Part 71

_Christian Inscriptions_ are all funereal, and are for the most part found in the catacombs, or subterranean cemeteries. The word cemetery is derived from a Greek word, meaning "a sleeping place," hence the frequent formulæ in the Christian epitaphs, "dormit in pace," he sleeps in peace; "dormitio Elpidis," the sleeping place of Elpis; "cubiculum Aureliæ," the sleeping chamber of Aurelia. The term catacomb was applied to these subterranean cemeteries at a much later period. The practice of subterranean burial among the early Christians was evidently derived from the Jewish custom of burying the dead in excavated sepulchres, and thus may have been adopted by the early Jewish converts. The Roman Jews had a very early catacomb of their own, in the Monte Verde, contiguous to their place of abode, in the Trasteverine quarter of Rome. This subterranean mode of sepulture is undoubtedly of Egyptian origin. It is generally supposed that the early Christians used for their burial places the excavations made by the Romans for procuring stone and cement for building purposes. This is an erroneous view. Recent geological observations on the soil of the Agro Romano have shown that the surface of the Campagna consists of volcanic rocks of different natures and ages. The earliest of the series, the tufa lithoide, was constantly employed from the earliest ages in the buildings of the city, as attested by the massive blocks of the Cloaca Maxima, the tabularium of the Capitol, and the walls of Romulus; the second, or tufa granolare, which though it has just consistency enough to retain the form given to it by the excavator, can not be hewn or extracted in blocks; and the pozzolana, which has been extensively used in all ages for mortar or Roman cement. The tufa lithoide and the pozzolana were thus alone used for building purposes by the Romans, and the catacombs are never found excavated in these. The catacombs were hewn only in the tufa granolare, and were consequently excavated expressly for burials by the early Christians. The Christian architects carefully avoided the massive strata of the tufa lithoide, and we believe it is ascertained that all the known catacombs are driven exclusively along the courses of the tufa granolare. With equal care these subterranean engineers avoided the layers of pozzolana, which would have rendered their work insecure, and in which no permanent rock tomb could have been constructed. Thus we arrive at the curious fact, that in making the catacombs the excavators carefully avoided the strata of hard stone and the strata of soft stone, used respectively for building and for mortar, and selected that course of medium hardness which was best adapted to their peculiar purpose. The early Christian tomb inscriptions are characterized by symbols and formulæ peculiar to the Christian creed; the idea of another life, a life beyond the grave, usually prevails in them.

The symbols found in connection with the funereal inscriptions are of three kinds; the larger proportion of these refer to the profession of Christianity, its doctrines and its graces. A second class, of a

## partly secular description, only indicate the trades of the deceased,

and the remainder represent proper names: thus a lion must be read as a proper name, _Leo_; an ass, _Onager_; a dragon, _Dracontius_. Of the first kind the most usually met with is the monogram of Christ. The other symbols generally in use are the ship, the emblem of the church; the fish, the emblem of Christ, the palm, the symbol of martyrdom. The anchor represented hope in immortality; the dove, peace; the stag reminded the faithful of the pious aspiration of the Psalmist; the horse was the emblem of strength in the faith; the hunted hare, of persecution; the peacock and the phoenix stood for signs of the resurrection. Christ, as the good pastor, was also introduced in the epitaph. Even personages of the Pagan mythology were introduced, which the Christians employed in a concealed sense, as Orpheus, enchanting the wild beasts with the music (see page 701) of his lyre, was the secret symbol of Christ as the civilizer of men leading all nations to the faith. Ulysses, fastened to the mast of his ship, was supposed to present some faint resemblance to the crucifixion.

In classifying the Roman inscriptions, M. de Rossi has adopted the following divisions. The first comprises those inscriptions only which contain some express note of time, and are therefore susceptible of exact chronological arrangement. The second comprises the select inscriptions, viz.: first, sacred and historical ones, and next those which, either by testimony, by forms, or by symbols, illustrate the doctrines, the worship, or the morals of the Christians. The third, the purely topographical, assigns each inscription its proper place among the ancient localities of Rome. This comprises also inscriptions of unknown or uncertain locality, as well as inscriptions of spurious origin or doubtful authenticity.

In considering the chronological arrangements of Christian inscriptions, it is important to keep in view that in the earlier centuries the Christians kept note of time either by the years of the bishop, or by some of the civil forms which prevailed in the various countries in which they resided. In Rome the common date was that of the consular year. The common use of the Christian era as a note of time began, as is well known, later than the sixth century, at which M. de Rossi's series terminates. In M. de Rossi's collection one inscription bears date from the year A.D. 107, and another from 111. Of the period from the year 204, in which the next inscription with a date occurs, till the peace of the church in 312, twenty-eight dated inscriptions have been found; after the peace of the church the number of dated inscriptions increases rapidly. Between the accession of Constantine and the close of the fourth century, his collection contains 450 dated inscriptions, and the fifth century presents about the same number; but in the sixth, the number again declines, that century producing little more than 200.

In those cases where no note of time is marked, M. de Rossi has availed himself of other chronological indications and tests, founded on the language, on the style, on the names, and on the material execution of the inscription, in determining the date. Out of the 11,000 extant Roman inscriptions anterior to the seventh century, M. de Rossi finds chronological evidence of the date of no fewer than 1374.

There are also varieties in inflection, such as "spiritu sancta" for "spiritu sancto," "pauperorum," for "pauperum," "vocitus" for "vocatus," "requiescent" for "requiescunt," etc.

There are also new or unusual terms, or new familiar words in new or unusual meanings, such as "pausavit, rested, bisomus, trisomus, quadrisomus," holding two, three, four bodies; compar and conpar (husband and wife); fecit for egit, _passed_; "percepit," received, _scil._ baptism, as also "consecutus est," in the same sense, etc.

Sometimes Latin is written in Greek characters and sometimes Greek in Latin.

The age is expressed by "vixit," or "vixit in sæculo," "annos" (or "annis") "menses," "dies" (or "diebus") ----, with the number of hours sometimes stated. Sometimes "qui fuit" stands for "vixit;" sometimes neither is expressed, and we have the form in the genitive, "sal. annorum," etc.

Frequently the time passed in married life is mentioned, and we find such phrases as "vixit mecum, duravit mecum, vixit in conjugio, fecit mecum, fecit in conjugio, fecit cum compare," with a precise statement of the number of years, etc., and often with some expression marking the happiness of the couple's married life.

The epithets applied to the deceased indicate strong affection, and the eulogies are sometimes extravagant.

The occupation or position in life is stated, with the proper titles, in many dated Christian epitaphs. But they are all, it is supposed, later than the time of Constantine.

The same designations of the place of burial and of the tomb are found in both Christian and Pagan epitaphs.

Acclamations or expressions of good wishes or prayers to or for the deceased frequently occur in the inscriptions.

The letters also of these inscriptions are usually very irregular. They are from half an inch to four inches in height, colored in the incision with a pigment resembling Venetian red. The sense, too, of the inscriptions is not always very obvious. An extreme simplicity of language and sentiment is the prevailing characteristic of the earlier inscriptions. But, on the other hand, exaggerated examples of the opposite style are occasionally met with.

Another peculiarity in these Christian inscriptions is the disuse of the three names usually assumed by the Romans. M. de Rossi has given twenty inscriptions with the names complete, prior to Constantine. Of these, no fewer than seventeen have prænomina, whereas after Constantine prænomina may be said entirely to disappear.

The year is usually indicated by the names of the consuls. The abbreviation COS for "consulibus" was in use up to the middle of the third century, when COSS, CONS, and CONSS began to be adopted; COS is very seldom found during the fourth century, and almost never in the fifth or sixth; COSS fell into disuse about the first quarter of the fifth century, and after that CONS was used; in the time of Diocletian with S for one consul and SS for two. At the same time CC. SS. CS were introduced, but they were very rarely used in the fifth, and there is scarcely an example of them in the sixth. From about the middle of the fourth century CONS began to be placed before instead of after the names, and this usage became the prevalent custom in the fifth and sixth.

At the date of the discovery of the Roman catacombs, the whole body of known Christian inscriptions collected from all parts of Italy fell far short of a thousand in number. Of these, too, not a single one was of subterranean origin, and not dated earlier than A.D. 553. At present the Christian inscriptions of Rome on catacombs alone, and anterior to the sixth century, considerably exceed 11,000. They have been carefully removed from the cemeteries, and are now systematically arranged by M. de Rossi, on the walls of the Christian museum, recently formed by order of Pius IX., in the Lateran Palace. A large number of these inscriptions are also inserted in the walls of the Galleria Lapidaria in the Vatican.

EARLY INSCRIPTIONS.

VG. VESPASIANO III COS IAN A.D. 71.

This fragment has been received as a part of a Christian epitaph by Reggi, Marini and de Rossi. It is the most ancient of all such as bear dates.

SERVILIA. ANNORVM. XIII PIS. ET BOL. COSS.

Servilia, aged thirteen, died in the consulate of Piso and Bolanus. A.D. 111.

TEMPORE. ADRIANI. IMPERATORIS. MARVIS. ADOLESCENS DVX. MILITVM QVI SATIS. VIXIT DVM VITAM PRO CHO CVM. SANGVINE CONSVNSIT. IN. PACE. TANDEM QUIEVIT. BENE MERENTES CVM. LACRIMIS. ET. METV. POSVERVNT. I.D. VI.

"In the time of the Emperor Adrian, Marius, a young military officer who had lived long enough, when with blood he gave up his life for Christ. At length he rested in peace. The well-deserving set up this with tears and in fear, on the 6th before the ides." A.D. 130.

ALEXANDER MORTVVS NON EST SED VIVIT SVPER ASTRA ET CORPVS IN HOC TVMVLO QVIESCIT VITAM EXPLEVIT SVS ANTONINO IMP^o QVIVBI MVLTVM BENE FITII ANTEVENIRE PRAEVIDERET PROGRATIA ODIVM REDDIDIT GENVA ENIM FLECTENS VERO DEO SACRIFICATVRVS AD SVPPLICIA DVCITVRO TEMPORA INFAVSTA QVIBVS INTER SACRA ET VOTA NE IN CAVERNIS QVIDEM SALVARI POSSIMVS QVID MISERIVS VITA SED QVID MISERIVS IN MORTE CVM AB AMICIS ET PARENTIBVS SEPELIRI NEQVEANT TANDEM IN COELO CORVSCANT PARVM VIXIT QVI VIXIT IV. X. TEM.

"In Christ. Alexander is not dead, but lives beyond the stars, and his body rests in this tomb. He lived under the Emperor Antoninus, who, foreseeing that great benefit would result from his services, returned evil for good. For, while on his knees, and about to sacrifice to the true God, he was led away to execution. O, sad times! in which sacred rites and prayers, even in caverns, afford no protection to us. What can be more wretched than such a life? and what than such a death? when they could not be buried by their friends and relations. At length they sparkle in heaven. He has scarcely lived who has lived in Christian times." A.D. 160.

_From the Cemetery of St. Callisto._

AVRELIA DULCISSIMA FILIA QVAE DE. SAECVLO RECESSIT VIXIT ANN. XV. M. IIII. SEVERO ET QVINTIN COSS.

"Aurelia; our sweetest daughter, who departed from the world. She lived fifteen years and four months. Severus and Quintinus being consuls." A.D. 325.

Consule Claudio et Paterno, nonis Novembribus, die Veneris, luna XXIV, Leuces filiæ Severæ carissimæ posuit et spiritui sancto tuo. Mortua annorum LV et mensium XI dierum X.

"In the consulship of Claudius and Paternus, on the nones of November, on Friday, the 24th day of the moon, Leuce erected (this memorial) to her very dear daughter, and to thy holy spirit. She (died at the age) of fifty-five years, and eleven months, (and) ten days." A.D. 269.

D. M. P. LIBERIO VICXIT ANN N. V MENSES N. III DIES N. VIII R. ANICIO FAVSTO ET VIRIO GALLO COSS

"Publius Liberio lived five years, three months, and eight days. He retired (from this world) in the consulship of Anicius Faustus and Virius Gallus." A.D. 298.

B.M. CVBICVLVM. AVRELIAE. MARTINAE. CASTISSIMAE ADQVE. PVDI. CISSIMAE FEMINAE QVE FECIT. IN. COIVGIO. ANN. XXIII. D. XIIII. BENE MERENTI. QVE VIXIT. ANN. XL. M. XI. D. XIII. DEPOSITIO EIS DIE. III. NONAS. OCT. NEPOTIANO. ET FACVNDO. CONNS. IN PACE

"To the well-deserving.

The chamber of Aurelia Martina, my wife, most chaste and modest, who lived in wedlock twenty-three years and fourteen days. To the well-deserving one, who lived forty years, eleven months, and thirteen days. Her burial was on the third nones of October. Nepotianus and Facundus being consuls." In peace. A.D. 336. _Galleria Lapidaria. Vatican._

Another in Greek characters:

"Here lies Euterpe, the companion of the Muses, having lived simply and piously, and irreproachably for fifteen years, twenty-two days, and three months. She died on the fifth day before the calends of December, in consulship of our lords, for the tenth time, and for the third time (_i.e._, in the Consulship of Constantine, for the tenth time, and Julian for the third time)." A.D. 360.

ROMANO. NEOFITO BENEMERENTI QVI VI XIT. ANNOS. VIII. DXV. REQVIESCIT IN PACE DN FL. GRATIANO. AVG. II. ET. PETRONIO PROBO. CS.

"To Romanus, the neophyte, the well-deserving, who lived eight years, fifteen days. He rests in the peace of the Lord. Flavius and Gratianus and Petronius Probus being consuls."

HIC QVIESCIT ANCILLA DEI QVE DE SVA OMNIO POSSIDIT DOMVM ISTA QVEM AMICE DEFLEN SOLACIVMQ REQVIRVNT. PRO HVNC VNVM ORA SVBOLEM QVEM SVPERIS. TITEM REQVISTI ETERNA REQVIEM FELICITA. S. CAVSA MANBIS IIIIX. KALENDAS OTOBRIS CVCVRBITINVS ET ABVMDANTIVS HIC SIMVL QVIESCIT DD. NN. GRATIANO V. ET TEODOSIO. AAGG.

Hic quiescit ancilla Dei, quæ de suis omnibus possidet domum istam, quam amicæ deflent solaciumque requirunt. Pro hac una ora subole, quam superstitem reliquisti. Æterna in requie felicitatis causa manebis, XIV. kalendis Octobris, Cucurbitinus et Abumdantius hic simul quiescunti. DDNN Gratiano v et Theodosio Augustis (Consulibus).

"Here rests a handmaid of God, who out of all her riches now possesses but this one house, whom her friends bewail, and seek in vain for consolation. Oh pray for this one remaining daughter, whom thou hast left behind! Thou wilt remain in the eternal repose of happiness. On the 14 of the Calends of October. Curcurbitinus and Abumdantius rest here together. In the consulship of our Lords Gratian (V.) and Theodosius Emperors." A.D. 380.

HIC POSITA EST ANIMA DVLCES INNOCA SAPIENS ET PVLCHRA NOMINE QUIRIACE QVE VIXIT. ANNOS. III. M III. DVIII. DP IN PACE IIII. ID IAN. CONSS. DN. TEVDOSIO. AVG. II ET MEROBAVDE. VC. III

Hic posita est anima dulces (dulcis) innoca (innocua), sapiens et pulchra, nomine Quiriace, quæ vixit annos III., menses III., dies VIII. Deposita in pace, IV. Idus Januarias, Consulibus Domino nostro Teudosio (Theodoric) Augusto II. et Merobaude Vire Clarissimo III.

"Here has been laid a sweet spirit, guileless, wise and beautiful, by name Quiriace, who lived three years, three months, and eight days. Buried in peace, in the fourth day before the Ides of January, in the consulship of our Lord Theodorius Augustus, for the second time, and Merobaudes, a most distinguished man, for the third time." A.D. 388.

PERPETVAM SEDEM NVTRITOR POSSIDES IPSE HIC MERITVS FINEM MAGNIS DEFVNCTE PERICLIS HIC REQVIEM FELIX SVMIS COGENTIBVS ANNIS HIC POSITVS PAPAS ANTIMIOO VIXIT ANNIS LXX DEPOSITVS DOMINO NOSTRO ARCADIO II ET FL. RVFINO VVCCSS NONAS NOBEMB.

"You, our nursing father, occupy a perpetual seat, being dead, and deserving an end of your great dangers. Here happy, you find rest, bowed down with years. Here lies the tutor, Antimio, who lived seventy years. Buried on the nones of November; our Lords Arcadius for the second time, and Flavius Rufinus being consuls." A.D. 392. _Galleria Lapidaria._

HIC REQVIESCET IN SOMNO PACIS MALA QVI VIXIT ANNOS XXXVIII. M. V. DV. ACCEPTA APVT DE IV. IDVS IVNIAS AETIO CONL.

Hic requiescet (requiescit) in somno pacis, Mala qui (quæ) vixit annos XXXVIII. menses V. dies V. Accepta aput (apud) De(um) IV idus Junias. Aetio Consule.

"Here rests in the sleep of peace Mala, who lived thirty-eight years, five months, five days. Received before God, on the fourth day before the Ides of June, in the consulship of Aetius." A.D. 432.

LEVIVAE CONIVNX PETRONIA FORMA PVDORIS HIS MEA DEPONENS SEDISVS OSSA LOCO PARCITE VOS LACRIMIS DVLCES CVM CONIVGE NATAE VIVENTEMQVE DEO CREDITE FLERE NEFAS DP IN PACE III NON OCTOBRIS FESTO VC. CONSS.

"Petronia, a priest's wife, the type of modesty. In this place I lay my bones; spare your tears, dear husband and daughters, and believe that it is forbidden to weep for one who lives in God. Buried in peace on the 3d nones of October, in the consulate of Festus." A.D. 472.

IN PACE AVRELIO. FELICI QVI BIXIT CVM COIVCE ANNOS X. VIII DVLCIS. IN COIVGIO BONE MEMORIE BIXIT. ANNOS. L. V RAPTVS ETERNE DOMVS. XII KAL. IENVARIAS.

"In peace To Aurelius Felix, who lived with his wife eighteen years in sweetest wedlock. Of good memory. He lived fifty-five years. Snatched away eternally on the twelfth kalend of January."

IRENE IN PACE. ARETVSA IN DEO

"Irene sleeps in peace." "Aretusa sleeps in God."

[Illustration: "Valeria sleeps in peace."]

ZOTICVS HIC AD DORMIEN DVM. "Zoticus laid here to sleep."

DOMITIANUS ANIMA SIMPLEX DORMIT IN PACE.

"Domitianus, a simple soul, sleeps in peace."

NICEFORVS ANIMA DVLCIS IN REFRIGERIO.

"Nicephorus, a sweet soul, in a place of refreshment."

PRIMITIVS IN PACE QVI POST MVLTAS. ANGVSTIAS FORTISSIMVS MARTYR ET. VIXIT. ANNOS P.M. XXXVIII CONIVG. SVO PERDVLCISSIMO BENEMERENTI FECIT.

"Primitius in peace: a most valiant martyr after many torments. Aged 38. His wife raised this to her dearest well-deserving husband."

LANNVS XPI. MARTIR HIC REQVIESCIT. SVB DIOCLIZIANO PASSVS.

"Lannus, a martyr of Christ, rests here. He suffered under Diocletian."

NABIRA IN PACE ANIMA DVLCIS QVI BIXIT ANNOS XVI. M. V ANIMA MELEIEA TITVLV FACTV A PARENTES

"Navira in peace; a sweet soul who lived sixteen years and five months; a soul sweet as honey: this epitaph was made by her parents."

SEVERO FILIO DVL CISSIMO LAVRENTIVS PATER BENEMERENTI QVI BI XIT ANN. IIII. ME. VIII. DIES V. ACCERSITVS AB ANGELIS VII. IDVS. IANVA.

"Laurence to his sweetest son Severus, borne away by angels on the 7th ides of January."

MACVS PVER INNOCENS ESSE IAMINTER INNOCENTIS COEPISTI. QVAM STAVILES TIVI HAEC VITA EST QVAM TELETVM EXCIP ET MATER ECLESIAE DEOC MVNDO REVERTENTEM COMPREMATVR PECTORVM GEMITVS STRVATVR FLETVS OCVLORVM.

"Macus (or Marcus) an innocent boy. You have already begun to be among the innocent ones. How enduring is such a life to you! How gladly will your mother, the church of God, receive you, returning to this world! Let us restrain our sighs and cease from weeping." _Galleria Lapidaria._

PAX HIC MIHI SEMPER DOLOR ERIT IN AEVO ET TVVM BENERABILEM BVLTVM LICEAT VIDERE SOPORE CONIVNX ALBANAQVE MIHI SEMPER CASTA PVDICA RELICTVM ME TVO GREMIO QVEROR. QYOD MIHI SANCTVM TE DEDERAT DIVINITVS AVTOR RELICTIS TVIS IACES IN PACE SOPORE MERITA RESVRGIS TEMPORALIS TIBI DATA REQVETIO QVE VIXIT ANNIS XLV. MENV. DIES XIII DEPOSITA IN PACE FECIT PLACVS MARITVS

Peace. "This grief will always weigh upon me: may it be granted me to behold in sleep your revered countenance. My wife, Albana, always chaste and modest, I grieve, deprived of your support, for our Divine Author gave you to me as a sacred (boon). You, well-deserving one, having left your (relations), lie in peace--in sleep--you will arise--a temporary rest is granted you. She lived forty-five years, five months, and thirteen days. Buried in peace. Placus, her husband, made this." _Galleria Lapidaria._

CHURCH OF S. SEBASTIAN "IN CATACUMBIS."

I. INSCRIPTION OF POPE DAMASUS IN HONOR OF S. EUTYCHIUS, THE MARTYR, IN TWELVE VERSES (on the left hand on entering the church). These inscriptions are very numerous in the catacombs, and all of this beautiful calligraphy, and usually in Latin verse, not without elegance of style, though the construction of the sentences is sometimes not clear. Damasus restored all the catacombs, after they had been damaged during the persecution under Julian the Apostate.

EVTYCHIVS. MARTYR. CRVDELIA. IVSSA. TYRANNI CARNIFICVMQ. VIAS. PARITER. TVNC. MILLE. NOCENDI VINCERE. QVOD. POTVIT. MONSTRAVIT. GLORIA. CHRISTV CARCERIS. INLVVIEM. SEQVITVR. NOVA. POENA. PER. ARTVS TESTARVM. FRAGMENTA. PARANT. NE. SOMNVS. ADIRET BISSENI. TRANSIERE. DIES. ALIMENTA. NEGANTVR MITTITVR. IN. BARATHRUM. SANCTVS. LAVAT. OMNIA. SANGVIS VVLNERA. QVAE. INTVLERAT. MORTIS. METVENDA. TOTESTAS NOCTE. SOPORIFERA. TVRBANT. INSOMNIA. MENTEM OSTENDIT. LATEBRA. INSONTIS. QVAE. MEMBRA. TENERET QVAERITVR. INVENTVS. COLITVR. FOVET. OMNIA. PRESTANS EXPRESSIT. DAMASVS. MERITVM. VENERARE. SEPVLCHQVM F

"That Eutychius, the Martyr, was able to overcome the cruel orders of the tyrant, and equally at that time the executioners' thousand ways of torment, the glory of Christ shewed. A new punishment follows the filth of the prison. They provide breaking of tiles on his limbs, to prevent sleep approaching. Twice six days passed, food is refused. The saint is thrown into a pit, blood bedews all the wounds which the dread power of death had caused. In night, which usually brings sleep, sleeplessness troubles his mind. The place of concealment which held the limbs of the innocent, manifested them(?). He is sought for, being found he is reverenced, he benefits all things. Damasus shewed forth his exceeding merit; venerate his tomb."

2. ANOTHER INSCRIPTION IN THE SAME CATACOMB CHURCH (over a door on the right-hand side, looking towards the altar).

VISITET. HIC. PIA. MENS. SCTORVM. BVSTA. FREQVENTER IN. CRISTO. QVORVM. GLORIA. PERPES. ERIT

HIC. EST. CEMETERI[=V]. BEATI. CHALIXTI. PAPE. ET. MARTIRIS INCLITI. QVIC[=V]QVE. ILLVD. C[=O]TRICTVS. ET. C[=O]FESSVS. INGRESSVS FVERIT. PLENAM. REMISSIO[=N]E. OMNI[=V]. PE[=C]TOR[=V]. SVOR[=V]. OBTINEBIT PER. MERITA. GLORIOSA. CENT[=V]. SEPTVAGINTA. QVATVOR. MILI[=V] S[=C]TOR[=V]. MARTIR[=V]. QVOR[=V]. IBI. CORPORA. IN. PACE. SEPVLTA. S[=V][=T] VNA. C[=V]. QVADRAGINTA. SEX. PONTIFICIBVS. BEATIS. QVI. OMNES EX MAGNA. TRIBVLATIONE. VENER[=V]T. ET. VT. HEREDES. IN. DOMO DOMINI. FIER[=E]T. MORTIS. SVPPLICIVM. PRO. CRISTI. NOMINE PERTVLERVNT

"Here let the pious mind often visit the tombs of the saints, Whose glory will be everlasting in Christ."

"Here is the cemetery of the blessed Calixtus, renowned Pope and Martyr. Whoever shall have entered it contrite and after confession, shall obtain full remission of all his sins, through the glorious merits of 174,000 martyr saints, whose bodies are buried here in peace, together with forty-six blessed pontiffs, who all came out of great tribulation, and suffered the punishment of death for Christ's name, that they might become heirs in the Lord's house."

PAINTINGS.