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, 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 pagan times. 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 began to be built, the tradition of performing the liturgy and venerating the relics of saints spread in the catacombs.
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 of 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 the Christian Church as martyrs, were buried in the catacombs bearing his name.
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 late 3rd to early 4th centuries, 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. The frescoes of the cubicolo di Leone are of high artistic interest. 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.
The Catacombs of Priscilla are located on Via Salaria near the Villa Ada park. These are Christian and pagan underground burials of the 2nd-4th centuries. in Rome, consisting of two levels and representing labyrinths. The catacombs are interesting for their paintings, which are not inferior to the best examples of later religious art. Today, the Catacombs of Priscilla are an open and protected cultural monument, which is visited every year by many tourists and pilgrims from all over the world.
History of origin
These dungeons were named after Priscilla, a resident of Rome from the family of the consul Aquilia Glabria. In the 1st century AD, this family owned large lands, and subsequently catacombs were formed on them. At the very beginning of the development of Christianity, these catacombs were used as burial places and were considered sacred. In the walls of the burial dungeon, rectangular recesses of different sizes were made, often for one deceased person, less often for two or more. Some sources say that many believers, including Priscilla, who were executed for their religious views are buried here. Catacomb cemeteries were usually served by funeral ceremonies, artels of gravediggers, and it is possible that they lived there at that time. In other rooms, the community gathered for liturgy, commemoration of the dead and shared meals. Since the church was persecuted in the first centuries of Christianity, Christians often set up prayer places in the dungeon, which were marked with appropriate drawings. It is here that examples of the earliest Christian fine art have been preserved. Since at the beginning of the 5th century Christianity was recognized as the state religion, the catacombs began to empty. Sarcophagi, sculptures and reliefs, as well as the remains of the deceased, were transferred to newly built churches, museums, and basilicas.
Architecture
II - IV centuries are noted as the period of the catacombs. Various religious rituals took place in these dungeons, and this eventually determined the theme of catacomb painting, where the main themes were resurrections from the dead, images of saints and episodes from the Holy Scriptures. It was in the catacombs of Priscilla that the earliest known image of the Virgin Mary was preserved holding a baby in her arms, and next to her stands a prophet pointing to a brightly glowing star in the night sky. There is a room in the gallery that attracts attention - this is the “room of a woman in a white veil.” On the fresco located here, the main figure is a young woman in a red dress and a white veil on her head, and episodes from her life are also depicted here. This painting dates from the second half of the third century and is in good condition. There is also a large Greek burial site in Priscilla's catacombs. This revered place is called the Greek Chapel; inscriptions in the Greek language are preserved on its walls. At that time, funeral meals were held here, held by members of the community after the funeral of their brothers. This is indicated by the long bench on which the Christians sat, as well as various frescoes that decorate the walls. Here you can see the famous images of “The Christian Woman” and “The Last Supper”, and other episodes from the Old Testament.
Neighborhood
Above the underground structure is the Basilica of St. Silvestrio, which was consecrated by one of the Popes.
Note to tourists
The Catacombs of Priscilla in Rome are open every day except Monday from 8:30 - 12:00 and from 14:30 - 17:00. Entrance ticket for an adult is 8 euros, for a child aged 7-15 years 5 euros.
Address: Via Salaria, 430 (Via Salaria, 430)
Tel. +39 06 8620 6272
www.catacombepriscilla.com/
The nearest metro station is Libia (about 1.1 km on foot), but visitors are advised to travel from Termini by buses 86 and 92 to Piazza Crati.
Google Maps captures Priscilla's Catacombs
The Catacombs of Priscilla or "Queen of the Catacombs" is a former Christian cemetery where the ashes of 7 popes from late antiquity and many early Christian martyrs who died for their faith rest. The name of the catacombs comes from Priscilla, the wife of the consul Acilius from the patrician family of Acilia, who was killed by Emperor Domitian for her Christian beliefs. The catacombs were graves for Christians, as well as places for their worship. You could only get here if you knew the secret password: “Christ is Risen.” The answer was “He is risen indeed.” By the way, this tradition is still preserved in many monasteries in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Greek Chapel or Greek Chapel still retains its third-century moldings. Today tourists can enter the catacombs through the cloister of the Benedictine monastery of Priscilla.
During the persecutions of the 3rd and 4th centuries, the bodies of numerous martyrs were kept in the catacombs (among them the Pope, Marcellinus or Marcelino), and then six other popes. Priscilla's catacombs reach 35 meters in depth and occupy three levels. In general, the catacombs contain about 40 thousand burials. They were abandoned in the 5th century and subsequently plundered during barbarian invasions. Priscilla's catacombs were long forgotten and were only rediscovered and appreciated centuries later.
Velata's room
The room dates back to the third century and takes its name from a fresco, a very well preserved brunette, representing a woman in a position of prayer with her hands clasped upward. The woman is probably buried here, and other important moments in her life are also depicted: marriage and the birth of a child. At other times, the rooms are decorated with frescoes of Old Testament episodes (the rescue of the three young Hebrews from the fire, Abraham and Isaac, and the rescue of Jonah from the monster) to symbolize salvation through the Atonement. In the center of the ceiling is a fresco of the Good Shepherd with a sheep on his shoulders.
Greek chapel
The chapel consists of rooms divided by an arch and richly decorated with Pompeian paintings dating from the 2nd century, faux marble and stucco. His images, often well preserved, represent several episodes from the Old and New Testaments. Of particular interest are the Adoration of the Magi, the Resurrection of Lazarus and the healing of the disabled man, which are among the most ancient ideas we have about these episodes. The fresco cycle also includes images of the Old Testament (Daniel among the lions, Susanna being threatened by the elders, three young Jews in the oven, Moses beating water from a rock), and a presentation of the Eucharist (Fractio Panis), with the participation of some men and women.
Madonna
On the ceiling of the niche that contained the venerated tomb of, perhaps, a martyr, there is a plaster painting with a painted Madonna, the Child sitting on her lap, and next to her the prophet Balaam pointing to a star. The style of the data and the location (in the initial part of the cemetery) is explained by the dating of the painting to the third century, so it is believed that this painting was made after the Adoration of the Magi in a Greek chapel. This is one of the first such images, but the style is very familiar to us.
Basilica and monastery
A basilica was built over the catacombs of Pope Sylvester I in the fourth century, which gradually collapsed and was therefore forgotten. His remains were found in 1890, and in 1906 construction began on the ancient walls to protect the site, creating a new basilica based on the previous one. The current entrance to the catacombs is in the House of the Priscilla Catacombs, built in 1929 and home to the Benedictine Sisters of Priscilla, who care for the site.
Catacombs of Rome - ancient underground labyrinths-necropolises, in which pagans and early Christians buried their dead.The cities of the dead can tell the living a lot, because they experienced virtually no outside influences for centuries, while the city of the living (Rome) was repeatedly rebuilt and changed its appearance.
There are more than 60 catacombs in the vicinity of Rome, but this article will focus onthe longest and most significant– those located on the Appian Way, built in the pre-Christian era. The catacombs will introduce you to the early morning(II-V centuries AD) and will be taken back to the times of the first popes, starting with the Apostle Peter, when this religion was just beginning to conquer minds and hearts and acquired its own artistic language.
1. What can be seen in the catacombs / Why is it worth visiting 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 on burials within Rome was introduced, arose tradition of burying the dead outside the city. The Roman nobility built magnificent tombs for themselves - mausoleums and columbariums (storage of urns with ashes), which can still be seen today, for example, along.
For the rest who couldn't afford to myself a separate tomb on the surface of the earth was given to the underworld. There is a hypothesis that caves and tunnels of quarries were used for burials, in which soft stone tuff (travertine) was mined. Roman buildings such as the Colosseum were built from it. It’s symbolic, isn’t it, that this stone haunted the Romans both during life and after death.
Beginning in the 2nd century AD, the first Christians began burying their dead, including martyrs and saints persecuted and executed by pagan emperors, in catacombs. So Entire underground cities - necropolises - grew up next to Rome, where both Christians and pagans found eternal rest, about 500,000 people in total.
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 most of the deceased (both pagans and Christians) were kept. The remains of saints and martyrs were awarded a separate tomb with an opening 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 liturgy A visit to the catacombs will allow you to touch the origins of modern Christian Rome and, the center of the Catholic world, and learn more about the history of Christianity. The first services were held in the catacombs on the tombs of martyrs (the Christian tradition of celebrating the liturgy on the relics of saints originates from here), and the walls and ceilings of the tunnels were decorated with frescoes.
I pagan and secular drawings here coexist 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, chrysmas (monogram of the name of Christ, which consists of two initial Greek letters chi and rho). Thus, in the catacombscan see some of the first evidence of artistic understanding of the image of Jesus Christ and the entire Christian teaching.
Cubicles (literally “rest”) are small chambers located on the sides of the main passages. The cubicles housed the burials of several people; they often served as family crypts The first Christians were persecuted by the Roman state as lese majeste (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 persecution, at least for a long time, since 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 the religious beliefs of the deceased, were considered protected and inviolable.
In any case, the catacombs were used by early Christians not only for burials (many Christians wanted to be buried next to martyrs and saints), but also for worship and prayer at a time when Christianity was banned by pagan emperors.
In the 5th century, burials in the catacombs ceased, but from this period they gained popularity among pilgrims who wanted to pray at the graves of 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 such films as “Mama Roma”, “The Great Beauty” and the television series “Rome” were filmed in the park.
Along the Appian Way there are both mausoleums and columbariums of the Roman nobility, and the most extensive catacombs in 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: catacombs of St. Callisto, catacombs of St. Sebastiano, catacombs of St. Domitilla. Visits to the catacombs are carried out in organized groups. The guide, as a rule, is a priest or monk who has a good knowledge of history and understands the symbolism of these underground early Christian necropolises.
The catacombs of Saint Callistus, the catacombs of Saint Domitilla and the catacombs of Saint Sebastian are located close to each other, so it is possible to visit them in one go. Plan your day carefully using the catacomb opening times if you want to visit all three attractions in one trip.
How to get to the catacombs on the Appian Way by public transport?
Bus ROMA ATAC:
- No. 660 from Colli Albani metro station (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. Callisto (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 most ancient and extensive (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 subsequently Pope Callistus, who in the 3rd century AD. They were significantly expanded and improved.
The underground necropolis includes several significant areas consisting of crypts and cubicules. Crypt of the Popes– the most important and revered crypt of the cemetery, called the “little Vatican” because it was the official burial place of nine popes and possibly eight high-ranking officials of the Roman Church in the 3rd century.
IN Crypt of Saint Cecilia, patroness of church music, died a martyr, her remains were kept for several centuries until, in 821, they were given to the church in Trastevere, built in her honor.
The statue of St. Cecilia is a copy of the famous work done by Stefano Maderno in 1599 Near the crypt of the popes are cubes of the Sacraments– 5 small rooms serving 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.
Cubes of the Mysteries Address: Via Appia Antica 110/126
Working hours: 9.00 - 12.00, 14.00 - 17.00. Closed on Wednesdays, December 25, January 1, Easter Sunday. The Catacombs of San Callisto will be closed from January 25 to February 21, 2018.
Price: adults – 8 €, children from 7 to 15 years – 5 €, free for children under 6 years old. The price includes a visit with a guide.
4. Catacombs of Saint Sebastian
These catacombs are named after Saint Sebastian,a Roman legionnaire who professed Christianity and accepted martyrdom. The Romans did not use the word “catacombs” in the modern sense; their cemeteries and burial places were called “cemeterium” (tomb). Tomb of Saint Sebastian was in a place called ad catacumbas, which means “near the depressions (pits)” - due to tuff (travertine) mines, which was used to construct Roman buildings. Since then, the custom began to call underground burials catacombs.
At the entrance to the catacombs there is a room called the triclia. Many scientists believe that it was here that the remains of the apostles Peter and Paul were temporarily located (you can learn more about them on our quest), as evidenced by symbols and inscriptions, dedicated 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 part of the antique column there is a bust of St. Sebastian by Bernini.
Address: Via Appia Antica, 136
Working hours: 10:00 – 17:00. Closed on Sundays, 25 December and 1 January.
Price: adults - 8 €, children from 7 to 15 years old - 5 euros, free for children under 6 years old. The price includes a visit with a guide.
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 burials, dating back to the 2nd-5th centuries AD. The catacombs are located under the Roman Basilica of Saints Nereus and Achileus, on the site of the family burial of the Flavians (the Roman imperial dynasty, which began the construction of the Colosseum, also called the Flavian Amphitheater).
An amazing phenomenon peculiar to Rome is the hidden “Eternal City”, walled underground since the times of the Roman Empire. Countless buildings and basilicas in the city are built on the foundations of palaces and temples of Ancient Rome. When buildings literally went underground, were absorbed by the cultural layer and destroyed (as a result of a fire or earthquake, or some natural disaster), new ones were built on top without destroying them. This is partly why today we have so many examples of urban architecture and painting from the first centuries of civilization and Christianity, hidden, as if carefully covered from bad weather and strong winds, by newer buildings.
The Queen of Roads, the ancient Appian Way, is called the longest museum in the world due to the numerous ancient buildings and burial grounds along it. Here you can visit one of the most famous and significant catacombs of Rome - the catacombs of St. Sebastian and St. Callistus. We recommend starting with a visit to the catacombs of St. Callisto, which can be reached from the Circo Massimo (metro B) or Piramide metro station by taking bus 118 directly to the Catacombe S.Callisto stop. The Catacombs of St. Sebastian, like many other attractions, are within walking distance of the Catacombs of St. Callistus. It's very easy to find your way around here, as there are signs everywhere along the ancient Roman road. And if you don’t want to leave the center of Rome, then not far from the Colosseum, discover the dungeon of the Basilica of St. Clement. Let's talk about all this in more detail.
VIA APPIA ANTICA
It was the most significant of the public roads of Ancient Rome. Founded back in 312 BC. Appius Claudius Caece, it led from Rome to Capua, and later to Brindisi (a city in the Apulia region). The first section of the road - to Capua, 195 km long - was built for military purposes, to help the Romans against the Samnites. The builders leveled high places and filled in ravines and depressions so that Roman legionnaires could move freely and quickly. Later, the Appian Way became the most important route for trade in goods and slaves from the east. In 71 BC, after the suppression of the Spartacus uprising, more than 6,000 captive slaves were crucified along the Appian Way from Capua to Rome. Along its sides, monumental tombs and magnificent monuments were erected, the decoration of which became a matter of prestige. Roman law prohibited burials within the city, so land adjacent to major roads leading from Rome was used for burials.
Along the Appian Way today there are many interesting monuments: tombs and villas from the Republican and Imperial periods, Christian and Jewish catacombs, medieval towers and fortifications, often built on ancient ruins, Renaissance and Baroque buildings. To this day, the Appian Way is paved with ancient massive stones on which you can walk. The most famous catacombs along the Appian Way are the catacombs of St. Callistus, St. Sebastian and St. Domitilla. Rome is surrounded by a fortress wall that has been very well preserved to this day, erected in 271-275 under the Emperor Aurelian.
CHURCH “QUO VADIS?”
In the building of the Gate of St. Sebastian, from where the most remarkable part of the Appian Way begins, there is now a museum of the Aurelian Walls. Not far from the Gate of St. Sebastian is the church “Where do you look?” (“Quo Vadis?”, Via Appia Antica, 51). According to legend, it was at this place that the Apostle Peter, fleeing the wrath of Nero, met Jesus Christ and asked him: “Lord, where are you going?”, to which Jesus replied: “I am going to Rome to be crucified a second time!” . Ashamed of his flight, Peter returned back to Rome to worthily accept martyrdom. A church was built at the place where they met.
CATACOMBE OF SAINT CALLISTO (CATACOMBE DI SAN CALLISTO)
www.catacombe.roma.it , Via Appia Antica 110/126, adult/reduced €8/€5, Mon-Sun 9.00-12.00 and 14.00-17.00. Closed 25 Dec, 1 Jan and 1 Easter Sunday.
The Catacombs of St. Callistus is one of the most famous historical and religious monuments of Rome. Among all the underground cemeteries, these catacombs in Rome are the most visited. The tunnels and galleries, located on four levels, represent an intricate labyrinth. Here there are countless sarcophagi, crypts, cubicules decorated with epitaphs and carvings, fragments of ancient oil lamps and vases.
The history of the catacombs of St. Callistus goes back almost 2000 years. The unusual underground caves are believed to have served as private Christian burial sites. The arrangement and expansion of the catacombs was carried out at the end of the 2nd century by Deacon Callistus, who was later proclaimed pope. These underground labyrinths were named after him, where it became a tradition to bury the first Christians. Over 50 martyrs and 16 popes have been buried here throughout history, making it one of the most important Christian cemeteries. The catacombs were discovered by Italian archaeologist Giovanni Battista in 1854, who called them "the little Vatican - the central monument of all Christian cemeteries."
The size of the catacombs of St. Callistus is impressive - the tunnel complex stretches almost 19 kilometers and consists of 4 levels. The deepest of them lies at a depth of almost 20 meters. Particularly noteworthy among the interior spaces are the Crypt of the Popes and the crypt of St. Cecilia, the patroness of sacred music. On the walls of the galleries, visitors can see ancient frescoes, sculptures and other valuable artifacts.
CATACOMBE OF SAINT SEBASTIAN (CATACOMBE DI SAN SEBASTIANO)
www.catacombe.org , Via Appia Antica 136, adult/reduced €8/€5, Mon-Sun 10.00-17.00 (last visit until 16.30). Closed Dec 25, Jan 1
The other main catacombs of Rome are the catacombs of St. Sebastian. When exactly they were built, historians find it difficult to say. The only thing that is known for sure is that they appeared much earlier than the basilica of the same name. The underground galleries were used as a cemetery for Christians, as well as a place for secret religious meetings during the worst times of persecution of Christianity.
The graceful basilica, built in the 4th century, is officially called “San Sebastiano fuori le mura”, which means “San Sebastiano outside the walls”. This means that the church was built outside the city. The basilica is dedicated to one of the most revered martyrs in the Catholic religion - Saint Sebastian, who lived in the 3rd century AD. The temple was originally known as the Basilica of the Apostles. According to legend, at this place were the relics of the apostles Peter and Paul, which were later transferred to other churches. The ashes of St. Sebastian are still kept here, inside the basilica.
The Catacombs of St. Sebastian have always been the most accessible of the many underground cemeteries of the Eternal City. For this reason, they were preserved a little worse than the others. Nevertheless, visitors will be able to see underground tunnels with a total length of about 11 kilometers. The walls of the catacombs are decorated with ancient mosaics, graffiti, and wall paintings. The frescoes of Christian themes are well preserved: Oranta (the praying Mother of God), Jesus in the manger, Moses, a cycle of frescoes about the prophet Jonah. Also in the tunnels of the catacombs there are old Christian crypts and sarcophagi. In one of the galleries there is a small underground altar, which was used during services.
One of the chapels of the Basilica of St. Sebastian deserves special attention - this is a chapel with holy relics. The arrow that struck the saint and part of the column to which he was tied during torture are kept here. The basilica also contains a bust of the martyr, supposedly sculpted by the famous Italian Renaissance artist Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini. The Basilica of St. Sebastian is one of the seven churches in Rome that all Catholic pilgrims must visit.
BASILICA OF SAINT CLEMENTE (BASILICA DI SAN CLEMENTE)
www.basilicasanclemente.com , Via Labicana 95, adult/reduced €5/€3.50, Mon-Sat 09.00-12.30 and 15.00-18.00, last visit at 12.10 and 17.40), Sun and holidays 12.00-18.00, last visit at 17.40). Closed 25 Dec, 1 Jan and 1 Easter Sunday. Photo and video shooting is prohibited.
A ten-minute walk from the Colosseum, on Via Labicana, is the ancient Basilica of San Clemente. Modest on the outside, it is a real treasure on the inside, a layer cake of eras and styles. The building was built on the site of two even more ancient temples, early Christian (IV century) and pagan (III century). The earliest temple was built on the ruins of houses destroyed by Nero's fire - these are two buildings of the 1st century AD.
Having examined the upper level - a medieval basilica, richly decorated with Byzantine apsidal mosaics from the 12th century - you descend a stone staircase into a damp, dark dungeon, where you can see amazing frescoes of the first Christians and listen to the sound of underground rivers. A building built on the ruins of a fire in the 1st century. AD, presumably belonged to the consul Titus Flavius Clement, a relative of the ruling imperial Flavian dynasty. Tradition claims that Clement (not to be confused with St. Clement) was the first Christian senator and martyr - Emperor Domitian executed him for his sympathy for Christian rituals. According to one version, Christian services could be held in the private house of the consul, led by St. Clement, the bishop of Rome and one of the first popes after the Apostle Peter.
At the lowest level of the basilica is the mithraeum - the sanctuary of the god Mithra. Here you will see a unique altar with an image of a pagan deity piercing a bull with a dagger.