W. H. WITHROW, M.A.
Reading edition
WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS.
London:
HODDER AND STOUGHTON,
27, PATERNOSTER ROW.
MDCCCLXXXVIII.
Hazell, Watson, and Viney, Ld. Printers, London and Aylesbury.
PREFACE.
The present work, it is hoped, will supply a want long felt in the literature of the Catacombs. That literature, it is true, is very voluminous; but it is for the most part locked up in rare and costly folios in foreign languages, and inaccessible to the general reader. Recent discoveries have refuted some of the theories and corrected many of the statements of previous books in English on this subject; and the present volume is the only one in which the latest results of exploration are fully given, and interpreted from a Protestant point of view.
The writer has endeavored to illustrate the subject by frequent pagan sepulchral inscriptions, and by citations from the writings of the Fathers, which often throw much light on the condition of early Christian society. The value of the work is greatly enhanced, it is thought, by the addition of many hundreds of early Christian inscriptions carefully translated, a very large proportion of which have never before appeared in English. Those only who have given some attention to epigraphical studies can conceive the difficulty of this part of the work. The defacements of time, and frequently the original imperfection of the inscriptions and the ignorance of their writers, demand the utmost carefulness to avoid errors of interpretation. The writer has been fortunate in being assisted by the veteran scholarship of the Rev. Dr. McCaul, well known in both Europe and America as one of the highest living authorities in epigraphical science, under whose critical revision most of the translations have passed. Through the enterprise of the publishers this work is more copiously illustrated, from original and other sources, than any other work on the subject in the language; thus giving more correct and vivid impressions of the unfamiliar scenes and objects delineated than is possible by any mere verbal description. References are given, in the foot-notes, to the principal authorities quoted, but specific acknowledgment should here be made of the author’s indebtedness to the Cavaliere De Rossi’s Roma Sotterranea and Inscriptiones Christianæ, by far the most important works on this fascinating but difficult subject.
Believing that the testimony of the Catacombs exhibits, more strikingly than any other evidence, the immense contrast between primitive Christianity and modern Romanism, the author thinks no apology necessary for the somewhat polemical character of portions of this book which illustrate that fact. He trusts that it will be found a contribution of some value to the historical defense of the truth against the corruptions and innovations of Popish error.
CONTENTS.
Book First.
THE STRUCTURE AND HISTORY OF THE CATACOMBS.
ChapterPage
I.The Structure of the Catacombs11
II.The Origin and Early History of the Catacombs49
III.The Disuse and Abandonment of the Catacombs120
IV.The Rediscovery and Exploration of the Catacombs150
V.The Principal Catacombs164
Book Second.
THE ART AND SYMBOLISM OF THE CATACOMBS.
I.Early Christian Art203
II.The Symbolism of the Catacombs225
III.The Biblical Paintings of the Catacombs282
IV.Objects found in the Catacombs362
Book Third.
THE INSCRIPTIONS OF THE CATACOMBS.
I.General Character of the Inscriptions395
II.The Doctrinal Teachings of the Inscriptions415
III.Early Christian Life and Character as read in the Catacombs453
IV.Ministry, Rites, and Institutions of the Primitive Church as Indicated in the Catacombs506
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
Fig.Page
1.Entrance to Catacomb of St. Priscilla12
2.Entrance to Catacomb of St. Prætextatus16
3.Part of Callixtan Catacomb17
4.Gallery with Tombs18
5.Interior of Corridor20
6.Loculi—Open and Closed23
7.Tomb of Valeria24
8.Arcosolium with Perforated Slab25
9.Plan of Double Chamber26
10.Section of Gallery and Cubicula27
11.Suite of Chambers28
12.Vaulted Chamber with Columns29
13.Cubiculum with Arcosolia30
14.Section of Catacomb of Callixtus32
15.Cubicula with Luminare35
16.Gallery in St. Hermes42
17.Part of Wall of Gallery in St. Hermes42
18.Slab in Jewish Catacomb51
19.Epitaph of Martyrus66
20.Reputed Martyr Symbol77
21.Epitaph of Lannus, a Martyr98
22.Secret Stairway in Catacomb of Callixtus101
23.Diogenes the Fossor133
24.Fossor at Work134
25.Tombs on Appian Way165
26.Plan of Area in Callixtan Catacomb171
27.Plan of Crypt of St. Peter and St. Paul187
28.Crypt of St. Peter and St. Paul188
29.Section of Catacomb of Helena191
30.Entrance to Catacomb of St. Agnes195
31.Mithraic Painting216
32.Leaf Point227
33.Phonetic Symbol—Leo229
34.Phonetic Symbol—Porcella230
35.Phonetic Symbol—Nabira230
36.Wool-comber’s Implements231
37.Carpenter’s Implements231
38.Vine Dresser’s Tomb232
39.Symbolical Anchor234
40.Symbolical Ship235
41.Symbolical Palm and Crown236
42.Symbolical Doves237
43.Symbolical Dove238
44.Doves and Vase238
45.Locus Primi238
46.Symbolical Peacock240
47.The Good Shepherd245
48.Good Shepherd with Syrinx246
49.Symbolical Lamb249
50.Symbolical Fish255
51.Symbolical Fish256
52.Fish and Anchor256
53.Fish and Dove256
54.Eucharistic Symbol256
55.Constantinian Monogram265
56.Early Christian Seal266
57.Various Forms of Monogram267
58.Epitaph of Tasaris267
59.Opisthographæ268
60.Early Christian Seal270
61.Monogram and Cross270
62.The Temptation and Fall284
63.Adam and Eve Receiving their Sentence285
64.Noah in the Ark286
65.Noah in the Ark287
66.Noah in the Ark, from Sarcophagus287
67.Apamean Medal288
68.Sacrifice of Isaac289
69.Sacrifice of Isaac289
70.Moses on Horeb290
71.Moses Receiving the Law290
72.Moses and the Baskets of Manna291
73.Moses Striking the Rock291
74.Moses Striking the Rock291
75.The Sufferings of Job293
76.Ascension of Elijah295
77.The Three Hebrew Children296
78.The Three Hebrew Children297
79.The Three Hebrew Children298
80.Daniel in the Lions’ Den299
81.The Story of Jonah300
82.Jonah, Moses, and Oranti301
83.Jonah and the Great Fish302
84.Noah and Jonah302
85.Jonah’s Gourd304
86.Adoration of Magi305
87.Adoration of Magi306
88.Orante309
89.Supposed Madonna311
90.Earliest Madonna312
91.Christ with the Doctors324
92.Christ and the Woman of Samaria325
93.Paralytic Carrying Bed325
94.Woman with Issue of Blood326
95.Miracle of Loaves and Fishes327
96.Opening the Eyes of the Blind327
97.Christ Blessing a Little Child328
98.Lazarus (rude)330
99.Lazarus (in fresco)330
100.Lazarus (in relief)331
101.Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem331
102.Peter’s Denial of Christ332
103.Pilate Washing his Hands333
104.Sculptured Sarcophagus334
105.Painted Chamber339
106.Oldest Extant Head of Christ (mosaic)347
107.God Symbolized by a Hand356
108.God as Pope359
109.Domestic Group in Gilt Glass366
110.Reputed Martyr Relic371
111.Reputed Martyr Symbol374
112.Symbolical Lamp377
113.Symbolical Lamp378
114.Vases from the Catacombs381
115.Amphora from the Catacombs382
116.Earthen and Metal Vessels383
117.Early Christian Ring385
118.Early Christian Seal385
119.Impressions of Seals386
120.Children’s Toys387
121.Statue of Good Shepherd390
122.Epitaph of Gemella401
123.Epitaph of Ligurius Successus402
124.Epitaph of Domitius402
125.Epitaph Inverted404
126.Epitaph Reversed404
127.Epitaph of Cassta405
128.Triple Epitaph405
129.Belicia500
130.Chamber with Catechumens’ Seats 531
131.Baptismal Font537
132.Baptism of Our Lord538
133.Baptismal Scene539
134.Fresco of Early Christian Agape546
BOOK FIRST.
STRUCTURE AND HISTORY OF THE CATACOMBS.