From Burial Grounds to Pilgrimage Site | Tracing the Rich History of the Roman Catacombs

If you're heading to Rome, you simply cannot miss the incredible catacombs that hide beneath the city's streets. These subterranean labyrinths hold a significant place in the annals of Rome, being used as burial sites by early Christians around the 2nd century, these tombs remained undiscovered until the 16th century. Today, these catacombs are one of the most popular tourist destinations in Rome, which offers a glimpse into the past and the fascinating practices of the ancient Romans.

Rome Catacombs Timeline

• 2nd Century: Early Christians began using the catacombs as burial sites, driven by the city's stringent burial regulations.
• 3rd Century: The catacombs expanded rapidly, and become more sophisticated, with rooms for funerary banquets and family tombs. 
• 4th Century: Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Mila, granting religious freedom and leading to a decline in catacomb burials.
• 6th Century: Catacombs start to be used solely for martyrs’ memorial services, unfortunately suffering from widespread vandalism.
• 10th Century: Catacombs fell into abandonment, prompting the relocation of relics to the basilicas above ground. 
• 16th Century: The rediscovery of the Catacombs by Antonio Bosio, a pioneering archaeologist, brings attention to this hidden underground world.
• 17th-19th Centuries: Scholars and explorers continue to uncover and document the catacombs' intricate network of tunnels and chambers.
• 19th Century: The catacombs became a popular destination for tourists, attracting visitors from all over the world.

Religious Significance and Early Christian Practices

For early Christians, the catacombs served as sacred burial grounds. While the concept of catacombs originated from Jewish burial practices, by the end of the 6th century, there were over 60 Christian catacombs. These catacombs not only provide a resting place for the deceased but also served as a connection point for various Christian communities. The art within the catacombs depicted social hierarchies and conveyed the ideals and worldviews of early Christians during the first few centuries.

Some scholars suggest that the catacombs were primarily utilized for memorial gatherings more than anything else, and were not really used as hiding places during periods of persecution.

Burial Customs and Rituals Within the Catacombs.

Excavators known as fossors constructed vast systems of galleries and passages within the catacombs, creating a multi-leveled underground network. These galleries, descending several stories, were joined by narrow steps. The passages themselves were approximately 2.5 by 1 meter in size, while burial niches called loculi were carved into the walls.

Bodies were placed within stone sarcophagi in their clothing and wrapped in linen, with the chamber sealed by a slab bearing details such as the name, age, and date of death. The surviving fresco decorations provide valuable evidence of Early Christian art, initially featuring Roman styles adapted for religious purposes Some families were even able to construct rooms called cubicula, which housed multiple loculi and provided architectural elements for decorative purposes. They were essentially family tombs, where deceased family members could rest together.

Roman Catacombs Today

Since the 20th century, the catacombs began to be seen as a popular tourist attraction, drawing visitors from all over the world. They are also an important archeological site offering a unique and fascinating glimpse into the history of early Christianity and the role it played in the city's development. Visitors can explore these underground tombs and learn about the lives and beliefs of those who were buried here centuries ago.