Rambles in Rome: An Archæological and Historical Guide to the Museums, Galleries, Villas, Churches, and Antiquities of Rome and the CampagnaForbes, S. Russell
History
Rambles in Rome: An Archæological and Historical Guide to the Museums, Galleries, Villas, Churches, and Antiquities of Rome and the Campagna
Forbes, S. Russell
Art -- Rome; Rome (Italy) -- Guidebooks; Rome -- Antiquities
stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus"
(ver. 4)--"As soon as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals
there, and fish laid thereon, and bread" (ver. 9)--"Jesus saith unto
them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art
thou? knowing that it was the Lord" (ver. 12)--"Jesus then cometh, and
taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise" (ver. 13)--"So when
they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas,
lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou
knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs" (ver. 15;
see also ver. 16, 17). In another sepulchre have been found two
sarcophagi containing remains; the tops are now covered with glass.
Opening out of this sepulchre is another, in which was found a
sarcophagus (fourth century) representing Lazarus being raised from
the dead, the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, Daniel in the
lions' den. Near this is a crypt containing an inscription having
reference to the heresy of Heraclius, on account of which Eusebius
became a voluntary exile. The names of the person who engraved
it--Furius Dionysius Filocalus--and of Bishop Damasus are cut in two
vertical lines down the sides. It had served previously for an
inscription to Caracalla, made by M. Asinius Sabinianus. It was a very
usual thing for the early Christians to re-use the marble of other
times, on account of its cheapness, they being mostly poor.
COPY OF INSCRIPTION OF DAMASUS ON AN INSCRIPTION TO CARACALLA.
HERACLIUS FORBADE THE LAPSED TO GRIEVE FOR THEIR SINS;
EUSEBIUS TAUGHT THOSE UNHAPPY ONES TO WEEP FOR THEIR
CRIMES. THE PEOPLE WERE RENT INTO PARTIES, AND WITH
INCREASING FURY BEGAN SEDITION, SLAUGHTER, FIGHTING,
DISCORD, AND STRIFE. STRAIGHTWAY BOTH WERE BANISHED BY THE
CRUELTY OF THE TYRANT, ALTHOUGH THE BISHOP WAS PRESERVING
THE BONDS OF PEACE INVIOLATE. HE BORE HIS EXILE WITH JOY,
LOOKING TO THE LORD AS HIS JUDGE, AND ON THE SHORE OF
SICILY GAVE UP THE WORLD AND HIS LIFE.
The Chapel of S. Cornelius was originally distinct from these
catacombs. His tomb is marked "Cornelius Martyr. Ep." on the side-wall
fresco of Cornelius and Cyprian; in front is a pillar on which stood
the lamp burning before the shrine.
INSCRIPTIONS NEAR THE GRAVE OF BISHOP CORNELIUS.
BEHOLD! A WAY DOWN HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED, AND THE DARKNESS
DISPELLED: YOU SEE THE MONUMENTS OF CORNELIUS, AND HIS
SACRED TOMB. THIS WORK THE ZEAL OF DAMASUS HAS
ACCOMPLISHED, SICK AS HE IS, IN ORDER THAT THE APPROACH
MIGHT BE BETTER, AND THE AID OF THE SAINT MIGHT BE MADE
CONVENIENT FOR THE PEOPLE; AND THAT, IF YOU WILL POUR FORTH
YOUR PRAYERS FROM A PURE HEART, DAMASUS MAY RISE UP BETTER
IN HEALTH, THOUGH IT HAS NOT BEEN LOVE OF LIFE, BUT CARE
FOR WORK, THAT HAS KEPT HIM HERE BELOW.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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