1,600-Year-Old Frescoes that Depict the Early Church, and Bible Scenes Uncovered in Rome's Oldest, Most Extensive Catacomb

Suzette Gutierrez-Cachila : Jun 5, 2017
Gospel Herald

The frescoes had been covered with algae, smoke stains from oil lamps and calcium deposits for centuries. They were restored through the use of laser technology that effectively peeled off the grime, revealing the fascinating artwork beneath.

(Rome, Italy)—[Gospel Herald] Ancient frescoes depicting the early Christians and some scenes from the Bible were uncovered in Rome's oldest catacomb located near the Appian Way. (Photo: AFP/via The Telegraph UK)

The frescoes in the Domitilla catacomb were rediscovered by archaeologist Antonio Bosio in the 16th century, Bosio wrote his name in the frescoes.

The frescoes, estimated to be 1,600 years old, revealed a "fusion" of pagan symbols and images related to the Christian faith, indicating recent conversion from paganism to Christianity, project head Barbara Mazzei said, according to The Telegraph.

"It's a fusion of older pagan symbols with new Christian images. The family had only recently converted to Christianity," project head Barbara Mazzei said. (Photo: AFP/via The Telegraph UK)

Painted from the catacombs' ceiling are colorful artworks showing famous biblical scenes, such as Jesus feeding the five thousand, Daniel and the lions and Noah's Ark.

An image of Jesus Christ, seated on a throne with a man on His right and another on His left, could be seen at the center. The men were believed to be either the apostles Peter and Paul or...

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