- [Dr. Zucker] We just walked through
- [Dr. Zucker] We just walked through

the Catacombs of Priscilla in Rome.
the Catacombs of Priscilla in Rome.

And we're now standing in a park
And we're now standing in a park

just over the catacombs.
just over the catacombs.

- [Dr. Harris] There are many catacombs in Rome.
- [Dr. Harris] There are many catacombs in Rome.

And these were places where the earliest
And these were places where the earliest

Christians were buried.
Christians were buried.

There are also Jewish catacombs here in Rome.
There are also Jewish catacombs here in Rome.

- [Dr. Zucker] Which were even older.
- [Dr. Zucker] Which were even older.

- [Dr. Harris] The Catacombs of Priscilla occupy
- [Dr. Harris] The Catacombs of Priscilla occupy

about 10 kilometers or more than five miles of burials.
about 10 kilometers or more than five miles of burials.

- [Dr. Zucker] This is a labyrinth of narrow passageways
- [Dr. Zucker] This is a labyrinth of narrow passageways

directly below the park that we're in.
directly below the park that we're in.

So if we were to dig down,
So if we were to dig down,

we would hit the natural tufa, the stone of Rome,
we would hit the natural tufa, the stone of Rome,

which is a soft material, which is why
which is a soft material, which is why

it was ideal for this kind of excavation.
it was ideal for this kind of excavation.

And what's amazing is that the passageways
And what's amazing is that the passageways

are stacked on top of each other.
are stacked on top of each other.

And the catacomb is in certain places
And the catacomb is in certain places

three stories deep.
three stories deep.

- [Dr. Harris] So here we are in the north of Rome.
- [Dr. Harris] So here we are in the north of Rome.

And the reason that the catacomb is located here
And the reason that the catacomb is located here

is that this was the villa
is that this was the villa

of a wealthy Roman woman named Priscilla.
of a wealthy Roman woman named Priscilla.

And it seems she donated the land
And it seems she donated the land

as a place where at first her family would be buried
as a place where at first her family would be buried

and then eventually the Christian community.
and then eventually the Christian community.

- [Dr. Zucker] By the 5th century
- [Dr. Zucker] By the 5th century

a lot of people were buried here,
a lot of people were buried here,

some 40,000 tombs have been located.
some 40,000 tombs have been located.

So imagine walking through a very dark passageway,
So imagine walking through a very dark passageway,

a low ceiling, a rough earth and floor.
a low ceiling, a rough earth and floor.

And on either side of the narrow hall,
And on either side of the narrow hall,

horizontal niches that are just
horizontal niches that are just

long enough to accommodate a body.
long enough to accommodate a body.

Some are quite short and held the children.
Some are quite short and held the children.

And some are longer and would have held adults.
And some are longer and would have held adults.

And many of them are stacked one atop the other.
And many of them are stacked one atop the other.

Wealthier people would have excavated
Wealthier people would have excavated

a space large enough to place a sarcophagus in.
a space large enough to place a sarcophagus in.

But most of the tombs are for the poor.
But most of the tombs are for the poor.

And these are simply bodies that were swaddled in a shroud
And these are simply bodies that were swaddled in a shroud

and placed into these shelf-like slots
and placed into these shelf-like slots

which were then covered over with a slab of marble
which were then covered over with a slab of marble

or, for the poor, just simply tiles of terracotta.
or, for the poor, just simply tiles of terracotta.

All of that would then be covered over
All of that would then be covered over

with a layer of plaster, which were often painted.
with a layer of plaster, which were often painted.

- [Dr. Harris] The larger rooms have the name cubiculum.
- [Dr. Harris] The larger rooms have the name cubiculum.

Horizontal shelves for burial are referred to as loculi.
Horizontal shelves for burial are referred to as loculi.

And now when we visit,
And now when we visit,

the tombs are all empty and uncovered.
the tombs are all empty and uncovered.

- [Dr. Zucker] And we think this is
- [Dr. Zucker] And we think this is

because there was grave robbing
because there was grave robbing

and people were hunting for relics,
and people were hunting for relics,

which makes sense because some of the people
which makes sense because some of the people

that were buried here were martyrs.
that were buried here were martyrs.

- [Dr. Harris] Right, they were killed for being Christians.
- [Dr. Harris] Right, they were killed for being Christians.

- [Dr. Zucker] And their remains then
- [Dr. Zucker] And their remains then

had a spiritual importance and power.
had a spiritual importance and power.

- [Dr. Harris] Now, there is a kind of myth or legend
- [Dr. Harris] Now, there is a kind of myth or legend

around catacombs that they're a secret place
around catacombs that they're a secret place

where Christians practiced their Christianity
where Christians practiced their Christianity

during times of persecution.
during times of persecution.

But the catacombs are burial places.
But the catacombs are burial places.

They were well known to the Christians in the community.
They were well known to the Christians in the community.

And it's also important to remember
And it's also important to remember

that there were episodes of persecution
that there were episodes of persecution

against Christians but also times
against Christians but also times

when Christianity was somewhat tolerated.
when Christianity was somewhat tolerated.

It's not until 313 when Constantine
It's not until 313 when Constantine

issues the Edict of Milan
issues the Edict of Milan

that Christianity becomes tolerated
that Christianity becomes tolerated

within the Roman Empire.
within the Roman Empire.

- [Dr. Zucker] The catacombs themselves
- [Dr. Zucker] The catacombs themselves

seem to go on endlessly, passages branching off
seem to go on endlessly, passages branching off

with tombs as far as the eye can see.
with tombs as far as the eye can see.

But what's especially important
But what's especially important

is that these are the locations
is that these are the locations

where we find the earliest Christian art.
where we find the earliest Christian art.

- [Dr. Harris] And art historians have wondered
- [Dr. Harris] And art historians have wondered

why is it that Christianity exists for almost two centuries
why is it that Christianity exists for almost two centuries

and we don't have Christian art.
and we don't have Christian art.

Is it because it didn't survive?
Is it because it didn't survive?

- [Dr. Zucker] Is it because there wasn't
- [Dr. Zucker] Is it because there wasn't

a Christian vocabulary that had been developed yet?
a Christian vocabulary that had been developed yet?

- [Dr. Harris] Is it because of prohibition
- [Dr. Harris] Is it because of prohibition

against the making of images
against the making of images

because of the Second Commandment?
because of the Second Commandment?

It is also true that image making,
It is also true that image making,

images of individuals and of gods,
images of individuals and of gods,

was very common in the Roman Empire
was very common in the Roman Empire

and Christians may have had a desire
and Christians may have had a desire

to separate themselves from Paganism.
to separate themselves from Paganism.

And perhaps not making images was one way of doing that.
And perhaps not making images was one way of doing that.

- [Dr. Zucker] What we do know is that the first images
- [Dr. Zucker] What we do know is that the first images

that we found date from the 3rd century from the 200s.
that we found date from the 3rd century from the 200s.

And some of the earliest art is, in fact, here
And some of the earliest art is, in fact, here

at the Catacombs of Priscilla.
at the Catacombs of Priscilla.

- [Dr. Harris] In fact, what we think
- [Dr. Harris] In fact, what we think

is the earliest known representation
is the earliest known representation

of the Madonna and Child,
of the Madonna and Child,

we see an image of a woman nursing
we see an image of a woman nursing

and another that points to the mother and child.
and another that points to the mother and child.

- [Dr. Zucker] And seems to be holding a book.
- [Dr. Zucker] And seems to be holding a book.

- [Dr. Harris] If so, that's a remarkably early image
- [Dr. Harris] If so, that's a remarkably early image

of a subject that would become so common
of a subject that would become so common

for more than a millennium in western art history.
for more than a millennium in western art history.

- [Dr. Zucker] And so what we think we see here
- [Dr. Zucker] And so what we think we see here

are numerous scenes that are among the earliest inventions
are numerous scenes that are among the earliest inventions

of Christian iconography, of Christian symbolism.
of Christian iconography, of Christian symbolism.

We find them both painted,
We find them both painted,

and we find them carved.
and we find them carved.

Within the catacombs we see lots of inscriptions
Within the catacombs we see lots of inscriptions

that speak to the people that were buried.
that speak to the people that were buried.

And there were also inscribed Christian symbols.
And there were also inscribed Christian symbols.

We find the anchor which speaks to safe harbor.
We find the anchor which speaks to safe harbor.

That is a reference to salvation.
That is a reference to salvation.

There are representations of a fish,
There are representations of a fish,

which is a reference to Christ.
which is a reference to Christ.

- [Dr. Harris] But we also begin to see
- [Dr. Harris] But we also begin to see

very specific subject matter that relates
very specific subject matter that relates

to Christian themes of salvation,
to Christian themes of salvation,

subjects from both the Old and New Testament.
subjects from both the Old and New Testament.

- [Dr. Zucker] And this especially true
- [Dr. Zucker] And this especially true

in one small cubiculum that we call the Greek Chapel.
in one small cubiculum that we call the Greek Chapel.

Now, this was not a chapel,
Now, this was not a chapel,

and it had nothing to do with the Greeks.
and it had nothing to do with the Greeks.

It has this name simply because we found
It has this name simply because we found

some Greek letters there.
some Greek letters there.

In fact, throughout the catacombs
In fact, throughout the catacombs

there's both Greek and Latin.
there's both Greek and Latin.

- [Dr. Harris] It was decorated with what arch historians
- [Dr. Harris] It was decorated with what arch historians

call Roman first style wall painting,
call Roman first style wall painting,

that is plaster built up and then painted
that is plaster built up and then painted

to imitate marble panels.
to imitate marble panels.

So there's an attempt to make this a very rich space.
So there's an attempt to make this a very rich space.

- [Dr. Zucker] This must have been
- [Dr. Zucker] This must have been

one of the oldest parts of the catacombs
one of the oldest parts of the catacombs

because it is adjacent to the basement of the original house
because it is adjacent to the basement of the original house

that had been owned by Priscilla.
that had been owned by Priscilla.

It is lavish, but it is also small.
It is lavish, but it is also small.

- [Dr. Harris] It would have held several sarcophagi
- [Dr. Harris] It would have held several sarcophagi

for members of this family.
for members of this family.

And there were meals that we taken in these spaces
And there were meals that we taken in these spaces

as part of a memorial to the dead.
as part of a memorial to the dead.

- [Dr. Zucker] There are so many scenes here.
- [Dr. Zucker] There are so many scenes here.

There are scenes from the Old Testament.
There are scenes from the Old Testament.

There are scenes from the New Testament.
There are scenes from the New Testament.

- [Dr. Harris] They refer to divine intervention,
- [Dr. Harris] They refer to divine intervention,

to figures who suffered on account of their faith,
to figures who suffered on account of their faith,

including the story from the Book of Daniel
including the story from the Book of Daniel

of three youths in the fiery furnace.
of three youths in the fiery furnace.

The story from the Old Testament
The story from the Old Testament

is that these three youths were asked
is that these three youths were asked

to worship a Pagan golden idol and they refused
to worship a Pagan golden idol and they refused

and were sentenced to be burned alive but were saved.
and were sentenced to be burned alive but were saved.

You can see why this was a subject
You can see why this was a subject

that really appealed to early Christians
that really appealed to early Christians

who at various times were persecuted for their faith.
who at various times were persecuted for their faith.

- [Dr. Zucker] There are also New Testament scenes.
- [Dr. Zucker] There are also New Testament scenes.

There's the Adoration of the Magi.
There's the Adoration of the Magi.

There's the Resurrection of Lazarus.
There's the Resurrection of Lazarus.

- [Dr. Harris] These are scenes that refer
- [Dr. Harris] These are scenes that refer

to the miracles that Christ performed during his life.
to the miracles that Christ performed during his life.

And very often in early Christian imagery
And very often in early Christian imagery

we have an emphasis on the teaching of Christ,
we have an emphasis on the teaching of Christ,

on the miracles that he performed.
on the miracles that he performed.

And it's really only later
And it's really only later

that we get the subjects that we are more familiar with
that we get the subjects that we are more familiar with

of the crucifixion or the resurrection.
of the crucifixion or the resurrection.

- [Dr. Zucker] A good example of the way
- [Dr. Zucker] A good example of the way

that the portrayal of a scene has changed
that the portrayal of a scene has changed

is the Sacrifice of Isaac.
is the Sacrifice of Isaac.

This is an Old Testament scene.
This is an Old Testament scene.

And in this case we only have a partial view.
And in this case we only have a partial view.

The bottom portion has been destroyed.
The bottom portion has been destroyed.

But what remains shows Abraham in the center
But what remains shows Abraham in the center

and Isaac off to the right carrying wood.
and Isaac off to the right carrying wood.

This is different from what is normally depicted
This is different from what is normally depicted

in later Christian art, where we generally see
in later Christian art, where we generally see

Isaac about to be killed by Abraham.
Isaac about to be killed by Abraham.

Abraham's wrists stayed by an angel.
Abraham's wrists stayed by an angel.

- [Dr. Harris] And you could ask why
- [Dr. Harris] And you could ask why

would the first Christians be painting
would the first Christians be painting

this Old Testament subject of Abraham and Isaac?
this Old Testament subject of Abraham and Isaac?

The first Christians looked back
The first Christians looked back

to the story of Abraham and Isaac as a type of Christ,
to the story of Abraham and Isaac as a type of Christ,

that is, Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son
that is, Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son

foretold, foreshadowed God's willingness
foretold, foreshadowed God's willingness

to sacrifice his only son, Christ,
to sacrifice his only son, Christ,

for the salvation of mankind.
for the salvation of mankind.

- [Dr. Zucker] But one of the most interesting scenes
- [Dr. Zucker] But one of the most interesting scenes

is a scene that is called the Breaking of the Bread.
is a scene that is called the Breaking of the Bread.

And this might at first glance
And this might at first glance

look a bit like a Last Supper.
look a bit like a Last Supper.

We see a still life, a long table,
We see a still life, a long table,

and seven men seated behind it.
and seven men seated behind it.

So we don't have the 12 apostles and Christ.
So we don't have the 12 apostles and Christ.

Simultaneously, there are seven baskets,
Simultaneously, there are seven baskets,

three on one side and four on the other, filled with bread.
three on one side and four on the other, filled with bread.

There are fish on the table.
There are fish on the table.

And so there seems to be a reference here
And so there seems to be a reference here

not only to the Eucharist but also to the story
not only to the Eucharist but also to the story

of the multiplication of loaves and fishes.
of the multiplication of loaves and fishes.

- [Dr. Harris] Both are reference to a miracle
- [Dr. Harris] Both are reference to a miracle

that Christ performed during his life,
that Christ performed during his life,

which is typical in early Christian iconography,
which is typical in early Christian iconography,

but also perhaps a reference to the liturgy,
but also perhaps a reference to the liturgy,

that is, to the practice of the Eucharist,
that is, to the practice of the Eucharist,

of the bread and wine being taken
of the bread and wine being taken

as the body and blood of Christ.
as the body and blood of Christ.

- [Dr. Zucker] What we're seeing here
- [Dr. Zucker] What we're seeing here

is the invention of Christian iconography.
is the invention of Christian iconography.

These are scenes that have not yet been set,
These are scenes that have not yet been set,

that have not yet been clarified.
that have not yet been clarified.

But looking at that particular image
But looking at that particular image

is really quite marvelous,
is really quite marvelous,

to see the foreshortening of the dishes
to see the foreshortening of the dishes

on the table seen in space.
on the table seen in space.

And it reminds us that these are people
And it reminds us that these are people

that would have had access
that would have had access

to various sophisticated Roman painting.
to various sophisticated Roman painting.

- [Dr. Harris] The other cubiculum
- [Dr. Harris] The other cubiculum

that we wanted to talk about
that we wanted to talk about

is known as the Cubiculum of the Veil.
is known as the Cubiculum of the Veil.

And this is because there is a depiction
And this is because there is a depiction

of a woman in a veil in this chapel.
of a woman in a veil in this chapel.

It's actually the same woman being depicted three times,
It's actually the same woman being depicted three times,

in reference to the woman who is deceased,
in reference to the woman who is deceased,

who was buried in this space.
who was buried in this space.

On the left we see her being married
On the left we see her being married

with a seeded bishop officiating.
with a seeded bishop officiating.

On the right we see her seated in a chair nursing.
On the right we see her seated in a chair nursing.

- [Dr. Zucker] And we think that the chair
- [Dr. Zucker] And we think that the chair

is actually the chair that was used for childbirth as well.
is actually the chair that was used for childbirth as well.

- [Dr. Harris] So we have a reference to her marriage,
- [Dr. Harris] So we have a reference to her marriage,

to her motherhood, and then we see her again in the center,
to her motherhood, and then we see her again in the center,

this time larger in a pose that arch historians call arrant.
this time larger in a pose that arch historians call arrant.

- [Dr. Zucker] This is a pose of prayer
- [Dr. Zucker] This is a pose of prayer

meant to represent the woman in the afterlife,
meant to represent the woman in the afterlife,

the woman resurrected.
the woman resurrected.

This is all enclosed within a lunette
This is all enclosed within a lunette

at the back of the cubiculum.
at the back of the cubiculum.

She is representing the hope of the family
She is representing the hope of the family

that she would enjoy a blessed afterlife.
that she would enjoy a blessed afterlife.

- [Dr. Harris] Her eyes look upward toward heaven.
- [Dr. Harris] Her eyes look upward toward heaven.

This is clearly an image that refers to her salvation
This is clearly an image that refers to her salvation

and her place in heaven.
and her place in heaven.

- [Dr. Zucker] The painting is not
- [Dr. Zucker] The painting is not

in particularly good condition.
in particularly good condition.

But we can make out some of the careful
But we can make out some of the careful

articulation of the features of the face.
articulation of the features of the face.

And there's shadow placed under her chin
And there's shadow placed under her chin

to create a sense of illusionism.
to create a sense of illusionism.

- [Dr. Harris] And so even though her hands are too large
- [Dr. Harris] And so even though her hands are too large

for the proportions of her body,
for the proportions of her body,

her face is represented naturalistically.
her face is represented naturalistically.

- [Dr. Zucker] It's important to remember
- [Dr. Zucker] It's important to remember

that we are now looking at this painting
that we are now looking at this painting

under electric lights.
under electric lights.

But it would certainly have been painted
But it would certainly have been painted

in the dim light of oil lanterns.
in the dim light of oil lanterns.

- [Dr. Harris] And in fact, there are spaces,
- [Dr. Harris] And in fact, there are spaces,

there are small holes throughout the catacombs
there are small holes throughout the catacombs

where oil lamps would have been placed.
where oil lamps would have been placed.

- [Dr. Zucker] But the largest painting in this room
- [Dr. Zucker] But the largest painting in this room

is in this shallow dome of the ceiling.
is in this shallow dome of the ceiling.

And here in the center we see Christ
And here in the center we see Christ

represented as the Good Shepherd.
represented as the Good Shepherd.

He's surrounded by three goats, one over his shoulders.
He's surrounded by three goats, one over his shoulders.

And he's in a stance that is reminiscent of contrapposto.
And he's in a stance that is reminiscent of contrapposto.

Clearly, the artist was somebody
Clearly, the artist was somebody

who had been familiar with Roman sculpture
who had been familiar with Roman sculpture

and perhaps Roman painting.
and perhaps Roman painting.

Christ is represented young.
Christ is represented young.

He has no beard.
He has no beard.

And beside him are two trees with doves at the top.
And beside him are two trees with doves at the top.

So the notion here is that Christ
So the notion here is that Christ

will care for his followers
will care for his followers

the way that a good shepherd cares for his flock.
the way that a good shepherd cares for his flock.

- [Dr. Harris] And although Christ stands naturalistically,
- [Dr. Harris] And although Christ stands naturalistically,

he is represented in the center frontal
he is represented in the center frontal

with goats on either side and bushes
with goats on either side and bushes

with the doves on either side.
with the doves on either side.

So we have an image that's very symmetrical.
So we have an image that's very symmetrical.

And I think in that way speaks
And I think in that way speaks

to something transcendent, something heavenly.
to something transcendent, something heavenly.

- [Dr. Zucker] And we have more symbols
- [Dr. Zucker] And we have more symbols

that surround the central roundel.
that surround the central roundel.

- [Dr. Harris] We see peacocks,
- [Dr. Harris] We see peacocks,

which are a symbol of eternal life.
which are a symbol of eternal life.

- [Dr. Zucker] And other birds that we think are quail,
- [Dr. Zucker] And other birds that we think are quail,

symbols of the earth, that walk on the earth.
symbols of the earth, that walk on the earth.

- [Dr. Harris] So Christ as in between
- [Dr. Harris] So Christ as in between

the earthly and the heavenly.
the earthly and the heavenly.

- [Dr. Zucker] And then in the four pendentives,
- [Dr. Zucker] And then in the four pendentives,

there are images of doves with olive branches.
there are images of doves with olive branches.

So what we're seeing here is the very first tentative steps
So what we're seeing here is the very first tentative steps

in what will become into the great tradition
in what will become into the great tradition

of Christian art.
of Christian art.