Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1888-01-13
The Catacombs Of Rome.

The Rome Catacombs are long and
narrow passages or cross galleries. eX
cavated in the bowels of the earth. i'm
the hills outside and around the city,
for the burial OF the dead. They are
dark and gloomy, with only an occa-
sional ray of light from above. The
galleries have two or more stories, all
filled with tombs; and form an intri-
cate net work or subterranean laby-
rinth. Small compartments for the
reception Of the dead were cut out
like shelves in the perpendicular walls
and rectangular chambers for families
or distinguished martyrs. They were
closed with slab of marble or tile.
The more wealthy were laid in sar
cophagi The ceiling is flat, some
time slightly arched. Space was econ
omized 50 "a 10 leave room usually
only for n 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
altarS and Episcopal choirs cut in the
tufa are probably of later construc-
ton. and could accommodate only a
few persons at IA time. They were
suited for funeral services and private
devotions, but not for public worship.
The furniture Of the Ca,acombs il
instructive and interesting, but most
ot il has been removed TO chuches and
museums. and must be studied out
side Articles OF ornament, rings,
seals, bracelets, necklaces, mirrors,
tooth-picks, earpicks, buckles, brooch
es, rare coins. innumerable lamps of
clay terra Gotta, or Of bronze (even
Of silver and AMBER all sorts OF tools,
and i'm the case OF children 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 picture Of the golden candle
stick
4 great number Of TASKS and cups,
with or without ornamentation, are
also. found, mostly outside ~ the
graves and fastened To the gravel lids.
These were formerly supposed to have
been receptacles for tears. or, from
the red. dried sediment in them. for
the blood OF martyrs. But later arch
biologists consider them drinking YES
sells used in the agape and oblations.
4 superstitious habit prevailed ia the
fourth century, although condemned
by council Of Carthage (391) To give
to the dead the eucharistic wine, or to
put n cup with the consecrated wine
into the grave.
The instruments of torture which
the fertile imagination of credulous
people had discovered, and which
were made To prove that almost every
Christian that was buried In the Cat
acombs was IA martyr, are simply i'm
plements Of handicraft The instinct
Of nature prompts the bereaved Ia de
posit in the graves Of their kindred
and friends those things that were con
stantly used By them. The idea pre-
vailed also, 10 Il large extent, that the
future life was continuation of the
occupations and amusemepts of the
present, but free from sin and inpcr
fection.
On opening the graves the skeleton
frequently appears even now very
well preserved, sometimes In dazzling
whitencss. as covered with glisten-
ing glory. but falls into dust at the
touch.