Before I came to Rome, I, like many people thought that there was only one Catacomb, so I felt pretty stupid, when I found out that there are over 70 (only a few have been excavated though). Last week we took a class trip to the Catacombs of St. Sebastian. It was probably the most homeschool-y thing I have ever done in college. We all walked in a pack, while someone wearing a baby-carrier lectured (our history professor). It was an absolutely lovely day to take a walk down the Appia Antiqua, and, you know, just walk where St.'s Peter and Paul walked, like we do in Rome.
The Appia is about 16 Kilometers long, and we only walked a short distance, but it is crazy to think that we were walking on the same stones that the Romans laid, and that thousands of holy people and pilgrims have walked.
The Catacomb received it's name because, surprise, surprise, it's where St. Sebastian was originally buried. It was first used as a burial place around the first century A.D. Like all burial grounds from the same time, it is located outside the city walls. It is also located near what used to be a quarry because the rock is very soft at first, but hardens over time. The Romans used this stone in their concrete, apparently. Obviously the catacombs were used for Mass and other rituals during the various persecutions by the Romans, but the catacombs were not secret, as I had been led to believe. The Romans were aware of their existence, which I found interesting. Photos aren't allowed in the Catacombs, but here is a link to the website, if you are interested.
The catacomb is about 7 miles of underground tunnels, which is kind of spooky at first. They have, however, removed all the bones to prevent theft or disrespect, which I found comforting as we stumbled along in the semi-dark. The individual tombs are kind of like little shelves carved into the rock wall-short and narrow. People were obviously a whole lot smaller back then. There are also family tombs which are very deep and have a sort of arch over them.
This is where St. Sebastian's body was first laid to rest after the Romans finally managed to kill him (if you are unfamiliar with the story, see this), but there is also some speculation that Peter and Paul's bodies were also located here at one time. St. Sebastian's body is no longer within the catacombs, but has been relocated to the magnificent church built over it.
I don't have any good pictures of the inside of the church because I felt irreverent snapping photos in a church, but I kind of wish I had because their are a lot of cool things inside. Not only in there the tomb of St. Sebastian, complete with a life-size marble statue pierced with cold arrows, but there is one of his arrows, as well as plaster casts of what are believed to be the footprints of Christ. The church also houses Bernini's final work- an enormous, white marble bust of Christ, created in, I believe, 1679. While this is, of course, an amazing work of art. I think it is totally eclipsed by the fact that there are so many relics in close proximity. Who cares about a statue when Jesus' own footprints are only a few feet away (no pun intended)?
I also thought that it seemed a little bizarre to make a bust of Christ. I always associate busts with great philosophers and politicians, but not necessarily with Jesus. Are there a lot of works like this one? I'm really interested, so if anyone knows please comment and enlighten me.
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| Sheep on the Appia Antiqua- probably very symbolic |
The Appia is about 16 Kilometers long, and we only walked a short distance, but it is crazy to think that we were walking on the same stones that the Romans laid, and that thousands of holy people and pilgrims have walked.
The Catacomb received it's name because, surprise, surprise, it's where St. Sebastian was originally buried. It was first used as a burial place around the first century A.D. Like all burial grounds from the same time, it is located outside the city walls. It is also located near what used to be a quarry because the rock is very soft at first, but hardens over time. The Romans used this stone in their concrete, apparently. Obviously the catacombs were used for Mass and other rituals during the various persecutions by the Romans, but the catacombs were not secret, as I had been led to believe. The Romans were aware of their existence, which I found interesting. Photos aren't allowed in the Catacombs, but here is a link to the website, if you are interested.
The catacomb is about 7 miles of underground tunnels, which is kind of spooky at first. They have, however, removed all the bones to prevent theft or disrespect, which I found comforting as we stumbled along in the semi-dark. The individual tombs are kind of like little shelves carved into the rock wall-short and narrow. People were obviously a whole lot smaller back then. There are also family tombs which are very deep and have a sort of arch over them.
This is where St. Sebastian's body was first laid to rest after the Romans finally managed to kill him (if you are unfamiliar with the story, see this), but there is also some speculation that Peter and Paul's bodies were also located here at one time. St. Sebastian's body is no longer within the catacombs, but has been relocated to the magnificent church built over it.
I also thought that it seemed a little bizarre to make a bust of Christ. I always associate busts with great philosophers and politicians, but not necessarily with Jesus. Are there a lot of works like this one? I'm really interested, so if anyone knows please comment and enlighten me.
Followed a link here from Castle in the Sea. There is this: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Busts_of_Jesus
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