s alone, and
anterior to the sixth century, considerably exceed 11,000. They have
been carefully removed from the cemeteries, and are now systematically
arranged by M. de Rossi, on the walls of the Christian museum,
recently formed by order of Pius IX., in the Lateran Palace. A large
number of these inscriptions are also inserted in the walls of the
Galleria Lapidaria in the Vatican.

EARLY INSCRIPTIONS.

VG. VESPASIANO III COS
IAN A.D. 71.

This fragment has been received as a part of a Christian epitaph by
Reggi, Marini and de Rossi. It is the most ancient of all such as bear
dates.

SERVILIA. ANNORVM. XIII
PIS. ET BOL. COSS.

Servilia, aged thirteen, died in the consulate of Piso and
Bolanus. A.D. 111.

TEMPORE. ADRIANI. IMPERATORIS. MARVIS. ADOLESCENS DVX.
MILITVM QVI SATIS. VIXIT DVM VITAM PRO CHO CVM. SANGVINE
CONSVNSIT. IN. PACE. TANDEM QUIEVIT. BENE MERENTES CVM.
LACRIMIS. ET. METV. POSVERVNT. I.D. VI.

"In the time of the Emperor Adrian, Marius, a young military
officer who had lived long enough, when with blood he gave up
his life for Christ. At length he rested in peace. The
well-deserving set up this with tears and in fear, on the 6th
before the ides." A.D. 130.

ALEXANDER MORTVVS NON EST SED VIVIT SVPER ASTRA ET CORPVS
IN HOC TVMVLO QVIESCIT VITAM EXPLEVIT SVS ANTONINO IMP^o
QVIVBI MVLTVM BENE FITII ANTEVENIRE PRAEVIDERET PROGRATIA
ODIVM REDDIDIT GENVA ENIM FLECTENS VERO DEO SACRIFICATVRVS
AD SVPPLICIA DVCITVRO TEMPORA INFAVSTA QVIBVS INTER SACRA
ET VOTA NE IN CAVERNIS QVIDEM SALVARI POSSIMVS QVID MISERIVS
VITA SED QVID MISERIVS IN MORTE CVM AB AMICIS ET PARENTIBVS
SEPELIRI NEQVEANT TANDEM IN COELO CORVSCANT PARVM VIXIT
QVI
VIXIT IV. X. TEM.

"In Christ. Alexander is not dead, but lives beyond the stars,
and his body rests in this tomb. He lived under the Emperor
Antoninus, who, foreseeing that great benefit would result from
his services, returned evil for good. For, while on his knees,
and about to sacrifice to the true God, he was led away to
execution. O, sad times! in which sacred rites and prayers,
even in caverns, afford no protection to us. What can be more
wretched than such a life? and what than such a death? when
they could not be buried by their friends and relations. At
length they sparkle in heaven. He has scarcely lived who has