Amazing Rome

 

 

The Catacombs of Priscilla sit on the Salarian Way, guarded by the Benedictine Sisters of Priscilla. The name Priscilla derives from a Christian noblewoman who granted the Church use of the property.

The Catacombs are situated in what used to be a quarry in Roman times. This quarry was used for Christian burials from the late 2nd century through the 5th century. Because of the great number of martyrs buried within it, the catacomb was called “Regina Catacumbarum – the queen of the catacombs.”

The catacombs are very renowned because they preserve some particularly beautiful and important decorations illustrating Biblical scenes.

 

Dug out of soft volcanic tufa rock, the galleries have a total length of about 13 km, at various depths. The first level, which is the most ancient, winds along in a series of galleries; the walls are full of “loculi”, the most common kind of tomb. Inscriptions were written in Greek or Latin on the tombs, or small objects placed near them to help identify graves with no inscription. Here we can find the small rooms known as “cubicula –  bed chambers”, which were the tombs of wealthier families or of the martyrs.

 

 

THE CUBICULUM OF THE VEILED WOMAN

 

This room is named for the picture in which a young veiled woman lifts up her arms in prayer. On either side of her are two scenes, probably episodes of her life: her marriage and the birth of her son.

In the middle, the Good Shepherd is painted in the Garden of Paradise, amid peacocks and doves. In the arch above the door, the prophet Jonah is shown emerging from the mouth of a sea-monster, a clear expression of faith in the Resurrection.

 

 

 

THE OLDEST IMAGE IN EXISTENCE OF THE VIRGIN MARY

 

In the catacombs is preserved the oldest image of the Virgin Mary with the Baby Jesus on her knee (3rd century AD). A prophet stands next to her, holding a scroll in his left hand, and pointing to a star with his right. The presence of the prophet indicates that the Child is the long-awaited Messiah.

 

 

 

THE GREEK CHAPEL

 

When this area was discovered, the first things seen by its discoverers were two Greek inscriptions –hence the name “the Greek chapel”.

 

Richly decorated with paintings and stuccos in the Pompeian style, it is formed of three niches for sarcophagi and a long seat for funeral banquets. The painting in the central arch at the back, on a red background, shows just such a banquet, but with a clear reference to the banquet of the Holy Eucharist. Seven persons are seated at the table, the first of which is breaking the bread as he stretches out his hands; at the sides of the table are seven baskets, a reference to the miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fishes, when Jesus also promised the bread of eternal life.

 

Several episodes of the Old and New Testament are also shown, such as Noah on the ark; Moses making water run from the rock; the three children in the furnace; and the adoration of the Magi, symbolizing the universality of salvation, since the Three Kings were the first pagans to adore Christ.