Catacombs of Domitilla
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Good Shepherd, wall painting
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The Catacombs of Domitilla are an underground Christian[1] cemetery named after the Domitilla family that had initially ordered them to be dug.[2] They are located in Rome, Italy.[3] They are situated over 16 metres underground, about 2 kilometers from the south of Appia Antica[4] (Appian Way) and span 15 kilometers in distance.[4] They were actively used as a cemetery from the first through the fifth centuries AD[4] and were rediscovered in 1593 by Antonio Bosio, an archaeologist[1] They include more than 26,000 tombs.[1] More recently, they have been restored using lasers, giving a much clearer view of the images on the walls.[2] Unlike other Roman catacombs, these catacombs still hold the remains of humans.[4]
Renovation
The catacombs are composed of tufa, a form of limestone that is porous.[4][2] Finishing in 2017, restorers used lasers to help restore two rooms.[1] The restorers worked to remove layers of algae, smoke deposits, and a chalky substance.[1] What was revealed were both pagan and Christian inspired frescoes.[4] So far, only 12 out of about 70 rooms have been restored.[5]
Wall paintings
Inside the Catacombs of Domitilla are images, some of which were revealed by the restoration, reflecting the life of bakers,[2] grape vines, Jesus with the apostles, Noah's ark, and Daniel with the lions.[2] Other biblical figures in the various cubicula include the Virgin Mary with child,[6] Adam, Eve, Jonah, The Good Shepherd, a young man dressed as a cardinal with apostles Peter and Paul.[7] Non-biblical, or pagan, figures include representations of Spring and Summer in the form of females with wings, both pictured with attendants[7] and scenes depicting Orpheus[8] surrounded by birds, beasts and the sheep that typically accompany him.[9] There are also other images of mythological and wild or tame beasts beyond the depictions of Orpheus.[8]
See also
References
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External links
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Media related to Catacombs of Domitilla at Wikimedia Commons
| Preceded by | Landmarks of Rome | Succeeded by Catacombs of Rome |
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