The Roman Catacombs
The Catacombs in Rome is a series of underground tunnels where people were buried. These underground burials date as far back as the 2nd Century A.D., and still remains today. A lot people have been buried in the Catacombs, which has been maintained for hundreds of years. These Catacombs held major roman figures, such as Emperor Balbinus (buried in 238 A.D), 16 Bishops of Rome, as well as many famous martyrs, including St. Felicissimus, St. Agapitus, St. Quirinus (buried 5th Century) and St. Janvier.
Many Catholics were forced to worship in the catacombs beneath the streets and structures of Rome. If Christians were caught, they were imprisoned, persecuted and condemned to death, or were sentenced to exile.
The catacombs were used for underground cemeteries for Christians and Jews, displaying of the Christian symbols, to celebrate funerals, martyrs, and the dead, and was used as a place of refuge.
Art is another major factor on the Catacombs. These Catacombs were used a lot and were a major place for Catholics to create their own piece of art. There are a lot of artworks and symbols that have been created in between the 2nd and 15th centuries. Artworks were created throughout most of the Catacombs, ranging in a multitude of different sizes, from a small artwork in a corner, to large rectangular and square sizes. Unfortunately, some of the artworks have corroded away over time.
Many Catholics were forced to worship in the catacombs beneath the streets and structures of Rome. If Christians were caught, they were imprisoned, persecuted and condemned to death, or were sentenced to exile.
The catacombs were used for underground cemeteries for Christians and Jews, displaying of the Christian symbols, to celebrate funerals, martyrs, and the dead, and was used as a place of refuge.
Art is another major factor on the Catacombs. These Catacombs were used a lot and were a major place for Catholics to create their own piece of art. There are a lot of artworks and symbols that have been created in between the 2nd and 15th centuries. Artworks were created throughout most of the Catacombs, ranging in a multitude of different sizes, from a small artwork in a corner, to large rectangular and square sizes. Unfortunately, some of the artworks have corroded away over time.
This artwork is an image of Jesus, painted of the ceiling of one of the many Catacombs. This artwork is dated back in the early 4th Century, and is one of the earliest image of Christ looking Jewish, with long hair and a beard, unlike what Romans worn.
On either side of Jesus, are the symbols of Alpha (on the left of Jesus), and Omega (on the right side of Jesus). These two symbols signify "I am the beginning and the end".
On either side of Jesus, are the symbols of Alpha (on the left of Jesus), and Omega (on the right side of Jesus). These two symbols signify "I am the beginning and the end".