The Catacombs of Rome and the Rise of Christianity
The Catacombs of Rome and the Rise of Christianity
Alexis Dinsbach
Colorado Technical University Online
Professor Justine James
June 3, 2013
Abstract The early Christians buried many of their followers and leaders in a location right outside of present day Rome, Italy. The site is known as the Catacombs and enlisted over six million Christian burials. During the first era of Christianity, its religion was outlawed by the Romans. Followers of Jesus Christ were struggling to worship their faith. Romans would punish worshipers by death. Christianity did not fail even with it being outlawed. Followers of the faith would go by other means to promote their beliefs to their friends and neighbors. They would have to go to other areas were they could not be prosecuted.
The ancient Romans once buried their most devout Christian leaders for worship during the first upcoming of Christianity. The burial grounds today are known as the Catacombs, located right outside of Rome, Italy and can be visited through group tours. Images can be seen in art form in mosaics and paintings that portray stories of the Bible on the inside of the burial ground, on top of the grave tombs and on walls, which symbolize the importance of the leaders in the church. A number of over six million burials have been found and recorded to this day with some of the site still being uncovered. The results of the ancient Roman Catacombs were driven by early devout Christians to sanctify the religion and promoted today 's influence of Christianity. Images that are portrayed inside the grounds are scripts from the Bible that tell stories of the apostles of Jesus Christ. Recently, in 2010, the oldest images of Peter, Paul, and John were discovered painted in the Catacombs that date back to 300 AD. "The paintings of Andrew and John are undoubtedly the oldest ever," said Bisconti (Catholic News Agency, n.d.). With paintings this old, the
Alexis Dinsbach
Colorado Technical University Online
Professor Justine James
June 3, 2013
Abstract The early Christians buried many of their followers and leaders in a location right outside of present day Rome, Italy. The site is known as the Catacombs and enlisted over six million Christian burials. During the first era of Christianity, its religion was outlawed by the Romans. Followers of Jesus Christ were struggling to worship their faith. Romans would punish worshipers by death. Christianity did not fail even with it being outlawed. Followers of the faith would go by other means to promote their beliefs to their friends and neighbors. They would have to go to other areas were they could not be prosecuted.
The ancient Romans once buried their most devout Christian leaders for worship during the first upcoming of Christianity. The burial grounds today are known as the Catacombs, located right outside of Rome, Italy and can be visited through group tours. Images can be seen in art form in mosaics and paintings that portray stories of the Bible on the inside of the burial ground, on top of the grave tombs and on walls, which symbolize the importance of the leaders in the church. A number of over six million burials have been found and recorded to this day with some of the site still being uncovered. The results of the ancient Roman Catacombs were driven by early devout Christians to sanctify the religion and promoted today 's influence of Christianity. Images that are portrayed inside the grounds are scripts from the Bible that tell stories of the apostles of Jesus Christ. Recently, in 2010, the oldest images of Peter, Paul, and John were discovered painted in the Catacombs that date back to 300 AD. "The paintings of Andrew and John are undoubtedly the oldest ever," said Bisconti (Catholic News Agency, n.d.). With paintings this old, the
References: Roman Catacombs. Copyright 2008. Retrieved May 31, 2013. http://www.tribunesandtriumphs.org/roman-life/roman-catacombs.htm Tann. Early Christians Catacombs Among the Most Popular Sights in Rome. News Network Archaeology. Retrieved June 1, 2013. http://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com/2011/04/early-christian-catacombs-among-most.html#.Ua1Ie0DVDhc Catholicism vs Christianity. Diffen. Retrieved May 31, 2013. http://www.diffen.com/difference/Catholicism_vs_Christianity Oldest Known Paintings of Christian Apostles Rediscovered in Roman Catacombs. Catholic News Agency. Retrieved May 30, 2013. http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/oldest-known-paintings-of-christian-apostles-rediscovered-in-roman-catacombs/ Valsecchi, Maria Cristina. What 's Inside Rome 's Ancient Catacombs? National Geographic. Retrieved May 30, 2013. http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/archaeology/rome-catacombs/