The “Vigna Cassia” catacombs located next to thel Parco Archeologico Neapolis, owe their name to the family that owned the vineyard (at the time of discovery), which was located above the catacombs themselves.
They were found in 1852 during excavations by the Commission of Antiquities and Fine Arts, which at the discovery of steps carved into the rock that led to about 15 meters below street level, decided to deepen the research. After the excavations they discovered that the steps continued to a depth of 25 metres and that they led to the beginning of a series of tunnels.
The Catacombs of Vigna Cassia are considered the largest in Sicily, the beginning of their construction dates back to the third century AD, were active from the second half of the fourth century AD and presented themselves as a real cemetery consisting of a ipogeo of communities, but also five private hypogeums (intended for individual burials). This structure is divided into 3 parts:
Cimitero Santa Maria del Gesù dating back to the third century.
Cimitero Maggiore o di San Diego third secolo.
Cimitero Marcia fourth century.
The plan consists of a central cross-shaped body and numerous secondary galleries, the cimitero di S. Maria del Gesù is obtained from the extension of an aqueduct dating back to the Greco-Roman era; the walls have numerous niches that seem to have been dug with a fast and inexpensive method that goes back to the pre-Costantine period (III century AD).
The dating of the Catacomba di S. Maria del Gesù, is confirmed by the Cimitero Maggiore o di San Diego datable, thanks to the discovery of some coins, inscriptions and oil lamps found at that time, around the middle of the third century AD.
It develops around an open space called “atrium” in front of the so-called cubicle “of roses”, probably a tomb dedicated to a martyr, around which the entire cemetery area has developed.
From the atrium there are seven main galleries, i.e. long branches in different directions.
In the galleries towards the eastern part of the catacomb there are some small roundabouts, also there is an open space with a well located in the center, probably dating from the Greek period.
The course of the galleries of the catacomb of St. Diego is irregular and in some cases radically changes direction tornado towards the atrium or towards the cubicle “of roses”, probably because of an ancient desire to be buried as close as possible to the tombs of the martyrs.
The cemetery of Marcia, on the other hand, recalls that of the Catacombs of San Giovanni and takes its name from the paintings of Marcia, whose construction dates back to the fourth century AD and its use, however, to the fifth century AD.
In October 1997, the PCAS-Siracusa (Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology) completed the restoration of the paintings in the hypogeum, has returned a figurative cycle of images with a Christian theme, is still considered among the most valuable of the heritage of Siracusa; shows images of the Salvation and Resurrection of the soul, concepts expressed by scenes that decorate two niches that characterize the hypogeum itself. They depict two moments from the trilogy of Jonah (Jewish prophet, protagonist of the Old Testament), Daniel in the lion’s den (Jewish prophet, deceived and thrown to the lions), portrait of the deceased between Orants (characters depicted in the act of praying), the resurrection of Lazarus and peacocks faced in the flowering gardens of the heavenly habitat.
This type of representation appears from the beginning of Christian art in catacomb paintings, sarcophagi, mosaics, graffiti, especially between the third century AD and the fourth century AD.
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