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loculi

cubicula

Via Latina Catacomb, Rome, 3rd century.

•Via Latina Catacomb, Rome, 3rd century. Located in the right-hand arcosolium of Cubiculum N in

the Via Latina Catacomb, Hercules leads Alcestis back to

Admetus. The image from the third quarter of the fourth

century shows Hercules, with a club, lion skin and blue

halo, holding Cerberus, the hounds of hell. According to

the myth, when Admetus was fated to die, his wife Alcestis

chose to die in his place but was rescued from the hands

of death by Hercules who brought her back to her

husband

•Via Latina Catacomb, Rome, 3rd century.

This pagan Via Latina

catacomb scene

presents Hercules in the

Garden of Hesperides

where the Golden Apples

could be found.

Obtaining an apple from

this garden was the

eleventh of twelve nearly

impossible tasks, called

the Labors of Hercules,

which Eurystheus

required of Hercules

before he could be

cleaned and cleared of

his sins.

The presence of this Roman mythology reference within the catacombs attests to

a mixing of both pagan and Christian iconography among the tombs of

individuals who followed one or the other of these different cults

Hercules in the Garden of the Hesperides, Wall painting,

(84 x 74 cm., [33 x 29 1/8 in.], Via Latina Catacomb, Rome

Samson and the Lion, c. 350-400, Wall painting, (113 x 107 cm., [44

1/2 x 42 1/8 in.]), Via Latina Catacomb, Rome.

Samson is presented in this

Via Latina catacomb image

as he wrestles with a lion.

The story of Samson is in

the Old Testament book of

Judges. The honey and

bees that Samson finds in

the mouth of the slain lion is

symbolic of the sweetness of

heaven that one can find

after death.

In this fresco from the Via Latina

Catacomb (cubiculum C),

painted about AD 320, Abraham

raises his sword to slay his son.

The traditional iconography of

the scene presents a sacrificial

altar with burning wood and the

ram that God has provided to be

killed in Isaac's place. In the

above left, the hand of God is

missing from the scene. Below

is an extra textual scene of a

servant with a donkey.

Sacrifice of Isaac A.D

cubiculum C

•Catacomb of Priscilla, Rome ,3rd century.As with many of the decorative programs in the

catacombs, the late third-century paintings in the

vault and lunettes in this cubiculum, located in

the Catacomb of Priscilla, are organized

according to symmetrically disposed and linearly

defined regions. The vault features a central

medallion containing a depiction of the Good

Shepherd surrounded by four semicircular

regions containing peacocks alternating with

quail. Furthermore, birds occupy the corner

spaces that mark the transition between ceiling

and wall, and contribute further to the ceiling’s

imagery of paradise.

•Catacomb of Priscilla, Rome ,3rd century.

Gallery with loculus tombs, Catacomb of Priscilla, RomeA loculus tomb is the most basic type of a

burial place to be found in a Christian

catacomb. This gallery in the Catacomb of

Priscilla shows how loculi are stacked one

on top of each other. Loculus tombs are

usually sealed with clay tiles or marble

slabs set in a mortar bed.

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sealed loculi with inscriptions in the area of the

arenaria; Catacomb of Priscilla, Rome

These loculi in the Catacomb

of Priscilla are still preserved

in their original state. Different

materials - usually clay tiles or

marble slabs - were used to

seal the tombs. Depending on

the material used, the names

of the deceased were either

painted or engraved on the

sealed tomb.

•Catacomb of pietro & marcellinus, Rome, 4th century A.D.This Christian catacomb fresco

represents Jonah being spewed out

by a whale. In the biblical story,

Jonah was thrown overboard to the

whale. Then, the animal swallows

him and after three days, regurgitates

Jonah. In narrative depictions of the

story, Jonah is generally shown lying

upright in a 'sleeping' pose that was

appropriated from pagan iconography

representing the reclining figure of

Endymion, the sleeping shepherd

who was loved by Selene, the

goddess of the moon.

MORAL PAINTINGS

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good shepherd

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abstract images.

connection between

roman style and Christian

theme

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lunettes

•Catacomb of pietro & marcellinus, Rome, 4th century A.D.

Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, St. Peter's,

Rome, 359 A.D Marble.

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Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, St. Peter's, Rome, 359 A.D

Marble, 4 x 8 x 4 feet.

The Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus is a marble Early Christian sarcophagus used

for the burial of Junius Bassus, who died in 359. It has been described as "probably

the single most famous piece of early Christian relief sculpture."[1] The sarcophagus

was originally placed in or under Old St. Peter's Basilica, was rediscovered in

1597,[2] and is now below the modern basilica in the Museo Storico del Tesoro della

Basilica di San Pietro (Museum of Saint Peter's Basilica) in the Vatican. The base is

approximately 4 x 8 x 4 feet.

Junius Bassus

Storico

Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, St. Peter's,

Rome, 359 A.D Marble, 4 x 8 x 4 feet.

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.1columns pediment, cornice, arch ,

.2

.3

.4

.5roman style but Christian themes

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. Exterior. General view.

Galla Palcidia, Ravenna, 425-50.

Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. Interior. Lunette over west entrance. Christ

the Good Shepherd.

•Mosaic, Good Shepherd, Galla Palcidia, Ravenna, 425-50.

•Mosaic, Good Shepherd, Galla Palcidia, Ravenna, 425-50.

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