Catacomba

The interplay between Roman history, pagan, and Christian belief is seen throughout Rome.  The catacombs of San Sebastiano are a good example.

Now, we all now from Sandman #55 “Cerements” by Neil Gaiman that there are five methods of burial:

1. Mummification (like the ancient Egyptians)
2. Burning (like the late-Republic and early-Imperial Romans)
3. Sky burial (like the Tibetans and some Native Americans)
4. Sea burial (rare but permissible in most religions under exigent circumstances)
5. Earth burial (like the early Christians in anticipation of corporeal resurrection at the Rapture)

The doctrinal need for interment — and the premium on land in Rome — is what drove the digging of Christian catacombs.

Originally, this spot along the Via Appia was a stone quarry.  At the end of the 2nd century C.E., it was abandoned and repurposed for pagan burials.  In addition to simple graves for slaves, three wealthy Romans families built elaborate mausoleums.  But then in the 3d century, the whole thing was filled in and buried.  After Constantine‘s conversion to Christianity,  a church was built on top of the site and Christian burials were dug underneath into the tuff.  In the case of this one church, 6 km of catacombs.  (Pictures were forbidden in the catacombs, so there is nothing visual to accompany all of the above history.)

The church was later rebuilt by Scipione Borghese who had a habit of rebuilding churches and slapping his name on the front of them.  But he was a great patron of Bernini, so I will give that to him.The church is home to this beautiful statue of Christ which was carved late in Bernini‘s life which is why it is widely believed that it was actually executed by his students under his supervision.