Catacombs of Commodilla

The Catacombs of Commodilla, located along the Via delle Sette Chiese in Rome, represent one of the most fascinating and least known underground complexes of the eternal city. These catacombs are particularly renowned for their extension and for the presence of numerous early Christian works of art that offer a unique window into the life and beliefs of the early Christians. The complex dates back to the 4th century and is dedicated to a Christian matron named Commodilla. The catacombs house the relics of the martyrs Felix and Adauctus, venerated since antiquity. Their tomb is located in a crypt decorated with frescoes of great historical and artistic value. Among these frescoes, one of the most significant is that of the “Delivery of the Keys to Peter,” dating back to the 6th century, which depicts Christ seated on a globe while handing the keys to Peter, surrounded by other holy figures. A peculiarity of the Catacombs of Commodilla is the presence of well burials, a type of tomb consisting of deep pits with up to 20 loculi arranged along the walls and stacked on top of each other. This arrangement, found only in the nearby catacombs of Santa Tecla, offers a unique example of burial practices of the time. The graffiti inscription found in the catacombs is of particular linguistic and historical interest. It is one of the oldest attestations of vernacular Italian, dating back to the 9th century. The graffiti reads “Non dicere ille secrita a bboce” (Do not pronounce the secret words aloud), a warning to the celebrant not to recite the secret prayers of the mass aloud, reserved only for God. This example of vernacular Latin shows the linguistic transition from classical Latin to medieval Italian. The Cubiculum of Leo is another element of great interest. This crypt, commissioned by a Roman officer from the second half of the 4th century, is entirely painted with biblical scenes. Discovered in 1953, the Cubiculum of Leo is located in the central region of the catacombs that bears the same name. The walls and ceiling of the crypt are decorated with frescoes depicting episodes from the life of Christ and the saints, making it one of the most artistically rich areas of the complex. The catacombs were first discovered in 1903 and have undergone several restoration interventions to preserve their precious frescoes and inscriptions. These restorations have revealed further details about the funeral and religious practices of the early Christians, contributing to a greater understanding of life in the early Christian era. Another significant element of the Catacombs of Commodilla is the presence of the earliest known example of Christ depicted with a beard, an iconography that would become common in later representations. This fresco is found in the Cubiculum of Leo and represents Christ as the Pantocrator, an image that emphasizes his majesty and divinity.