This document discusses several early Christian artworks found in the catacombs of Rome and the mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna from the 3rd to 5th centuries AD. It describes wall paintings depicting biblical scenes from the Old and New Testaments. It also describes the decorated loculi tombs and the famous Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus. The artworks show both pagan and Christian imagery mixed together and the Roman artistic styles adapted for Christian theological themes.

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3. loculi
cubicula
Via Latina Catacomb, Rome, 3rd century.

4. •Via Latina Catacomb, Rome, 3rd century.
Located in the right-hand arcosolium of Cubiculum N in
the Via Latina Catacomb, Hercules leads Alcestis back to
Admetus. The image from the third quarter of the fourth
century shows Hercules, with a club, lion skin and blue
halo, holding Cerberus, the hounds of hell. According to
the myth, when Admetus was fated to die, his wife Alcestis
chose to die in his place but was rescued from the hands
of death by Hercules who brought her back to her
husband

5. •Via Latina Catacomb, Rome, 3rd century.
This pagan Via Latina
catacomb scene
presents Hercules in the
Garden of Hesperides
where the Golden Apples
could be found.
Obtaining an apple from
this garden was the
eleventh of twelve nearly
impossible tasks, called
the Labors of Hercules,
which Eurystheus
required of Hercules
before he could be
cleaned and cleared of
his sins.
The presence of this Roman mythology reference within the catacombs attests to
a mixing of both pagan and Christian iconography among the tombs of
individuals who followed one or the other of these different cults

6. Hercules in the Garden of the Hesperides, Wall painting,
(84 x 74 cm., [33 x 29 1/8 in.], Via Latina Catacomb, Rome

7. Samson and the Lion, c. 350-400, Wall painting, (113 x 107 cm., [44
1/2 x 42 1/8 in.]), Via Latina Catacomb, Rome.
Samson is presented in this
Via Latina catacomb image
as he wrestles with a lion.
The story of Samson is in
the Old Testament book of
Judges. The honey and
bees that Samson finds in
the mouth of the slain lion is
symbolic of the sweetness of
heaven that one can find
after death.

8. Sacrifice of Isaac A.D
In this fresco from the Via Latina
Catacomb (cubiculum C),
painted about AD 320, Abraham
raises his sword to slay his son.
The traditional iconography of
the scene presents a sacrificial
altar with burning wood and the
ram that God has provided to be
killed in Isaac's place. In the
above left, the hand of God is
missing from the scene. Below
is an extra textual scene of a
servant with a donkey.

9. cubiculum C

10. •Catacomb of Priscilla, Rome ,3rd century.
As with many of the decorative programs in the
catacombs, the late third-century paintings in the
vault and lunettes in this cubiculum, located in
the Catacomb of Priscilla, are organized
according to symmetrically disposed and linearly
defined regions. The vault features a central
medallion containing a depiction of the Good
Shepherd surrounded by four semicircular
regions containing peacocks alternating with
quail. Furthermore, birds occupy the corner
spaces that mark the transition between ceiling
and wall, and contribute further to the ceiling’s
imagery of paradise.

11. •Catacomb of Priscilla, Rome ,3rd century.

12. Gallery with loculus tombs, Catacomb of Priscilla, Rome
A loculus tomb is the most basic type of a
burial place to be found in a Christian
catacomb. This gallery in the Catacomb of
Priscilla shows how loculi are stacked one
on top of each other. Loculus tombs are
usually sealed with clay tiles or marble
slabs set in a mortar bed.
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13. sealed loculi with inscriptions in the area of the
arenaria; Catacomb of Priscilla, Rome
These loculi in the Catacomb
of Priscilla are still preserved
in their original state. Different
materials - usually clay tiles or
marble slabs - were used to
seal the tombs. Depending on
the material used, the names
of the deceased were either
painted or engraved on the
sealed tomb.

14. •Catacomb of pietro & marcellinus, Rome, 4th century A.D.
This Christian catacomb fresco
represents Jonah being spewed out
by a whale. In the biblical story,
Jonah was thrown overboard to the
whale. Then, the animal swallows
him and after three days, regurgitates
Jonah. In narrative depictions of the
story, Jonah is generally shown lying
upright in a 'sleeping' pose that was
appropriated from pagan iconography
representing the reclining figure of
Endymion, the sleeping shepherd
who was loved by Selene, the
goddess of the moon.

15. •Catacomb of pietro & marcellinus, Rome, 4th century A.D.
MORAL PAINTINGS
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good shepherd
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abstract images.
connection between
roman style and Christian
theme
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lunettes

16. Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, St. Peter's,
Rome, 359 A.D Marble.
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17. Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, St. Peter's, Rome, 359 A.D
Marble, 4 x 8 x 4 feet.
Junius Bassus
The Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus is a marble Early Christian sarcophagus used
for the burial of Junius Bassus, who died in 359. It has been described as "probably
the single most famous piece of early Christian relief sculpture."[1] The sarcophagus
was originally placed in or under Old St. Peter's Basilica, was rediscovered in
1597,[2] and is now below the modern basilica in the Museo Storico del Tesoro della
Basilica di San Pietro (Museum of Saint Peter's Basilica) in the Vatican. The base is
approximately 4 x 8 x 4 feet.

18. Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus, St. Peter's,
Rome, 359 A.D Marble, 4 x 8 x 4 feet.
Storico

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columns pediment, cornice, arch ,
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roman .5
style but Christian themes

23. Galla Palcidia, Ravenna, 425-50.
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. Exterior. General view.

24. •Mosaic, Good Shepherd, Galla Palcidia, Ravenna, 425-50.
Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. Interior. Lunette over west entrance. Christ
the Good Shepherd.

25. •Mosaic, Good Shepherd, Galla Palcidia, Ravenna, 425-50.
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