_Galleria Lapidaria._

CHURCH OF S. SEBASTIAN "IN CATACUMBIS."

I. INSCRIPTION OF POPE DAMASUS IN HONOR OF S. EUTYCHIUS, THE MARTYR,
IN TWELVE VERSES (on the left hand on entering the church). These
inscriptions are very numerous in the catacombs, and all of this
beautiful calligraphy, and usually in Latin verse, not without
elegance of style, though the construction of the sentences is
sometimes not clear. Damasus restored all the catacombs, after they
had been damaged during the persecution under Julian the Apostate.

EVTYCHIVS. MARTYR. CRVDELIA. IVSSA. TYRANNI
CARNIFICVMQ. VIAS. PARITER. TVNC. MILLE. NOCENDI
VINCERE. QVOD. POTVIT. MONSTRAVIT. GLORIA. CHRISTV
CARCERIS. INLVVIEM. SEQVITVR. NOVA. POENA. PER. ARTVS
TESTARVM. FRAGMENTA. PARANT. NE. SOMNVS. ADIRET
BISSENI. TRANSIERE. DIES. ALIMENTA. NEGANTVR
MITTITVR. IN. BARATHRUM. SANCTVS. LAVAT. OMNIA. SANGVIS
VVLNERA. QVAE. INTVLERAT. MORTIS. METVENDA. TOTESTAS
NOCTE. SOPORIFERA. TVRBANT. INSOMNIA. MENTEM
OSTENDIT. LATEBRA. INSONTIS. QVAE. MEMBRA. TENERET
QVAERITVR. INVENTVS. COLITVR. FOVET. OMNIA. PRESTANS
EXPRESSIT. DAMASVS. MERITVM. VENERARE. SEPVLCHQVM F

"That Eutychius, the Martyr, was able to overcome the cruel
orders of the tyrant, and equally at that time the
executioners' thousand ways of torment, the glory of Christ
shewed. A new punishment follows the filth of the prison. They
provide breaking of tiles on his limbs, to prevent sleep
approaching. Twice six days passed, food is refused. The saint
is thrown into a pit, blood bedews all the wounds which the
dread power of death had caused. In night, which usually brings
sleep, sleeplessness troubles his mind. The place of
concealment which held the limbs of the innocent, manifested
them(?). He is sought for, being found he is reverenced, he
benefits all things. Damasus shewed forth his exceeding merit;
venerate his tomb."

2. ANOTHER INSCRIPTION IN THE SAME CATACOMB CHURCH (over a door on the
right-hand side, looking towards the altar).

VISITET. HIC. PIA. MENS. SCTORVM. BVSTA. FREQVENTER
IN. CRISTO. QVORVM. GLORIA. PERPES. ERIT

HIC. EST. CEMETERI[=V]. BEATI. CHALIXTI. PAPE. ET. MARTIRIS INCLITI.
QVIC[=V]QVE. ILLVD. C[=O]TRICTVS. ET. C[=O]FESSVS. INGRESSVS FVERIT.
PLENAM. REMISSIO[=N]E. OMNI[=V]. PE[=C]TOR[=V]. SVOR[=V]. OBTINEBIT
PER. MERITA. GLORIOSA. CENT[=V]. SEPTVAGINTA. Q