Definition: Roman catacombs were, to put it simply, stone-walled underground cemeteries, usually for one or more wealthy Roman families. In that sense, Priscilla's catacombs on the Via Salaria, are really no different than many others in the city of Rome. However, painted on the walls of these catacombs are numerous frescos dated to the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.
One of the frescoes illustrates a woman presiding over the Eucharist (not a thing that the Christian church of a few centuries later would consider even possible), while another has been interpreted by some scholars as a representation of St. Peter.
One of the frescoes illustrates a woman presiding over the Eucharist (not a thing that the Christian church of a few centuries later would consider even possible), while another has been interpreted by some scholars as a representation of St. Peter.
Sources
For more on St. Priscilla and other catacombs, see the article by Martha Bakerjian, About's Guide to Italy for Travelers, called Catacombs in Italy.This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
