The catacombs of Rome, besides the tombs, contain edifices, which, in the (la) s of the most prevalent super stitions, were churches, and where, it is probable, the mysteries of the earlier Christians were celebrated. Ma ny inscriptions are still extant, and elegantly sculptured sarcophagi have been obtained from these catacombs. But above all they abound with paintings in fresco, re presenting, like those of Egypt, an infinite variety of subjects: and sepulchral lamps, as also vases and la chryinatories, arc frequently discovered in tombs which have escaped the pillage of the more barbarous ages.
We shall not here attempt to describe the sarcophagi, as two of beautiful workmanship in Parian marble have occupied the attention of Bosio and other antiquarians: one bearing the name of Junius Bassus, the other that of Probus and Proba, both of the fourth and fifth century. Some others, removed from thehr original site, now serve for baptismal fonts in Rome. The inscriptions are ge nerally short and expressive ; or explain the kind of tomb acquired by the deceased, whether a bisonzus to contain two bodies, or a trisonzus for three: and accord ingly the bones of two or three individuals are still re cognised in several of the niches. These inscrip tions are chiefly on black or white marble, some are in gilding, and some painted red. Their grammatical er rors, and orthographical peculiarities, have presented great difficulties to a learned member of the academy of Cortona, by whom the catacombs were visited in 1805; but had he referred to the works of Mabillon, to the trea tise on the Diplomatic Science by the two Benedictines, and especially to manuscripts of genuine antiquity, his difficulties would have easily been solved. It is chiefly religious subjects that are painted in the catacombs, and these principally in the cubicular or lateral chambers. By religious subjects, we mean those which are taken from scripture history, such as Moses striking the rock, Abraham about to sacrifice his son, or Daniel in the lion's den. Jonas swallowed and vomited by the whale, is a favourite subject. Descending later, Christ is seen amidst the doctors in the temple, or restoring Lazarus to life. But, by a strange association, Orpheus is at the same time depicted with his lyre, and the beasts of the earth flocking around him to listen to his strains. Bosio has particularly specified a painting of the naked bust of a young man of comely appearance. His skin tends to an olive colour, he has large blue eyes and fair hair, a thin scanty beard, and a large nose. On each side, is a full length female figure with a written roll in her hand; and on an arch above him, triumphal cars, drawn by se veral horses abreast, and driven by charioteers, bearing a palm branch, and a crown or garland. There are be sides, figures of victory in the air, and other emblems. Here also, as in the Egyptian catacombs, the common operations of life are represented : funereal repasts, bear ing burdens, teams of oxen dragging weights, children gathering fruit, or engaged in puerile sports.
Burnt bones mixed with ashes are found in vases. Glass and earthen vessels, and instruments of torture, have all been recovered from the catacombs.
With respect to the precise xra when these cemeteries were constructed, and the persons for whose reception they were appropriated, we are opposed by many uncer tainties. Some ascribe them to tile ancient Romans, others bring them to a period about the birth of Christ, and there are not wanting intelligent antiquarians, by whom they are considered as devoted almost solely for a secret deposit of those who suff'ered martyrdom, while the rage of persecution threatened the extirpation of Christians. It is possible that all the three opinions are right. Though cremation was general among the Ro mans, we do not learn that it was universally practised : Children were not burnt, nor those in a state of servi tude; and besides, if We may credit Pliny, this custom was introduced long after the building of the city. Inscrip tions prove, that many who were not Christians were in terred here; and numerous emblems, epitaphs, and his tories slim, that it was a sepulchre for Christians, among whom were mailers. The academician of Cortona saw a skull which lie conjectured to have been violently se parated from the vertebrx of the neck ; and Bosio, to whom we have so often referred, relates, that in open ing a tomb, he found a skull cleft by a hatchet, still sticking in it, and observed others apparently flaw:red by violence. It was not uncommon to bury the imple ment of death or of torture along with the deceased ; custom ascribed to the Jews on interment of malefactors. In anotlrer part of the eatactonbs there was found a hor rible kind of pincers, with which the flesh was torn from the bones of martyrs; and also vessels full of concrete blood, which crumbled to earth, but ou being wetted immediately skewed its crimson hue. Sonic of the Ho man emperors were deposited in the catacombs of the Vatican. There the body of 110110rills was discovered I 14.1 years subsequent to his decease, with Malty jewels :wd ornaments ill his (01111), weighing forty pounds of so lid gold. It is inferred from a passage in Cicero's Ora tions, that the catacombs of Rome were not in his time the ordinary places of sepulchre: but it is concluded, that, from the middle of the second century, they were the common cemetry of the city for several hundred years ; that the custom was then interrupted, and occa sionally revived, as is seen by an inscription on the sar cophagus of Theobald bishop of Ostia, who died in I 158, It appears that some sarcophagi have received bodies for which they were not originally designed, and that in scriptions of far more recent date than the period or in terment have been engrave]) on certain tablets.