It is generally believed, that the catacombs served both as a place of performing their religious mysteries, and for a retreat to the Christians during persecution. Gregory of Tours relates, that two martyrs having been interred in a certain eryill ne IliC11, Which was greatly resorted s f,,tiv.1 consecrated spot, to by Christians on that one of the Roman emperors vvatched their motions_ When the greatest number had collected together, he ordered a wall to be suddenly built against the entrance to the catacombs, and covered by a hill of sand. The miserable devotees were thus condemned to a cruel and inevitable death ; but when persecution ceased, and their bones were discovered, the place was held in still great e• veneration.
One part of the catacombs is supposed to have been appropriated for the Jews inhabiting Rome. The in scriptions are in Greek, which indeed are frequent throughout the whole recesses; but this is not supposed to invalidate the fact.
Among the various catacombs with which certain parts of the world abound, those of Malta arc in the highest preservation. They are cut in tile rock, and so white and entire, as to seem just newly executed. The small ness of the galleries, admitting only one person at a time, their nearly equal distribution, circular vaults, niches for lamps for illuminating the passages, and the regularity of the tombs, seem to indicate that they have been purposely excavated.
Regular parallel streets, recesses, and chambers, arc • seen in the catacombs of Syracuse, the roof of the latter being flat, circular, and vaulted, with a hole at the top to admit light. The tombs, many of which are exca vated from solid stone, are ranged around in regular order. Some of tiles. chambers appear to have had a door, by which they could be locked up by their various (Milers. The door of certain catacombs in Syria and P,Icritine, is a large thick flat stone, moving on two pivots as hinges.
Catacombs have been devoted not only to receive the aortal iemaihs of the human race, but even the carcasses of the brute creation. Man, ever superstitious and fear ful, has sought to propitiate the Deity by the adoration of inanimate plants, of grovelling reptiles, or beasts of the earth. The ancient En ptians hay e fen med iminenst
excavations, in whirl, to deposit mummies of jack als, mice, crocodilt s, birds, and fishes, with as much care as they IA stowed on their own friends and rt The ibis, in particular, being an t of vcneration, has been embalmed hi thousands in di( t xtt osive cata combs of Memphis. T ,e galleries there divide into many branches, With rev( sst s mi each side, about six feet by eight in size, rows of baked earthen urns or pots, somewhat of a conical form, all along the walls. In each of these, which is from 12 to 2o inches high, is a mummy of the sacred bird, frequently in per feet preservation, awl exhibiting all the original colours of the plumage. The puts are regularly arranged, tier over tier, in regular order.
Almost all catacombs have been violated in search of treasure, and they have sometimes beet' converted to less pacific purposes than for mansions of tie dead. I: is not long since a formidable band of robbers was or ganized in those of Rome, by a Portuguese leader, who, on the day of their admission to his corps, impressed certain mystic characters on the arm of Carl) ‘‘11,11 a 110'. iron. They stored up provisions for several months, and have been known to remain above fifteen days onset n in their subterrancons retreats among the tombs. After committing innumerable depredations, do it leader hav ing endeavoured to save a Portuguese gentleman w.lo was attacked, some of his party vvere displeased, and fired upon him : he returned their lire ; t ley fled, and the whole separated, never to meet again. T. c French, also, during their invasion of Egypt, freque,tly took up their abode in the catacombs. See Diodorus Siculu*.A. i. cap. 4.; Denali Voyage dans l'Egylde ; Pococke's Travels; Norden's Trave/.9 ; R:oud, Rellort sf the Commission ; Gregorius Turonensia de gloria marlyram ; Bosiu Roma Solteranea. Vovage dans les Catacombea de Rome ; D'Orvide Skala ; mei Voyage laftorelque ; Mack Gregory On the Selnilchres of the ..incient8. (c)