Rome, Catacombe di Pretestato: MRA-ITA-Rom197

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Historical note about the site/monument: The catacombs were named for Praetextatus, the donor of the land beneath which the tombs are located. The main gallery, known as the Spelunca Magna, was excavated in the 2^nd century CE and actively used in the 3^rd century CE. An additional deeper layer was excavated and exploited in the 4^th century CE. The tombs were initially reserved for wealthy Roman patrons, but Christian interments frequently occurred in the catacombs’ later period. The complex was allegedly restored in the early 8^th century by Pope Gregory III but was subsequently forgotten and only rediscovered in the 15^th century. The catacombs feature fine architectural details and important examples of 3^rd-4^th century funerary painting. One notable tomb is the Square Crypt, which incorporates Carrara marble cladding and frescoes depicting the symbolic attributes of the seasons.

Further reading:
Winthrow, W.H. (1874). The Catacombs of Rome: And Their Testimony Relative to Primitive Christianity. New York: Nelson & Philipps.
Zimmermann, N. (2015). Catacombs and the Beginnings of Christian Tomb Decoration. In A Companion to Roman Art, B. E. Borg (Ed.). DOI: 10.1002/9781118886205.ch23.

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