THE CATACOMB OF VIGNA CASSIA

The funerary area of Vigna Cassia consists of a community cemetery and five private hypogeums, dating from the 3rd, 4th and 5th centuries. The catacomb is articulated in three parts: Santa Maria di Gesù, Cimitero Maggiore and Marcia.
The cemetery of Santa Maria di Gesù, dating from the 2nd – 3rd century, has loculi carved in the pre-existing aqueduct; the Cimitero Maggiore is of the same period and the chronology is confirmed by the finding of coins minted Gallieno and Claudio II the Goth half-way through the 3rd century.
The cemetery of Marcia is the most recent one, its creation dates 4th century, after the Edict of Milan. This cemetery has a less confused development and reminds the regular planning of the catacomb of Saint John.
The existance of both christian and pagan cultures is more evident in the hypogeums ( used by families or corporations) in the level above the community cemetery. The inscriptions give evidence to this different ideologies.
The paintings in Hypogeum II give us a cycle of figurative scenes with entirely Christian subject matter. The concepts of salvation and resurrection of the spirit are expressed symbolically by scenes which decorate two of the arcosoli: images from the story of Jonah, Daniel in the lions’ den, a portrait of the deceased between people praying, the resurrection of Lazarus and peacoks in the flowering gardens of Paradise.