624 



CATACOMBS. 



Catacombs, where yielding from too great desiccation, is yet en- 

 ^ -V"*' tire ; and on removing the brick to inspect the inte- 

 rior, the skeletons of the deceased appear in good 

 preservation. In elucidation of this fact, let us quote 

 the words of an adventurous explorer, who recently 

 penetrated these gloomy mansions. " The brick 

 obstructing the aperture of a catacomb being remo- 

 ved, a body, apparently that of a young woman, was 

 discovered. Even yet all the teeth were preserved in 

 her jaws. Her bones were totally covered with sta- 

 lactites, exhibiting a most singular spectacle ; for the 

 light, reflected by the motion of the torches, seemed 

 to animate the body, and the image of the spectator 

 was multiplied a thousand fold, by the most entire 

 portion of the skull." " Another tomb was open- 

 ed, wherein a skeleton, turned towards the east, was 

 seen. The hands were crossed on the breast, and 

 but few teeth were in the jaws : it seemed to be that 

 of an old man. When my guide stretched one arm 

 to the head, and the other to the feet, designing to 

 raise the skeleton, it immediately fell into a whitish 

 humid dust. Nothing except the substance of the 

 teeth, which were eleven in number, remained : the 

 whole skeleton had vanished from view." It may 

 here be remarked, that it is proved by numerous in- 

 stances, while the remainder of the body is utterly 

 decomposed and resolved into the elements, the teeth 

 continue entire, their enamel white and perfect. But 

 though it be also known, that the human hair re- 

 mains an extraordinary time in preservation, none is 

 seen in the catacombs of Rome. Skeletons are ob- 

 served there, the hands of which are not crossed on 

 the breast. 



The catacombs of Rome, besides the tombs, con- 

 tain edifices, which, in the days of the most preva- 

 lent superstitions, were churches, and where, it is 

 probable, the mysteries of the earlier Christians were 

 celebrated. Many inscriptions are still extant, and 

 elegantly sculptured sarcophagi have been obtained 

 from these catacombs. But above all, they abound 

 with paintings in fresco, representing, like those of 

 Egypt, an infinite variety of subjects : and sepulchral 

 lamps, as also vases and lachrymatories, are frequent- 

 ly discovered in tombs which have escaped the pillage 

 of the more 'barbarous ages. 



'We shall not here attempt to describe the sarco- 

 phagi, as two of beautiful workmanship in Parian 

 marble have occupied the attention of Bosio and 

 other antiquarians : one bearing the name of Junius 

 Bassus, the other that of Probus and Proba, both of 

 the fourth and fifth century. Some others removed 

 from their original site, now serve for baptismal fonts 

 in Rome. The inscriptions are generally short and 

 expressive ; or explain the kind of tomb acquired by 

 the deceased, whether a bisomus to contain two bo- 

 dies, or a trisomus for three : and accordingly the 

 bones of two or three individuals are still recognised 

 in several of the niches. These inscriptions are chief- 

 ly on black or white marble, some are in gilding, 

 and some painted red. Their grammatical errors, and 

 orthographical peculiarities, have presented great 

 difficulties to a learned member of the academy of 

 Cortona, by whom the catacombs were visited in 

 1805 ; but had he referred to the works of Mabil- 

 lon, to the treatise on the Diplomatic Science by the 



two Benedictines, and especially to manuscripts of Catacombs, 

 genuine antiquity, his difficulties would have easily "^ 

 been solved. It is chiefly religious subjects that are 

 painted in the catacombs, and these principally in the 

 cubicular or lateral chambers. By religious subjects, 

 we mean those which are taken from scripture histo- 

 ry, such as Moses striking the rock, Abraham about 

 to sacrifice his son, or Daniel in the lion's den. Jonas 

 swallowed and vomited by the whale, is a favourite 

 subject. Descending later, Christ is seen amidst the 

 doctors in the temple, or restoring Lazarus to life. 

 But, by a strange association, Orpheus is at the same 

 time depicted with his lyre, and the beasts of the 

 earth flocking around him to listen to his strains. 

 Bosio has particularly specified a painting of the na- 

 ked bust of a young man of comely appearance. His 

 skin tends to an olive colour, he has large blue eyes 

 and fair hair, a thin scanty beard, and a large nose. 

 On each side, is a full length female figure with a 

 written roll in her hand ; and on an arch above him, 

 triumphal cars, drawn by several horses abreast, and 

 driven by charioteers, bearing a palm branch, and a 

 crown or garland. There are besides, figures of vic- 

 tory in the air, and other emblems. Here also, as in 

 the Egyptian catacombs, the common operations of 

 life are represented : funereal repasts, bearing bur- 

 dens, teams of oxen dragging weights, children ga- 

 thering fruit, or engaged in puerile sports. 



Burnt bones mixed with ashes are found in vases. 

 Glass, and earthen vessels and instruments of torture, 

 have all been recovered from the catacombs. 



With respect to the precise aera when these cemeteries 

 were constructed, and the persons for whose recep- 

 tion they were appropriated, we are opposed by many 

 uncertainties. Some ascribe them to the ancient Ro- 

 mans, others bring them to a period about the birth 

 of Christ, and there are not wanting intelligent anti- 

 quarians, by whom they are considered as devoted al- 

 most solely for a secret deposit of those who suffer- 

 ed martyrdom, while the rage of persecution threat- 

 ened the extirpation of Christians. It is possible that 

 all the three opinions are right. Though cremation 

 was general among the Romans, we do not learn 

 that it was universally practised : Children were not 

 burnt, nor those in a state of servitude ; and besides, 

 if we may credit Pliny, this custom was introdu- 

 ced long after the building of the city. Inscrip- 

 tions prove, that many who were not Christians were 

 interred here ^ and numerous emblems, epitaphs, and 

 histories shew, that it was a sepulchre for Christians, 

 among whom were martyrs. The academician of 

 Cortona saw a skull, which he conjectured to have 

 been violently separated from the vertebrae of the 

 neck ; and Bosio, to whom we have so often refer- 

 red, relates, that in opening a tomb, he found a skull 

 cleft by a hatchet, still sticking in it, and observed 

 others apparently fractured by violence. It was not 

 uncommon to bury the implement of death or of 

 torture along with the deceased ; a custom ascribed 

 to the Jews on interment of malefactors. In another 

 part of the catacombs there was found a horrible 

 kind of pincers, with which the flesh was torn from 

 the bones of martyrs ; and also vessels full of con- 

 crete blood, which crumbled to earth, but on being 

 wetted immediately shewed ite crimson hue. Some qf 



