Day 6, Rome [Priscilla Catacombs] – September 23, 2017

This morning we had a protein breakfast at McDonalds and at 9:00 am assembled in the lobby with Inez, Sharon, Regina, Joe, Sondra, and Wayne to go to the Priscilla Catacombs on via Salaria.  Priscilla, who was a member of a noble Roman family that converted to Christianity, donated the land in the 2^nd century CE for these catacombs, which comprise 8 miles of galleries and over 40,000 tombs.  Hundreds of martyrs and 7 popes are buried here on the three levels.  The galleries and shelves for the dead were dug out of tufa, which is a soft volcanic rock that hardens once exposed to the air.  The bodies were wrapped in cloth, covered with quick lime, and sealed behind marble slabs or terra-cotta tiles on the shelves.  

Sarcophagus for a Child

Shelves Dug from Tufa

 These contain etchings and drawings that reflect the lives of the ordinary people of that time.   

The catacombs contain several fresco-covered “chapels” 

with one depicting scenes from the Old Testament [Jonah and the Whale, Abraham’s Sacrifice of Isaac, the Three Hebrews and the fiery furnace] 

3 in the Fiery Furnace (right hand panel)

and a couple from the life of Christ [three Magi and Christ Raising Lazarus].  Another fresco on the underside of an arch, depicts Mary sitting with the infant Jesus on her lap and a prophet [Balaam] pointing to a star.  This is thought to be a 3^rd century fresco.  

After returning to the convent, we walked to the open air market, which had a great display of vegetables, fish, cheeses, and meats.