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The Roman Catacombs
Enter into the shadows of the Roman catacombs where early Christians attended Mass and hid in fear from Roman soldiers seeking their death for refusing to renounce the Christian Faith.
You'll read dramatic acts of faith and courage as Fr. James Spencer Northcote, the world-renowned 19th-century expert on the catacombs, relates the intense belowground life of the catacombs.
For over three centuries, Christians buried their dead in often elaborate crypts hollowed out for them underground by fossors designated diggers whose status was just below that of deacons and priests.
With scores of maps and illustrations in these pages, you'll see that the architecture of many crypts was as elaborate as buildings above-ground, creating under the streets and fields of Rome a second-cityindeed, a Christian city in the very heart of pagan Romegraced with broad underground tunnels and large rooms where assemblies could be held.
You'll read dramatic acts of faith and courage as Fr. James Spencer Northcote, the world-renowned 19th-century expert on the catacombs, relates the intense belowground life of the catacombs.
For over three centuries, Christians buried their dead in often elaborate crypts hollowed out for them underground by fossors designated diggers whose status was just below that of deacons and priests.
With scores of maps and illustrations in these pages, you'll see that the architecture of many crypts was as elaborate as buildings above-ground, creating under the streets and fields of Rome a second-cityindeed, a Christian city in the very heart of pagan Romegraced with broad underground tunnels and large rooms where assemblies could be held.
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1857
About the author
James Spencer Northcote
39 booksJames Spencer Northcote (born at Feniton Court, Devonshire, 26 May 1821; d. at Stoke-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, 3 March 1907) was an English Catholic priest and writer.
He was the second son of George Barons Northcote. Educated first at Ilmington Grammar School, he won in 1837 a scholarship at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he came under John Henry Newman's influence. In 1841 he became B.A., and in the following year married his cousin, Susannah Spencer Ruscombe Poole. Taking Anglican Orders in 1844 he accepted a curacy at Ilfracombe; but when his wife was received into the Catholic Church in 1845, he resigned his office. In 1846 he himself was converted, being received at Prior Park College, where he continued as a master for some time.
From June 1852 until September 1854, he acted as editor of 'The Rambler,' and about the same time helped to edit the Clifton Tracts. After his wife's death in 1853 he devoted himself to preparation for the priesthood, first under Newman at Edgbaston, then at the Collegio Pio, Rome. On 29 July 1855, he was ordained priest at Stone, where his daughter had entered the novitiate.
He returned to Rome to complete his ecclesiastical studies, also acquiring the learning in Christian antiquities which was later to be enshrined in his major work, Roma Sotterranea. In 1857 he was appointed to the mission of Stoke-upon-Trent, which he served until 1860, when he was called to Oscott College as vice-president, and six months later became president, a position he held for seventeen years. Failing health caused him to resign in 1876, and he returned to the mission, first at Stone (1868), and then at Stoke-upon-Trent (1881).
He had been made a canon of the Diocese of Birmingham in 1861, canon-theologian in 1862, and provost in 1885. In 1861 the pope conferred on him a doctorate in divinity (DD).
His scholarly works include the authoritative Roma Sotterranea, on the Catacombs, written in conjunction with William R. Brownlow, afterwards Bishop of Clifton.
He was the second son of George Barons Northcote. Educated first at Ilmington Grammar School, he won in 1837 a scholarship at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he came under John Henry Newman's influence. In 1841 he became B.A., and in the following year married his cousin, Susannah Spencer Ruscombe Poole. Taking Anglican Orders in 1844 he accepted a curacy at Ilfracombe; but when his wife was received into the Catholic Church in 1845, he resigned his office. In 1846 he himself was converted, being received at Prior Park College, where he continued as a master for some time.
From June 1852 until September 1854, he acted as editor of 'The Rambler,' and about the same time helped to edit the Clifton Tracts. After his wife's death in 1853 he devoted himself to preparation for the priesthood, first under Newman at Edgbaston, then at the Collegio Pio, Rome. On 29 July 1855, he was ordained priest at Stone, where his daughter had entered the novitiate.
He returned to Rome to complete his ecclesiastical studies, also acquiring the learning in Christian antiquities which was later to be enshrined in his major work, Roma Sotterranea. In 1857 he was appointed to the mission of Stoke-upon-Trent, which he served until 1860, when he was called to Oscott College as vice-president, and six months later became president, a position he held for seventeen years. Failing health caused him to resign in 1876, and he returned to the mission, first at Stone (1868), and then at Stoke-upon-Trent (1881).
He had been made a canon of the Diocese of Birmingham in 1861, canon-theologian in 1862, and provost in 1885. In 1861 the pope conferred on him a doctorate in divinity (DD).
His scholarly works include the authoritative Roma Sotterranea, on the Catacombs, written in conjunction with William R. Brownlow, afterwards Bishop of Clifton.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 7, 2022
Although obviously dated information, I enjoyed this step back in time immensely. My secular sensibilities were not too badly assailed by the frequent pious exclamations and I loved how Northcote uses language that allows you to believe you are being guided into the subterranean crypts by a learned scholar.
April 25, 2020
This short, concise book is an interesting look at the Roman Catacombs from a historical & Catholic viewpoint. Having been published originally in 1877, the writing is somewhat archaic, but charming & instructive nonetheless. Besides history, the book also discusses the art & inscriptions found in the Catacombs in Part I, followed by a "guided tour" of four specific tombs/crypts in Part II. My only quibble is that it would have been nice to have some added (recent) footnotes to the information, particularly English translations of the Latin phrases sprinkled throughout the book.
February 4, 2020
A good introduction!
Though dated,The roman catacombs by Fr. Northcote is an excellent introduction to this hidden gem of art, archeology, and especially of Christian faith.
Though dated,The roman catacombs by Fr. Northcote is an excellent introduction to this hidden gem of art, archeology, and especially of Christian faith.
January 15, 2021
A historical document in itself. Good introduction to the Catacombs.
February 24, 2023
“The Roman Catacombs: A history of the Christian City Beneath Pagan Rome,” by Fr. James Spencer Northcote answered two questions I had about the Roman Catacombs.
First: why did the Christians build such elaborate structures in the capital of an empire that was persecuting them?
Answer: Roman law protected the graves of criminals, and other people the Romans despised. Burial places would be safe for Rome’s Christians to meet in and worship God.
Second: where were the catacombs built?
Answer: They were dug into rock “too solid to be used as sand, but too soft and friable to be used as building stone.”
I still wonder why tombs built underground did not fill up with rainwater. Also, the catacombs were not ventilated. The smell of the decaying bodies must have discouraged visits, but it does not seem to have.
The catacombs continued to be used after Roman persecution of Christians ceased, but the catacombs were no longer used after 410 AD, when the Visigoths occupied and sacked Rome.
From the middle of the ninth century to 1578 the catacombs were largely forgotten and unknown. That year they were discovered accidently by several laborers.
Fr. Northcote, a Roman Catholic priest, points out that the catacombs disprove a charge made by Protestants during the Protestant Reformation. The Protestants said that the art in Roman Catholic churches was pagan, because the early Christians did not have art in their religious edifaces. The Roman catacombs included art. This often depicted scenes from the Bible.
Nevertheless, the art was fairly crude. Many centuries were to pass before the Roman Catholic Church produced artists like Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo
First: why did the Christians build such elaborate structures in the capital of an empire that was persecuting them?
Answer: Roman law protected the graves of criminals, and other people the Romans despised. Burial places would be safe for Rome’s Christians to meet in and worship God.
Second: where were the catacombs built?
Answer: They were dug into rock “too solid to be used as sand, but too soft and friable to be used as building stone.”
I still wonder why tombs built underground did not fill up with rainwater. Also, the catacombs were not ventilated. The smell of the decaying bodies must have discouraged visits, but it does not seem to have.
The catacombs continued to be used after Roman persecution of Christians ceased, but the catacombs were no longer used after 410 AD, when the Visigoths occupied and sacked Rome.
From the middle of the ninth century to 1578 the catacombs were largely forgotten and unknown. That year they were discovered accidently by several laborers.
Fr. Northcote, a Roman Catholic priest, points out that the catacombs disprove a charge made by Protestants during the Protestant Reformation. The Protestants said that the art in Roman Catholic churches was pagan, because the early Christians did not have art in their religious edifaces. The Roman catacombs included art. This often depicted scenes from the Bible.
Nevertheless, the art was fairly crude. Many centuries were to pass before the Roman Catholic Church produced artists like Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo
April 12, 2021
did not finish.
May 5, 2018
at times a little confusing but was quite interesting
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews