The Crypts of Lucina form part of an underground cemetery area which was developed along the Appian Way during the second half of the 2nd century.The name "Crypts of Lucina" is due to the information recorded in the Liber Pontificalis in the biography of Pope St. Cornelius:
"The blessed Lucina with the help of certain ecclesiastics collected by night the body of St. Cornelius to bury it in a crypt excavated on an estate belonging to her near the Cemetery of Callixtus on the Appian Way, September 14th".
The crypts are formed by two hypogea "alfa" and "beta", that is two small underground areas used as a burial place; they consisted of some cubicles, joined by galleries and connected to the top by two staircases. By the end of the 4th century the Crypts of Lucina were linked to the Cemetery of St.Callixtus through an underground passage to ease the way for the pilgrims coming from the Crypt of the Popes and of St.Cecilia, to reach directly, through the Region of Pope Miltiades, the tomb of Pope Cornelius.

Lapide Cornelius Martyr © Pontificia Commissione di Archeologia Sacra

Cornelius was elected pope in March 251 "not through his own initiative, but because of his humility, prudence and goodness" (St. Ciprian). After a year of pontificate, he was condemned to exile at Civitavecchia, a sea-town about 47 miles from Rome, where he died the following year in June 255. Even if this pope did not die a violent death, his confinement was hard and caused him much suffering. St. Ciprian on several occasions described him as a martyr, a title confirmed in his epitaph.The Church of Rome celebrated the date of St. Cornelius' new burial in the Cemetery of St. Callixtus on 14th September.
St. Cornelius' sepulchre became a constant pilgrimage site and is a witness of the flourishing martyrs' cult in Rome.

On the wall to the left of Cornelius' tomb there is a painting showing Pope Sixtus II and Bishop Optatus. On the right of the tomb there is a round table, which was used to support the oil lamps, which burned in honour of the martyr pope. On the upper part of the wall are the images of Pope St. Cornelius and of St. Ciprian, bishop of Carthage (a martyr in the Valerian persecution 258).

The four figures have haloes round their heads; they are shown in pontifical robes and, with the left hand, each of them holds a book decorated with precious stones, the Gospel. Above the tomb of Pope Cornelius there is a portion of the stone on which pope Damasus' poem was inscribed, to record the construction of a staircase down to the crypt and of the opening of a light-shaft.

The pope reminds us that he had the work carried out on account of his own solicitude for the tombs of the martyrs and asks the faithful to pray for him in his cares and anxieties. In these crypts there is a double cubicle ornamented with paintings, that belong to the end of the 2nd century. They represent Jesus' Baptism, Daniel in the lions' den, two figures of the Good Shepherd, with veiled Oranti, the cycle of Jonah. Here are also the very famous Eucharistic fishes. In front of each one is depicted a basket with loaves of bread and at the centre of these a flask of red wine can be seen. They symbolize the sacrament of the Holy Eucarist.