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At the Dawn of Christianity Very Soon After Jesus’S Death, a Small Christian Community Developed in Rome; Peter and Paul Visited Them Before Being Martyred

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At the Dawn of Christianity Very Soon After Jesus’S Death, a Small Christian Community Developed in Rome; Peter and Paul Visited Them Before Being Martyred 8 THE TOMB OF ST. PETER 9 Rome at the dawn of Christianity Very soon after Jesus’s death, a small Christian community developed in Rome; Peter and Paul visited them before being martyred. The community would become more visible in the third century, as the graves of the catacombs show. by Sophie Laurant offered sacrifices to the mysterious have found ancient artifacts that Digest sun god Mithra, whom they learned confirm an unbroken Christian about during military campaigns tradition. A text corroborates these in the East. Temples dedicated to findings.” the Egyptian goddess Isis had their Indeed, a letter from the presby- followers as well; they were orga- ter (the name for priests at the time) nized into small fraternities of ini- Gaius to a certain Proclus, written at tiates. Some Romans were intrigued the end of the second century and by Judaism, and asked representa- cited by the Church father Eusebi- tives of that community, which had us of Caesarea, says: “Whether you been established in the capital cen- go to the Vatican or on the road to 1 turies ago, about their beliefs. Still Ostia, you will find the trophies of 1. The funeral of a young Christian At the beginning of the third others approached another group, those who established the Church woman in the catacombs of Rome during the persecutions (Victor century A.D., Rome, the imperial the Christians, who did not seem in Rome.” The word “trophy” likely ence of Eastern religions, including Schnetz, 1867, oil on canvas, Musée city, teemed with activity. Nearly a that different from the Jews. refers to a stone stele (slab or mark- Christianity, the practice of buri- des Beaux-Arts de Nantes). million inhabitants filled the mar- Philippe Pergola, research er) erected by some of the faithful DEAGOSTINI/LEEMAGE al spreads, replacing cremation.” 2. A Roman mausoleum decorated Aket streets or the forums. These large director of the Centre National de on Peter’s tomb, in a pagan necropo- Important families or fraternities with frescoes showing peacocks, a young goat, a bird, flowers, and public squares, nestled between la Recherche Scientifique (Nation- lis on Vatican Hill (see page 29), and thus bury their loved ones, to the scrollwork (catacombs of Aproniano JOSSE/LEEMAGE PHOTO the hills and bordered by porticoes al Center for Scientific Research) in on Paul’s tomb, located on the road point of extending a hypogeum by or of the Via Latina, fourth century). and temples, were at the center of CatholicAix-Marseille, France, and dean of leading to the port of Ostia. progressively digging a complex Roman political and religious life. the Pontifical Institute of Christian Samplenetwork of funerary galleries. Over Christians. The catacomb is locat- The great majority of Romans Archeology in Rome, observes: “It is Along the Roman roads time, the necropolises became cat- ed along the Via Appian. dutifully honored the gods of their from this era, the beginning of the In Antiquity, cemeteries were acombs, where Romans of all reli- Philippe Pergoda warns: ancestors or those of conquered third century, that we have the first located outside the cities, along gions lie side by side. “This does not mean Christians peoples, which had been adopted archeological evidence of the pres- major arteries. Stelae therefore 2 A turning point happened in were trying to hide. On the con- This is Mencken more recently. They sought the gods’ ence of this new religion in Rome.” line these roads as reminders to its. When land became scarce, the time of Zephyrinus, bishop trary, this catacomb, which was favor and assistance by taking part There is, however, an import- passersby of the deceased per- the Romans adopted the Greek of Rome between 198 and 217 and built, decorated, and visited daily, in ancient rituals and feasts. ant exception, as Pergola points out: son whose ashes have been bur- and Eastern custom of hypogea the 15th successor of Peter, with is the sign that their community, Others, however, were on what “The tombs of Peter and Paul, mar- ied there. As the growing Roman — vast communal underground the creation by Deacon Callistus in adopting the practices of other we would today call “spiritual tyred in Rome around 64 or 67 A.D., population needed constant sup- chambers. (who succeeded Zephyrinus until religious groups, was becoming quests,” attracted by different paths were immediately preserved. We are plies, large agricultural estates Philippe Pergola adds: “At the his own martyrdom in 222) of a visible. Even during imperial per- to the divine. Thus, soldiers now certain of their location because we developed outside the city lim- same time, because of the influ- catacomb entirely dedicated to secutions, which were violent but THE VATICAN: MAJESTY • HISTORY • ARTISTRY CATHOLIC DIGEST + SPECIAL EDITION 12 13 1 40 A.D. Under the Vatican, a circus The circus of emperors Caligula and 3 Nero (illustrated here by archeologist Jean-Paul Golvin) was built around 40 A.D. on Vatican Hill, outside the city. Peter was crucified in the year 67 (or perhaps 64) in the middle of 16th this circus, at the foot of the obelisk Century that was later erected in St. Peter’s Square. Peter’s remains were buried From one in a pagan necropolis, a little north basilica to of the site, on the other side of the Via Cornelia. It soon became a place another where Christians went to honor him. At the end of the 16th cen- tury, as seen on the engrav- ing below, the building site of the new St. Peter’s Basili- 3 ca was in full swing, but the 2 dome had yet to be com- 1 pleted. The Vatican Gardens Digest were well developed, even AQUARELLE DE JEAN-CLAUDE GOLVIN - MUSÉE DÉPARTEMENTAL ARLES ANTIQUE - JEAN-CLAUDE GOLVIN/ÉDITIONS ERRANCE ARLES ANTIQUE - JEAN-CLAUDE GOLVIN/ÉDITIONS - MUSÉE DÉPARTEMENTAL DE JEAN-CLAUDEAQUARELLE GOLVIN though the surroundings remained rather bucolic; the 326 A.D. DR popes were known to hunt Site plan of the Roman there on occasion. Beyond Constantine’s circus and the two basilicas the Castel Sant’Angelo, on Basilica (Peter’s necropolis is in red). the other side of the Tiber, one can see the sprawling Emperor Constantine, who now city of Rome. supported Christianity, ordered the construction of an immense basilica, 387 feet long, over Peter’s From Antiquity to tomb. It was dedicated by Pope Syl- the end of the 19th vester I in 326 (or perhaps 324). Its large marble columns that divide century, Vatican its five naves are impressive. As Hill remained rural, can be seen in this 19th-century even though visitors rendering, a large atrium (court) to St. Peter’s and welcomes pilgrims. At the center, a Catholic bronze fountain in the shape of a the arrival of an pine cone (la pigna – see page 46) Samplehas been installed for the ablutions administration and a papal court slowly of the faithful. DEAGOSTINI/LEEMAGE 2 transformed fields into neighborhoods. by Sophie Laurant A Hill Surrounded by Fields AKG-IMAGES THE VATICAN: MAJESTY • HISTORY • ARTISTRY CATHOLIC DIGEST + SPECIAL EDITION BY A BEND IN THE TIBER RIVER As the sun rises, it medieval fortress. A illuminates the entrance to Vauban-style glacis (gentle St. Peter’s, which, unlike at slope), now a garden, many churches, does not embraces it. Between the have its sanctuary in the two, the Via della east end of the church, Conciliazione’s wide and facing Jerusalem. The straight line takes in a location of the apostle’s series of old classical relics and the desire to palaces on either side. On have the entrance doors the north side, the oriented toward the city of 19th-century façades of the Rome dictated this buildings of the Prati orientation. In the bottom district are arranged in a right-hand corner, “modern” Haussmann-like overlooking the plan; they end at the meandering Tiber River, Vatican City walls, simply the layout of Castel disregarding St. Peter’s Sant’Angelo is clearly Square. Beyond, the two visible, with its circular wings of the museums glow imperial mausoleum red in the light of dawn. surrounded by a square 1 Digest 2 3 CatholicSample 28 29 Digest A VAST GRAY-AND-GOLD MARBLE NAVE 2 1 3 4 Past the central bronze The gray marble statues door, designed by placed in the alcoves Antonio Averulino, also between the pillars knownCatholic as Filarete, (1), represent 39 founders of which was salvaged religious orders. At the from the previous level of the third bay, the Sample basilica, the nave floor aisles of the nave lead to is a sprawling “carpet” two large chapels (2). To of colored marble the right, near the 3 geometrical forms. It entrance to the Blessed 2 was undoubtedly Sacrament Chapel, is the designed by Bernini, funeral monument of 4 whose vision Gregory XIII (3). Other 1 transformed the interior papal tombs are found in space of St. Peter’s into the basilica or its crypt. an impressive Baroque Pilgrims are greeted by two jewel box. holy water fonts made of yellow marble (4). THE VATICAN: MAJESTY • HISTORY • ARTISTRY THE APOSTLE PETER SEATED IN MAJESTY Digest throne, blessing the faithful with his right hand while his left holds the keys to the kingdom. For a long time it was thought to be the work of CatholicArnolfo di Cambio, a 13th-century sculptor, but a number of Sample experts have raised questions. More recent hypotheses suggest that it might be a fifth-century An impressive bronze work from a Syriac statue of St. Peter greets workshop. The statue’s pilgrims as they enter the right foot is worn from sanctuary.
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