River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-02-02
ROMAN cATAcoM5S.
Skeletons of Early Christians That Are
Even Now Wen Preserved.

skeletons of Early Christians That Are
Even Now Wen Preserved.
The Roman catacombs are long and
narrow passages or cross-galleries. ex-
cavated 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 occa-
sional ray of light from above. The
galleries have two or more stories. all
Filed with tombs; and form an in
lricate network or subterranean
labyrinth. Small compartments flo-
culJ for the reception of the dead
were cut ont like shelves in the per-
pendicular walls. and rectangular
chambers (caJieula) for families or
distinguished martyrs. They were
closed with 4 slab of marble or tile.
The more wealthy were laid in sar-
cophagi The ceiling is fiat some
times slightly arched. Space was
economical so as 10 leave room usual
Is only for single person. the aver
age width Of the passages being two
and one-half 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 oratorics with affairs
and Episcopal choirs cut in The tufa
are probably Of later construction, and
could accommodate only a few per-
sons at a time. They were suited for
funeral services and private devotions,
but not for public worship.
The furniture of the Catacombs is
instructive and interesting. but most
of it has been removed to churches
and museums. and must be studied
outside. Articles of ornament. rings.
seals. bracelets. necklaces. mirrors.
tooth-picks. ear-picks. buckles.
brooches. rare coins. innumerab,e
lamps of CLAY (terra-cotta) or Of
bronze (eyen of silver and ambor) all
sorts of tools, aud in the case of chill
dren a variety OF playlhings were IN
closed with the dead. Many of these
articles were carved with the mono
gram of Christ or with other Christian
symbols. CThe lamps in Jewish cem-
eteIies generally bear picture Of the
golden candlcstick-)
A great number of TASKS and cups.
with or without ornamentation. are
also found, mostly outside Of tho
graves aud fastened 10 the grave-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
archeologists consider them drink
ing vessels used IN the
agape and oblations. A super
stitious habit prevailed in the fourth
century. although condemned by a
council of Carthage $50 TO give TO
the dead the eucharistic wine.
or TO put a 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 10 prove that almost every
Christian buried in ihe Caiacombs
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
those things which We're constantly
nsed by them. The idea prevailed
also. to large extent, that the future
life was continuation of the oceupa-
tions and amusements of the present.
but free from sin and imperfection.
On opening the graves the skeleton
/ frequently appears even now very
we'll preserved. sometimes in dazzling
whiteness. rs covered with a glisten-
ing glory, but falls into dust ut tho
touch. Prot Philip SchGT. in Century.