|
Roman Catacombs
Origin of the Roman Catacombs
The Roman Christians are
believed to have adopted this custom from the Jewish mode of
interment; and they would wish to follow in this the example
of their Lord, who was laid in an excavated tomb. It was
abhorrent to early Christians to burn their dead. The
Christian religion religion had taught them to value the
body, as an integral part of human nature, and has its own
share in the redemption of man.
The Number of Roman Catacombs
Their customs in relation
to their dead therefore required larger space and as the
Christians grew and multiplied, and more burials took place,
they extended the subterranean passages and galleries in
every direction. It is computed that upwards of six millions
of the bodies of the early Christians were deposited in the
Catacombs.
Roman Catacombs - the Law
The name which these
rock-hewn sepulchres first received was cemeteries, places
of sleep; for the Christians looked upon their dead as only
asleep, to be awakened at the resurrection. And being used
as burial-places, the Catacombs became the property of the
Christians; for, according to Roman law, land which had once
been used for interment became religious, and could not be
transferred for any other purpose.
Roman Catacombs used for
religious meetings
It was long believed that
the Roman Catacombs were made use of as places of abode,
when persecution drove the Christians to seek the loneliest
spots as hiding places although this idea has been has been
disputed by some experts. There can be no doubt, however,
that the Roman Catacombs were employed as places of
religious meeting. Numerous inscriptions found in them
record the problems faced by Christians. No Christian
worship could be performed in the imperial city of Rome
without the risk of discovery and certain death as the
Christian religion was against the Roman law. The
members of the Christian sect were therefore obliged to meet
for worship in these dark vaults. The passages in some
catacombs were expanded into large chambers, and there
divine service was performed; not only for the benefit of
those who came to bury their dead, but also for those who
resided in the city, and were secret Christians.
Roman Catacombs
The content of this Roman Catacombs
category on life in Ancient Rome provides free educational
details, facts and information for reference and research
for schools, colleges and homework. Refer to the
Colosseum Sitemap for a comprehensive search on interesting
different categories containing the history, facts and
information about Ancient Rome.
|
