CATACOMBS OF ST. DOMITILLA

THE CATACOMBS

• At the end of the 2nd century, burial spaces was limited.
• They began to create underground tunnels that connected underground tombs.
• The land containing this 17km system of catacombs belonged to Flavia Domitilla.
• 4 levels, extending to a depth of 30m.

THE DISCOVERY OF THE CATACOMBS

• Found in 1593 by Antonio Bosio.
• He feared he was going to die in the unmapped catacombs.

BUILDING

• The Catacombs were made out of Tufa stone.
• Some passageways were not made, but reused aquaducts or quarries.
• They were built from the top to the bottom, meaning the burials at the top were the oldest.

BURIALS

• Rectangular loculi were cut length-wise for a single person.
• Arsocolio was a tomb made for one or more persons, cut from tufa and covered with an arch.
• Cubicoli were usually tombs that were a property of an entire family.
• The openings were either sealed by tile or marble, depending on the wealth of the family.

TOURIST ATTRACTION

• The catacombs are now a tourist destination.
• Many tourists come to see the burials and the art painted for the dead.
• The art that is so popular usually symbolizes the dead is some way.