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The fourth-century Catacombs of Commodilla in the Garbatella area of Rome will soon reopen to the public after their frescoes were restored by the Vatican's Pontifical Commission of Sacred Archaeology.
The site contains the crypt with the tombs of the martyrs Felix and Adautto, two priest brothers believed to have been killed during the Christian persecution under Emperor Diocletian, about the year 303.
The ancient term to designate these monuments is “coemeterium”, which derives from Greek and means “dormitory”, as for Christians the burial of the corpses is a temporary moment awaiting the final resurrection. In fact, while the pagans used to cremate the bodies of the dead, the Christians chose to be buried believing in Christ’s resurrection and the day of judgement.
www.wantedinrome.com
In Ancient Rome, a law prohibited burying the dead inside the city for architectural and health reasons. Therefore, the construction of the first catacombs began when Pope Zephyrinus, in charge between 199 A.D and 217 A.D, entrusted deacon Callisto with the task of supervising the cemetery of the Via Appia, marked as the location where the most important pontiffs of the 3rd century were buried.
These underground structures were excavated into tuff, a fragmental rock easy to dig into, as it consists of the smaller volcanic detritus which is usually less stratified than solid grounds. For this reason, catacombs are mostly found in central Italy, as well as in its islands, as there is a high concentration of tuffaceous soils. The access to the catacombs consists of stairs that lead to enclosed galleries with vaulted ceilings that extend to a vast network of corridors and chambers.
All you need to know about Catacombs in Rome
Romans were buried outside the city as well. That was kind of silly not to acknowledge that. I mean they also used cremation. It's just that it wasn't a one size fits all. For sure, you couldn't do either in Rome itself.
And this is in English:
romanchurches.fandom.com
The site contains the crypt with the tombs of the martyrs Felix and Adautto, two priest brothers believed to have been killed during the Christian persecution under Emperor Diocletian, about the year 303.
The ancient term to designate these monuments is “coemeterium”, which derives from Greek and means “dormitory”, as for Christians the burial of the corpses is a temporary moment awaiting the final resurrection. In fact, while the pagans used to cremate the bodies of the dead, the Christians chose to be buried believing in Christ’s resurrection and the day of judgement.
Rome reopens the Catacombs of Commodilla
The fourth-century Catacombs of Commodilla in the Garbatella area of Rome is set to reopen to the public following a major restoration of its frescoes.
www.wantedinrome.com
In Ancient Rome, a law prohibited burying the dead inside the city for architectural and health reasons. Therefore, the construction of the first catacombs began when Pope Zephyrinus, in charge between 199 A.D and 217 A.D, entrusted deacon Callisto with the task of supervising the cemetery of the Via Appia, marked as the location where the most important pontiffs of the 3rd century were buried.
These underground structures were excavated into tuff, a fragmental rock easy to dig into, as it consists of the smaller volcanic detritus which is usually less stratified than solid grounds. For this reason, catacombs are mostly found in central Italy, as well as in its islands, as there is a high concentration of tuffaceous soils. The access to the catacombs consists of stairs that lead to enclosed galleries with vaulted ceilings that extend to a vast network of corridors and chambers.
All you need to know about Catacombs in Rome
Romans were buried outside the city as well. That was kind of silly not to acknowledge that. I mean they also used cremation. It's just that it wasn't a one size fits all. For sure, you couldn't do either in Rome itself.
And this is in English:
Catacomba di Commodilla
Catacomba di Commodilla is a 4th century set of catacombs with its entrance in the Parco di Commodilla, a public park next to the Via Giovannipoli in the Ostiense quarter. Pictures on Wikimedia Commons are here. These catacombs are the nearest known to the city on the ancient Via Ostiensis, and...
