Rome, Catacombe di Domitilla: MRA-ITA-Rom241

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Geographic Location

Historical note about the site/monument: The catacombs are located near Via Appia Antica and are the site of early Christian burials dating from approximately the 1^st to 5^th centuries CE. Dug into tufa at a depth of around 16 meters, the catacombs hold over 26,000 tombs, some of which still contain human remains. The catacombs were named for Domitilla, who donated the land as a gesture of sympathy to Christians. The catacombs were rediscovered in the late 16^th century by Antonio Bosio, sometimes called the “Columbus of the Catacombs.” Recent restoration efforts have uncovered frescoes bearing early Christian iconography, Biblical scenes, and pagan imagery (including a depiction of Orpheus and personifications of the seasons).

Further reading:
Bisconti, F. (2018). The Art of the Catacombs. In The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Archaeology, William R. Caraher, Thomas W. Davis, and David K Pettegrew (Eds.) DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199369041.013.12.

Wikipedia contributors (2020, December 5). Catacombs of Domitilla. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved May 14, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Catacombs_of_Domitilla&oldid=992419531.

Inventory

Mora Samples Collection | Fonds

Italy: MRA-ITA | Series

Rome: MRA-ITA-Rom | File

Rome, Catacombe di Domitilla: MRA-ITA-Rom241 | Sample Item