and probably was influenced by the strong
feeling which sprung up among the Christians on this subject. The
sumptuous painted chambers in the upper part of the tombs of the first
and second centuries on the Via Latina were evidently imitated by the
poor in the catacombs in the fourth and fifth centuries and later;
but there is no evidence of any Scriptural or religious subjects for
paintings before the time of Constantine. The character of the
paintings is almost universally later, and the few that are early are
not Christian nor Scriptural.

[Illustration: INSIDE VIEW OF CATACOMBS.]

It might very well happen that some members of the family were
Christians and others were not, and this would account for the mixture
of Pagan tombs with Christian ones in the same catacombs. The
subterranean sand-pit roads frequently run parallel to the high roads
at a little distance from them, and such a road passing at the back of
the subterranean cemetery or catacomb would be very convenient to
Christians in time of persecution. The part of these roads which came
within the limits of the cemetery would naturally be used for burial
places, also, as we see that they were distinctly in the case of S.
Hermes, and nearly with equal certainty in other cases. In ordinary
times, there was no necessity for secrecy. The bodies of Christian
martyrs were given up for the purpose of burial to those who applied
for them.

The catacombs of SS. Saturnius and Thraso, the entrance to which is in
the gardens of the Villa Gangalani, about a mile from Rome, on the Via
Salaria, are stated to have formed part of the great catacomb of S.
Priscilla, the entrance to which is about a quarter of a mile farther
from Rome, on the same road. On descending into that of S. Saturninus
by a steep flight of steps of modern appearance, but perhaps restored
only, we soon pass under the road and hear carriages passing overhead;
we then continue to descend to the depth of about fifty feet, divided
into five corridors, only four of which can at present be seen; but we
pass the entrance to the fifth on one of the stair-cases, and see the
opening to it. The two lower corridors of this catacomb have tombs or
_cubicula_ on the sides; a few of these are painted, and the vault of
the corridor in front of them, also.

The sandstone in which this catacomb is made is more than usually
hard, for which reason apparently there are only three of the side
chapels for family bury