Catacomb of Priscilla

Catacomb of Priscilla. Rome, Italy. Late Antique Europe. c. 200–400 C.E. Excavated tufa and fresco.
  • THE GOOD SHEPHERD, CATACOMB OF SAINTS PETER AND MARCELLINUS, ROME, ITALY, EARLY FOURTH CENTURY 
  • CONTAINS KEY EPISODES OF THE STORY OF JONAH 
  • PAINTED CEILING OF A CUBICULUM 
  • EMERGES FROM THE RIGHT FROM A WHALE; AT THE BOTTOM, SAFE ON LAND, JONAH CONTEMPLATES THE MIRACLE OF HIS SALVATION AND THE MERCY OF GOD
  • ORANTS (PRAYING FIGURES); MAY BE GENERIC PORTRAITS OF THE OWNERS OF THE CUBICULUM 
  • CHRIST AS GOOD SHEPHERD SHOWN
  • EARLY CHRISTIANS BURIED
  • LABRYNTH OF NARROW PASSAGEWAYS
  • VILLA OF A WEALTHY ROMAN WOMAN NAMED PRISCILLA
  • BODIES/TOMBS STACKED ON TOP OF EACH OTHER, SHELF LIKE SLOTS
  • INSCRIBED CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS (EX. FISH AND CHRIST) 
  • BOTH OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT 
  • DECORATED WITH ROMAN PLASTER, IMITATES MARBLE PANELS 
  • LAVISH BUT SMALL 
  • RESURRECTION OF LAZARUS, ADORATION OF THE MAGI
  • PLACES WHERE OIL LAMPS WOULD'VE BEEN PLACED 
  • CHRIST REPRESENTED YOUNG, BEARDLESS; CARES FOR HIS FOLLOWERS AS HE'D CARE FOR HIS FLOCK OF SHEEP 
  • SYMBOLS... PEACOCKS (ETERNAL LIFE) 
  • DIVIDES EARTHLY AND THE HEAVENLY 

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