family crypts believed to have belonged to the imperial Flavian dynasty. By the end of the 4th century, the underground burials were already the largest necropolis, consisting of four levels, each of which had a height of 5 meters. Today, the Catacombs of Domitilla are the largest underground cemetery in Rome.
The territory where the catacombs are located in ancient times belonged to a certain Flavia Domitilla, as evidenced by discovered epigraphs and ancient documents. There were two women with this name in the 1st century: the first was the wife of the Roman consul of 95 Titus Flavius Clement (the 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 Achilleus and Nereus. Here, according to ancient documentary sources, lie the remains of Saint Petronilla, the daughter (most likely spiritual) of the Apostle Peter.
Catacombs of Saints Marcellino and Pietro
The Roman catacombs, dedicated to the martyrs Marcellino and Pietro, for a long time kept the tombs of the Christian saints whose names they bear. The saints were beheaded by order of Emperor Diocletian in 304 and buried in pits that Marcellino and Pietro dug with their own hands before their execution.
The catacombs of Marcellino and Pietro, together with the basilica of the same name, the mausoleum of Helen and the remains of the cemetery of the imperial horse bodyguards Equites singulares, form a single complex, known since ancient times as “Ad duas lauros”. Burials in these catacombs have been carried out since the 2nd century. Today, the underground cemetery occupies an area of about 18,000 sq.m. and contains a huge number of burials, the exact number of which is difficult to determine. 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 transition. It is believed that this is where the apostles Peter and Paul were buried.
Catacombs of Saint Pancras
The Catacombs of Saint Pancras, also known as the Catacombs of Ottavilla, 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 and 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 Saint Pantcratius, Faith, Hope, Love and their mother Sophia, revered in christian church in the face of martyrs.
Catacombs of Ponziano
Another Roman catacombs that deserve interest are located along Via Portuense, in the dungeons of 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 refuge to Pope Calixtus I.
The catacombs, which consisted of several levels of underground galleries, also had a ground necropolis. To date, most of the Poniziano catacombs in Rome have not been studied and only one level, dating from the end of the 3rd to the beginning of the 4th century, is accessible and not dangerous.
One of the most interesting rooms 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), are the 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 pozzolan mine, converted for funeral needs. There is also a small underground basilica dedicated to the martyrs Felix and Adauctus, who suffered under Diocletian. High artistic interest have frescoes by cubicolo di Leone. The burial chamber of an influential Roman military leader 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 on the territory of the Sant Agnese Fuori le Mura complex, in the modern quarter of Trieste. The catacombs are dedicated to Saint Agnes, the only Christian martyr buried here about whom documentary evidence has survived. Most of the burials date back to the 3rd-4th centuries.
There are over 60 catacombs in Rome. This is a system of underground passages, often reminiscent of labyrinths. The wall frescoes in the catacombs are optimistic and filled with belief in resurrection. Peace and tranquility reign here.
Roman catacombs - ancient 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 arose 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 first 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 built prayer houses and burial chambers, dug new labyrinths, expanded existing corridors, and 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 cavity, then the tombs were walled up with bricks and stone slabs. Exits and ventilation shafts opened from the dungeons onto the streets of Rome.
Since 312, by the will of Emperor Constantine, Christianity was declared a legal religion, and persecution of believers ceased. The catacombs became official and revered burial grounds. 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
Agape - “Meal of Love”, which Christians held in the catacombs in memory of the Gospel Last Supper, and where they celebrated 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. Aristocrat Priscilla of Rome came from the family of consul Aquilius Glabrio, who owned vast lands on which an underground cemetery was formed.
These catacombs were not plundered by 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 (the 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 Priscilla's catacombs is considered to be Cappella Greca - a room with benches for funeral meals, with Greek inscriptions on the walls.
Il Cubicolo della Velata, photo Martin Conde
There is in the catacombs the “Room of the Veiled Woman” (Il Cubicolo della Velata), famous for its fresco depicting a praying young woman in a purple dress and a white veil. Scenes from her life are depicted nearby, and above her head is the Garden of Eden. Image of the second half of the 2nd century. and is in good condition.
How to get there
The entrance to Priscilla's catacombs is located at Via Salaria, 430. It is located next to the Villa Ada park.
Take bus 92 or 310 from Termini station to the Piazza Crati stop.
from Piazza Venezia take bus 63 also to Piazza Crati.
Then go along via di Priscilla, following the sign.
Opening 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 Priscilla's catacombs on the website.
Catacombs of Saint Callistus
Entrance to the catacombs of St. Callistus, photo kiwioutthere
The largest and most famous underground Christian burial ground in Rome is the catacombs of St. Callisto (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 in the area 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 united in the dungeons of San Callisto. It has its own streets, squares, and intersections.
In the underground square “Little Vatican”, 9 popes who led the church in the 3rd century rested (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 San Callisto's underground corridors accessible today is about 20 kilometers. Archaeological research has been carried out since the mid-19th century, but not all burials have been discovered yet.
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:
- by metro A (direction Anagnina) or by bus 714 (direction Palazzo Sport) to Piazza di S. Giovanni in Laterano. Then take bus 218 to the Fosse Ardeatine stop;
- 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.
Opening 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 menorah from the Jewish catacombs, photo Marie-Lan Nguyen
The Jewish catacombs are considered the predecessors of the Christian ones. They appeared around the 1st century. BC e. The difference between Jewish catacombs and Christian ones is that first there were separate crypts, and then they were connected by corridors. Their walls are painted with frescoes depicting a menorah, flowers, animals, and scenes from Old Testament No.
Famous Jewish catacombs
- Burials under Villa Torlonia
Underground burials of Jews of the 3rd-4th centuries. Mussolini used the villa as his residence. During World War II, a bunker was located in the catacombs. - Vigna Apolloni
Funeral ceremonies were held in small rooms, on the walls of which paintings were preserved. There are inscriptions in Greek and Latin; There are almost no religious images in Hebrew. - Vigna Cimarra
Vaulted niches, Jewish-themed paintings and Hebrew inscriptions distinguish this burial site. 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. There are paintings on the ceilings. - Monteverde
The inscriptions on the walls, made in 300 years in Italian square script, tell the story of 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 Gnostic sect.
Famous syncretic catacombs:
- Underground basilica near Termini Station
Discovered in 1917. In the 1st century BC. e. it was used as a meeting place for the Neopythagoreans. Known for plaster bas-reliefs. - Hypogeum of the Aurelians
Underground tunnels opened in 1919. There are frescoes on the walls and mosaics on the floor. Initially the catacombs were two-story. The upper, spacious hall overlooked the surface. Lower - several mirrored rooms went underground. - Hypogeum of Trebius Justus
In the catacombs, frescoes on religious themes and symbolic paintings are well preserved. - Hypogeum of Vibia
Catacombs on the territory of Villa Casali. These are 8 underground rooms, decorated with frescoes depicting Jupiter, Sabathius, Hermes, Psychopomp, animals and scenes from religious books.
Catacombs on Via Latina (Catacomba di Dino Compagni)
Catacombs of Santi Gordiano ed Epimaco, photo sconosciuto
The catacombs were found in 1955. These are rich private burial grounds. Perhaps both pagans and Christians were buried in them (about 400 burials). The wall paintings depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments in new iconography.
Famous catacombs:
- Aproniano
Excavations are still underway. A pagan and representatives of the early Christian faith were buried. - Burials on Via Latina
1000 graves found in 1955. During the construction of railway lines, many were destroyed. - Hypogeum of Cava della rossa
Burials of members of wealthy families. The catacombs have several two-level galleries. - Ad Decimum
The tomb was opened in 1905. These are 5 galleries on different levels. - Santi Gordiano ed Epimaco
People of different religions are buried. The catacombs are multi-level.
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