CatacombsIn 1578, the Catacombs of Rome were discovered by accident. A sepulchral chamber was opened by some laborers digging for pozzolana earth. Baronius the ecclesiastical historian was one of the first to visit the new discovery. Fifteen years later, in Dec 1593, 18-yr-old Antonio Bosio began a lifetime exploring the catacombs. Gradually he found links between them, for narrow passageways had been dug from one to another, excavated in the soft rock (tufa). He found 30 additional entrances. He carefully recorded what he found with the care of an early archaeologist. These catacombs, dating from about the 3rd century, were used then by the Christians of Rome since they were forbidden to bury their dead in regular burial grounds.[Image: an archway in a a narrow corridor; beyond, on the left wall are multiple niches for burials.] |
