30 Amazing Roman Catacombs Facts Revealed

The Roman catacombs are a must-visit tourist place if somebody is planning a vacation in Europe, especially if they want to go to Italy.

These catacombs are part of the true representation of the historical and cultural essence of the people of Rome, living in ancient times. These are dark and isolated places, sometimes considered haunted by many, making it even more interesting.

An important thing that sets them apart from other archeological sites is the feeling and experience an individual gets, from the moment they step into these underground tunnels.

Thousands of bones are spread across the shelves. They could be seen closely.

There are no barriers so people do not have to maintain a distance. The catacombs are found thousands of meters beneath the ground and span to the outskirts of the city. They were the burial grounds of the first generation of Jews and Christians who lived in Rome.

There is a lost world of catacombs in Rome. There are many secrets hidden within them. Want to explore some more exciting facts about them? Keep reading!

What are the Roman Catacombs?

The Roman catacombs are ancient cemeteries that were used to bury the people who died in Rome during the third century. The creation of the catacombs was related to belief in resurrections.

The people believed that the dead would come back to life on the day of Resurrection and thus, their bodies needed to be preserved. For this reason, the ancient Romans needed a lot of space to bury their dead.

• These catacombs are believed to be the oldest in the world. They date back to the second century. These burial sites were first built by the Jewish community and were later continued by the Christian communities.
• An interesting fact is that there was no discrimination between the rich and poor. You may find the names of some respected individuals in the community but, no one can ascertain who was rich and who was poor. Hundreds of citizens were buried together, indiscriminately, in these hidden underground tunnels.
• These catacombs spread out across thousands of miles outside city walls. However, they are not all connected to each other. Separate catacombs are spread out and can be found in areas such as Via Labicana, Via Appia Antica, and Via Casilina, all under Rome.
• Around 60 catacombs were found in Rome: six were Jewish and 40 belonged to Christians.
• These catacombs consisted of thousands of bodies.
• Unlike other museums or tombs, where we cannot touch anything and are separated from artifacts by physical boundaries, anyone who will visit will be amazed at the fact that they can touch anything they want!
• There are several options to reach the catacombs. You can either take the bus, walk, or cycle to the Appian Way. It is from there that three easily accessible catacombs are open to the public.

History Of The Roman Catacombs

There is no specific date that denotes the creation of these underground tunnels for the ancient Roman communities. Archaeologists found that the only estimates that could be made are based on the oldest catacomb found in Rome, which dates back to the second century.

• The catacombs served as a burial place for not only some Christian saints of that time but also for ordinary people such as farmers, martyrs, traders, potters, blacksmiths, and the poor.
• Shelves were made to hold the remains of only one person, but sometimes two or three bodies were found buried on one shelf. Some shelves were constructed to house the remains of a large number of people who didn't own land in the city.
• As these ancient catacombs were made largely outside the city, their existence was lost by the Middle Ages. For a long time, there were no clues of their existence as they had not been in use for many years.
• It was due to the efforts of the famous archaeologist, Antonio Bosio, that these catacombs were found in the 16th century. The archeologist almost died when he became lost in one of the longest underground tunnels in St. Domitilla.
• Some of the catacombs are representations of the people who sacrificed their lives for their religion and to help others.
• Those who selflessly gave away their lives for others have a special place in these catacombs.
• Some of the catacombs possess artistic features, figures, and paintings that are engraved on their walls. The Christian art during this period gives us a glimpse into the life of Christians in pagan Rome.
• The catacombs of Rome were also used as a place of worship by Christians. They choose to use larger graves as a place to worship. However eerie, the practice was necessary as there was no place of worship for the rising population of Christianity.

Purpose Of The Roman Catacombs

The main purpose of the Roman catacombs was to replace the requirements of building expensive tombs. It was impossible to build above-ground tombs for the general public because of a lack of funds. The underground tombs were a good medium. They served as burial grounds for the ancient Jews and Christian communities.

• It was believed that there was a time when many Christians who lived in Rome didn't have money to construct tombs for their loved ones. So, they started to dig into the land owned by these communities. Starting in the Appian way and other places, they dug deep enough so that the dead had a resting place in the afterlife.
• Another reason behind the construction of these catacombs was that ancient Roman law did not allow the burial of the bodies inside city walls. There was no other option left but to choose a place on the outskirts of the city.
• In the past, these catacombs were also used as a place of worship by Christians. The main reason they used the catacombs as a church was the rapid pace at which Christianity was spreading. It was there that they looked after the spiritual needs of this growing community.
• The catacombs were also used as a place of worship as Christianity was not legally accepted by the Roman Empire. Ancient Rome followed a pagan religion.
• The funerary practices of the Christians of that time did not agree with the traditional pagan system of burning the bodies of the dead.

The Size Of The Roman Catacombs

There is not a defined size or area specified for the catacombs. Most of these catacombs were dug deep, spanning an area of thousands of kilometers long, so that all the people could find a resting place until the time that their bodies were awakened by the resurrection.

• Some catacombs are believed to be 12.4 mi(20 km) in length and 65.6 ft(20 m) deep.
• The catacombs found in Rome are known to be one of the oldest collections of catacombs in the world. The largest collection of catacombs can be found in Odesa, Ukraine.
• Some of the catacombs were decorated with frescoes of different shapes and styles, depicting events that are crucial to Christian history.
• Out of the 40 known Roman catacombs, only five are open to tourist visits.
• These five known catacombs are the catacombs of San Callisto, Priscilla, Domitilla, San Sebastiano, and Sant' Agnese.
• All of these catacombs have a different story to tell. The catacombs of San Callisto are the largest. Archaeologists found that it covers an area of around 12.4 mi(20 km). It houses the tombs or crypts of Christian saints and popes.
• The catacombs of Priscilla are known for their fantastic works of frescoes. It also consists of artwork beholding the Virgin Mary. The galleries of this catacomb are said to be 8 mi(13 km), in length.
• The catacombs of San Sebastiano are the most popular tourist attraction. The tomb tells a story of a brave soldier who became a martyr because he converted to Christianity. Out of respect and honor, the catacomb was named after him. This catacomb is about 6.8 mi(11 km) long.
• The catacombs provided the perfect place for Christian art to flourish. The Domitilla catacombs depict stories such as Noah's Ark and Jesus Christ with his 12 apostles during the Last Supper.
• Unfortunately, there are many catacombs about which no evidence could be found.
• Some Jewish catacombs found in Rome can be found in the catacombs of Vigna Randanini and others can be found in the Villa Torlonia region.