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Encyclopedia of Religion entry forCatacombsRecent archeological discoveries have thrown new light on the Roman catacombs, underground passages and chambers, which were used by the early Christians for concealment from their persecutors, for burial, and for worship. " The catacombs represent the most notable monuments of primitive Christianity which have come down to us. They are entirely of Christian construction, and did not originate, as was formerly sup-posed, out of ancient stone quarries, but are hewn out of the tufa rock. The vastness of these labyrinths awakens astonishment when we consider the poverty of the early Christians " (Camden M. Cobern). The catacombe were dug along several of the principal streets leading out from Rome. " They are narrow passages with graves on the right and left, the number of which has been estimated at nearly two millions. They were evidently built on Jewish models, the Jews having made such underground cemeteries near Rome in pre-Christian time. Several of these Jewish catacombs remain, containing pictures which represent the olive branch, the dove, the palm, the seven-branched candlestick, and a number of inscriptions, prominent among which may be seen the Hebrew word for " Peace." Up to A.D. 70 the early Christians were legally regarded as Jews by the Roman Government, and could doubtless be buried in Jewish catacombs or in graves of their own without fear. Burial places, even of criminals, were sacredly respected by the Roman Empire, so that for several generations Christian cemeteries were not disturbed." The earliest of the catacombs, such as those of Domitilla, Priscilla, Commodilla, and the crypt of Lucina, date back to the first century; but the majority of those dug up (more than 50) during something over 300 years belong to the fourth century. Even after churches and cemeteries were built above ground, the catacombs continued in use. By the eighth century, however, they had been deserted, and from the tenth to the sixteenth they were almost entirely forgotten. In the catacombs have been found many beautiful inscriptions and paintings. Through the munificence of the Holy See, " there has been dug up a treasure of early Christian epitaphs and paintings, valuable beyond all expectations, which has given much unlooked-for information concerning the faith of the early Christians, their concepts of life, hopes of eternity, family relations, etc." (Anton de Waal, Oath. Encyclopaedia). See A. P. Stanley, Chr. Institutions, 1882; and the Cath. Dict. citations: Encyc. of Rel., Canney
article created 2006-04-12 , last updated 2006-04-12 |
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