The Christian Catacombs of Rome

The fourth revised and updated edition of a comprehensive publication on the Christian catacombs of Rome, which presents the current results of international catacomb research in a clear, comprehensive and up-to-date manner. The Christian catacombs are important for the history of Early Christian art, as they contain the great majority of examples from before about 400 AD, in fresco and sculpture. Three leading experts, who have been familiar with the subject for decades, as professors at Roman universities, deal with all the relevant questions on the topography, iconography and epigraphy of the catacombs. Vincenzo Fiocchi Nicolai discusses the origin and development of the catacombs from their creation in the Severan era to their abandonment and decline in the early Middle Ages. Fabrizio Bisconti's comments on the splendid painting of the catacombs focus in particular on pagan and Christian pictorial themes and their mutual influence. Through selected examples, Danilo Mazzoleni examines the content of the funerary inscriptions, providing fascinating insights into the daily life of the early Christians, which captivate the reader with their immediacy and topicality. The volume, updated in content and bibliography, is a reliable companion in this field of research. In 2025, the number of Roman catacombs open to the public has been increased. They are among the most important testimonies to early Christianity and are also the site of numerous martyrs' graves. They are important stations on the jubilee pilgrimage.