Catacombs of Marcellinus and Peter facts for kids
The Catacombs of Marcellinus and Peter are ancient underground tunnels. They are found about three kilometers southeast of Rome, Italy. These catacombs date back to the 4th century AD. They are named after two Christian martyrs, Marcellinus and Peter. People believe these saints might have been buried there. Another saint, St. Tiburtius, might also be buried nearby.
From 2004 to 2010, archaeologists explored these catacombs. They found an amazing 20,000 skeletons! These people were buried in different ways. Some were in small niches called loculi. Others were under arched spaces called arcosolia. Some were grouped together in burial rooms called cubicala. The catacombs cover an area of about 3 hectares. That's like 7.4 acres! They have 4.5 kilometers (about 2.8 miles) of underground tunnels. These tunnels are spread across three different levels.
Inside the catacombs, you can find many beautiful wall paintings. These paintings are called frescoes. They show a mix of old Roman traditions and early Christian beliefs. There are also a few small objects found there. The art tells us a lot about the time they were made. It also shows what was important to the people buried there.
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Wall Paintings in the Catacombs
The Catacombs of Marcellinus and Peter are from the 4th century. They have a cool mix of art. You can see both ancient Roman and Christian images. Some Christian images are from the Old and New Testaments.
One special room, called room 79, shows this mix clearly. Some paintings show Peter getting water from a rock. Others show Orpheus playing a lyre. You can also see the raising of Lazarus. And there's Daniel safe in the lion's den. Another room, room 66, has paintings of athletes.
These mixed images show how art changed over time. They prove how Christianity slowly became more popular. A small piece of gold glass was also found here. It shows an interesting mix of Jewish and Christian symbols. It has a tomb with columns and a menorah in front.
Meaning Behind the Art
The art in the catacombs captures the culture of ancient Rome. It shows the slow change from Roman traditions to Christianity. By the 4th century, images of Christ and his followers appeared. These paintings looked more realistic than older ones. The story of Jonah was also a popular theme in catacomb art.
The Story of Jonah in Art
The way Jonah's story is shown here is special. It gets ideas from two places. Roman art influenced the poses and visual style. Jewish stories, called midrashic origins, helped shape parts of the story. These parts are not always found in the Bible.
On a ceiling in the Catacombs of Marcellinus and Peter, there is a fresco. It tells the whole story of Jonah. You can see Jonah getting on a ship to avoid his task. Then, he is thrown into the stormy sea. This is his punishment for disobeying God. Next, a large fish swallows him. He stays inside for three days and nights. After that, the fish spits him out. Jonah then preaches to the people of Nineveh. The last scene shows Jonah sitting under a shelter. He is waiting to see if Nineveh will be destroyed.
These pictures of Jonah's story were important to early Christians. They helped spread the story in art. There are a few ideas about why Jonah's story was so meaningful. One idea connects to an old Hebrew prayer. This prayer says, "He who answered the prayer of [Jonah], He will answer us." This prayer was used by Christians too. Another idea is that the story shows God's mercy. This was a comforting thought for people facing death.
The Jonah scenes in these catacombs are traditional. But they also have some unique parts. One common scene is Jonah being thrown from the ship. Some people think this image came from ancient Roman sea art.
One rare detail is how Jonah is thrown overboard. Instead of going headfirst, he seems to be lowered feet first by the sailors. This way of showing it is more common in Jewish stories. This suggests the painting might have strong Jewish roots. Another detail supporting this idea is the large fish. It looks like a ketos, a sea monster from Greek myths. This is different from the Leviathan, which is often shown.
Studying the Skeletons
Scientists have studied the skeletons in these catacombs. They want to know how the conditions underground affect bones. They found that the catacombs are great for preserving bones. Bones found here are often better preserved than those exposed to open air.
Bones in larger catacomb rooms are better preserved. Bones in smaller rooms are not as good. Scientists think bones near the walls are affected by moisture. Bones in the middle of larger rooms are protected from this. This explains why bones in small rooms are not as well-preserved. Almost all skeletons in small rooms are close to a wall. Bones in small rooms also change chemically over time. This is because of the tight space.
From 2004 to 2010, the main areas of the catacombs were explored. During this time, many mass graves were found. These graves were from the 1st and 3rd centuries AD. They were in parts of the catacombs that were not known before. These mass graves held many skeletons. Some had tens, others hundreds, depending on the room size.
Scientists used special dating methods to find out when people were buried. They found that the bodies had special burial traditions. Some bodies were covered in plaster or amber. Others were wrapped in cloth. It's hard to know the exact age of the skeletons. But they seem to range from young adults to older adults. Both men and women are present. One idea scientists have is that there might have been a time of widespread illness. This could explain why so many people were buried together.
See also
- List of ancient monuments in Rome
- Mausoleum of Helena
