CATACOMBS OF NECROPOLIS. 393 
cular shrine was the antieut Seraphim o^ Racoth, chap. 
alluded to by Tacitus\ All the rest of the his- ^^^' 
tory of these Catacombs seems to be involved 
in darkness, impervious as that which pervades 
every avenue of the excavated chambers. We 
endeavoured to penetrate farther towards the 
south-west and south, and found that another 
complete wing of the vast fabric extended in 
those directions; but the labour of the research 
was excessive. The cryptce upon the south-west 
side corresponded with those which we have 
described towards the north-east. In the middle 
between the two, a long range of chambers 
extended from the centra and circular shrine, to- 
wards the north-west; and in this direction appears 
to have been the principal and original entrance. 
Proceeding towards it, we came to a large 
room in the middle of the fabric, between the 
supposed Serapeum and the main outlet, or 
portal, towards the sea. Here the workmanship 
was very elaborate ; and to the right and left 
were chambers, with receptacles ranged paral- 
lel to each other. Farther on, in the same 
direction, is a passage with galleries and spa- 
cious apartments on either side ; perhaps the 
KATArarAI mentioned by Straho for embalming 
(4) Tacit. Histor. lib. iv. c. 84. 
