Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-08
The Catacombs of Rome.

From an illustrated article by Pro
fcssor Philip Schaff. d. D., in the
Century, we quote the following ex-
tracts: The Roman Catacombs are
long and narrow passages or cross
galleries excayated in the bowels of
the earth, in the hills outside and
around the city, for the burial of the
dead. They are dark and gloomy,
| with only an occasional ray of light
from above. The galleries have two
or more stories, all filled with tombs:
and form an intricate network or
subterranean labyrinth. Small COM
partments (locul) for the reception of
the dead were cut out like shelves in
the perpendicular walls, and rectan-
gular chambers (Su6icula) for families
or distinguished martyrs. They were
closed with q slab of marble or tile
phagi. The ceiling is flat, sometimes
slightly arched. Space was economical
so as to leave room usually only for a
single person, the average width of
the passages being two and one-half
to three feet. This economy may be
traced to the poverty of the early
Christians, and also to their strong
sense of community in life and in
death. The little oratories with affairs
and Episcopal choirs cut in the tufa
are probably of later construction.
and could accommodate only few
persons at time. They were suited
for funeral services and private devo-
tons, but not for public worship.
1.-The furniture of the Catacombs is
instructive and interesting, but most
of it has been removed to churches and
museums, and must be studied out
side. Articles of ornament, rings,
seals, bracelets, necklaces, mirrors,
tooth-picks, ear-picKs, buckles, brooch
es, rare coins, innumerab bic lamps of
clay (terra cotta) or of bronze (even
of silver and amber) all sorts of tools,
and in the case of children q variety of
playthings were inclosed with the dead.
Many Of these articles are carved with
the monogram of Christ or with other
Christian symbols. (The lamps in
Jewish cemeteries generally bear a
picture of the golden candlestick.)
"a great number of TASKS and cups,
with or without ornamentation. are
also found, mostly outside of the
grave-lids. These were formerly sup
posed to have been receptacles for
tears, or, from the red, dried sediment
in them, for the blood of martyrs
But later psychologists consider them
drinking-vessels used in the agapa and
oblations. A superstitious habit pre-
vailed in the fourth century, although
condemned by a council of Carthage
(397) to give to the dead the eucharis-
tic wine, or to put cup with the con-
secrated wine into the grave.
''Ihe instruments of torture which
the fertile imagination of credulous
people have discovered, and which
were made to prove that almost every
Christian buried in the Catacombs was
a martyr, are simply implements of
handicraft. The instinct of nature
prompts the bereaved to deposit in
the graves of their kindred and friends
Il osc things which were constantly
used by them. The idea prevailed
also, to q large extent, that the future
life was continuation of the occupa-
tons and amusements of the present,
but free from sin and imperfection.
''On opening the graves the skeleton
frequently appears even now very
well preserved, sometimes in dazzling
whiteness, as covered with glisten-
ing glory, but fall into dust at the
touch"