THE UNDERGROUND CEMETERY
In describing this jewel-casket of ancient evidences, which are the catacombs, we shall confine ourselves to showing, following at first the pilgrims' route, the most significant places and things, without however repeating what we have said already about the catacombs in general, in the first part of this Internet site.

The entrance staircase
We descend immediately to the second floor of the catacombs by means of a modern staircase, reconstructed to a great extent on the remains of an older one, very probably from the 4th century. It was opened at the time of pope Damasus to allow the Christians an easier access to the martyrs' tombs. Attached along the walls of the first stretch of the stairway are many fragments of the sealing stones of loculi.

 

The statue of the Good Shepherd
On the landing, where the stairway turns to the right, there is a statue of the Good Shepherd, a replica of the famous 4th century one now in the Vatican Museum. The Good Shepherd with a lamb around his shoulders represents Christ carrying the soul which He has saved. It is the most frequent symbol of Christ and the best loved by the early Christians. It had for them the same importance which the Crucifix has for us now.


Agrippina's epigraph
Along the wall of the stairway are attached some funeral epigrams. One of them reveals the true meaning of death for a Christian: the day of death is called "the day in which she entered into light" "Cuius dies inluxit":

" Agrippina gave up (her soul to God) ...
Entered into light ...
Buried on the ides of..."


The Graffiti
At the foot of the stairs, on the wall now protected by glass, begins a series of graffiti scratched with an iron point on the plaster of the wall. They are names, words or even short phrases of invocation to the martyrs, written by pilgrims during their visit to the catacombs.
The graffiti are particularly frequent near the tombs of the martyrs. On the left wall of Gallery L, we read: "Felicio PBR (presbyter) peccator= Felicio, priest, a sinner" " O St. Sixtus, remember in your prayers Aurelius Repentinus..." " O holy Souls, remember Marcianus, Successus, Severus and all our brethren...". We also read the admiring expression by which an unknown Christian compared the Crypt of the Popes to heavenly Jerusalem: "O Jerusalem, city and ornament of God's martyrs ...".
On the left there is the opening which introduces us into the Crypt of the Popes.


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