The Six Pictures of Rome You Should Definitely Take (Part 4, The Final Photo)

6 - The Catacombs

I saved this one for the end because it is kind of creepy. Luckily it also fits well at the end because…you know…it is related to…endings.

The catacombs are certainly an important part of Rome’s history. They tell us about the logistical problems of burying people in a large ancient city. The catacombs also speak to the persecuted populations of Christians before 380 AD that worked to create secret burial locations. The catacombs even emphasize the volcanic geology of the area that is so suitable for tunneling.

With so much of the art in other parts of the city celebrating life, vitality, and achievement the catacombs have an important role to play in completing the artistic symbolism of the city. The frescoes in the catacombs can show us a more holistic approach to life, a valuable retrospective view.

After all, everything must come to an end.

Here are the other articles in this series:

• The Six Pictures of Rome You Should Definitely Take (Part 1)
• The Six Pictures of Rome You Should Definitely Take (Part 2)
• The Six Pictures of Rome You Should Definitely Take (Part 3)
• The Six Pictures of Rome You Should Definitely Take (Part 4, The Final Photo)