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A Gallery of the Catacombs
THE CATACOMBS OF SAINT
SEBASTIAN
This cemetery, named after the martyr St. Sebastian, who is buried
here, was originally called “ad catacumbas”. According to the
widely acknowledged explanation, the name signifies “near the
hollows”, because of the mines of tuff located in this area. The
name was later used generally to indicate all subterranean Christian
cemeteries.
Another ancient name of the cemetery was “Apostolic Memorial”
(Memoria Apostolorum). The name derives from the liturgical
celebrations, dedicated to the Apostles Peter and Paul, which took
place here for a limited period in the first centuries.
From the first century, the site had been intensely exploited and
constructed upon. The caves and the tunnels of the mines were used
for pagan and Christian rectangular wall tombs (loculi), as well
smaller tombs (colombari) used to house urns. At least two
residential buildings were constructed above ground, especially
noted for their interior wall painting decorations.
Around the middle of the second century, a cave-in occurred, and in
the square which was constructed above ground, three mausoleums were
built, respectively belonging to Clodius Hermes, the Innocentores
and “sub Ascia”. Later this area was again covered over and a
portico enclosed by a wall (triclia) was built. Along the wall,
hundreds of graffiti writings, dedicated to Peter and Paul, have
been deciphered. Around the year 258, the religious celebrations
commemorating the two Apostles were transferred to the site, and the
emperor Constantine (306-337) had a grandisose circiform basilica
constructed in the honour of the Apostles. Meanwhile, the catacomb
had been developing underground from the third century. As it is
well known from archeological and literary sources, the martyrs
Sebastian and Eutychius were buried here..
