The Catacombs of San Callisto, Rome

The Catacombs of San Callisto, Rome

Spread over 15 hectares on the Appian Way, the Catacombs of San Callisto (Callixtus) was the burial site of 16 Popes and over 50 martyrs from the 2nd to 4th centuries.

Spread over 15 hectares on the Appian Way, the Catacombs of San Callisto (Callixtus) was the burial site of 16 Popes and over 50 martyrs from the 2nd to 4th centuries. It is part of a larger complex that includes a cemetery.

The underground network stretches for almost 20 kilometres, with various dedicated crypts that once held relics which were subsequently translated to other churches. The Crypt of Lucina, Crypt of the Popes, and Crypt of Santa Cecilia are the oldest parts. The other regions are the San Gaius and San Eusebius from the late 3rd century, Western from the first half of the 4th century, and Liberian from the second half of the 4th century.

The Crypt of the Popes contained the remains of 3rd century Popes - Pontianus, Sixtus II, Fabianus, Felix, Anterus, Eutychian, Dionysius, and Lucius. Some of the walls have Greek inscriptions which indicate the original location of the tombs. The Crypt of St Eusebius had the tombs of Popes Gaius and Eusebius, while the exact location of the tombs of Cornelius, Melchiades, Stephen and Urban I are not known.

The adjacent Crypt of Santa Cecilia has early 9th century frescoes on the walls depicting Saint Cecilia praying, the bust of the Redeemer and Pope Urban I. Nearby, a gallery from the 2nd century has frescoes alluding to baptism, the Eucharist and the resurrection of the flesh.

There are various other features such as ✓a child's sarcophagus sculpted with biblical episodes in the region of Saint Militiades, ✓ancient paintings in the cubicula of the Sacraments, ✓inscriptions in the Liberian catacomb, ✓rhythmic inscriptions in the passage of the martyrs Calocerus and Parthenius as well as the double cubicle of Severus, ✓7th - 8th century Byzantine style paintings with figures of Popes Sixtus II and Cornelius, and the African bishops Cyprian and Ottatus, and ✓frescoes of the Good Shepherd with oranges, and two fish with a basket of bread on the back, a symbol of the Eucharist.

Of the many structures that occupied the part above ground, only 2 apsed funeral edifices are still visible - the eastern and the western trichorae.