I
We will briefly glance through the testimony of the “Itineraries” on this point, touching upon each of the principal Catacombs in order. As a rule the “Pilgrim Itineraries” class the different groups of cemeteries (Catacombs) under the different heading of the Roman road in the immediate vicinity of which they were excavated. Thus cemeteries are classed together which are situated on the “Via Aurelia,” the “Via Portuensis,” the “Via Appia,” the “Via Salaria Nova,” etc. This topographical arrangement was drawn up evidently for the convenience of these pilgrim travellers, who were thus guided in turn round the principal shrines.
On the Right Bank of the Tiber in the Trastevere Quarter
The Via Vaticana. (The Vatican Cemetery.)
The allusion referred to here is to the crypts existing beneath the great basilica of S. Peter.—“No man knows what the number is of the holy martyrs who rest in this Church” (Etenim nullus hominum scit numerum sanctorum Martyrum qui in eadem ecclesia pausant).
—Itinerary of William of Malmesbury.
This “Guide” was probably published for the use of the Crusaders. It was evidently made from a much older document, for many of the shrines alluded to in it belonged to Catacombs which in William of Malmesbury’s time had been long forgotten.
The Via Aurelia. (The road leading to Civita Vecchia.)
After speaking of the shrines of certain celebrated confessors buried in a cemetery hard by this road, we read how “these lie buried with many (other martyrs)” (cum multis sepulti jacent).
—De Locis SS. Martyrum.
Of this “Itinerary,” the full title of which is “De Locis SS. Martyrum quæ sunt foris civitatem Romæ,”—the MS. was found in the Salzburg Library.
The Via Portuensis. (The road leading to Portus, the ancient port of Rome, constructed by Claudius.)
Certain famous shrines are particularised, after which follow the words: “Then you go down into a cave (or crypt), and you will find there an innumerable multitude of martyrs” (invenies ibi innumerabilem multitudinem martyrum); and again, alluding to another spot, “that cave (or crypt) is filled with the bones of martyrs.”
The cemeteries on the Via Portuensis include the cemeteries of Pontianus and S. Felix.
—Salzburg Itinerary.
Cemeteries (Catacombs) on Left Bank of the Tiber (Rome Proper)
The Via Ostiensis. (The road leading to Ostia.)
After alluding to the sepulchre of S. Paul and other shrines, such as S. Adauctus, mention is made of a martyr Nomeseus, with many others (cum plurimis aliis).
The Via Ardeatina. (A road on the right or west of the Via Appia.)
The “Guide” speaks of various shrines and proceeds to say: “Not far off lie S. Petronilla and Nereus and Achilles and many other martyrs.”
—Itinerary of William of Malmesbury.
The Via Appia. (The “Queen of Roads” leads through Albano on to Capua.)
(1) After enumerating various notable shrines, such as that of S. Cecilia, we read: “There we come upon a countless multitude of martyrs” (Ibi innumerabilis multitudo martyrum).
(2) Further on, mention is made of “80 nameless martyrs who rest here.”
—Salzburg Itinerary.
(1) In another “Itinerary” describing the cemeteries of the Appian Way we read of “800 martyrs who are stated to rest in the great Callistus group of Catacombs.”
(2) And here again the expression is used, “with many martyrs.”
—De Locis SS. Martyrum.
The Via Latina (leads out of the ancient Porta Capena to the left of the Appian Way).
The “Itinerary” here referred to speaks of some three groups of cemeteries, in two of which, it states, after particularising some famous shrines, that “many martyrs rest there.”
—De Locis SS. Martyrum.
The Via Labicana (leads out of the ancient Esquiline Gate).
The “Pilgrim Guide” here referred to mentions that, in the group of cemeteries situate on this road, “many martyrs rest.” In another place it alludes to “many other martyrs”; in another, “30 martyrs.”
—Itinerary of Salzburg.
Another “Pilgrim Guide” tells us of “a countless multitude of martyrs” buried in this group of Catacombs.
—De Locis SS. Martyrum.
Another “Itinerary,” after specifying some famous names, mentions that here were “other martyrs unnumbered.”
—Itinerary of Einsiedeln.
The Via Tiburtina. (The road which through the Tiburtina Gate, now the Porta S. Lorenzo, leads to Tivoli.)
The “Guide” speaks of the Church of S. Laurence and the two basilicas in the cemetery adjacent. It says: “Many martyrs rest there”; and again, in the cemetery hard by, mentions “a multitude of saints” buried there.
—Itinerary of Salzburg.
Another “Itinerary,” describing these cemeteries, records that “with S. Cyriaca and S. Symphorosa are buried many martyrs.”
—De Locis SS. Martyrum.
The Via Nomentana (leads out of the old Porta Collina to the town of Nomentum (Mentana). The modern Porta Pia is close to the old gate).
After describing the group of cemeteries lying round the Basilica of S. Agnes, and mentioning some of the better-known saints, the “Itinerary” says: “Many others sleep there.”
—De Locis SS. Martyrum.
The Via Salaria Nova (leads in a northerly direction out of the old Porta Collina (Porta Pia now). The great Cemetery (Catacomb) of Priscilla is a little way out of the city on this road).
The “Itinerary” is speaking of the old Basilica of S. Sylvester; its ruins are in the Priscilla Catacomb. There, it says, “a multitude of saints rest”; and further on, still speaking of the same Basilica of S. Sylvester, says that “under the altar with certain famous confessors there are a multitude of saints.”
—Itinerary of Salzburg.
Another “Guide,” writing of the great ones who rest in the “Priscilla” Cemetery, adds how they sleep there “with many saints.” Hard by, the same “Guide” tells us how one of the confessor-sons of S. Felicitas in the same spot rests “with many saints”; and again alludes to “the many martyrs buried there.” And once more, speaking of the shrine of S. Sylvester, relates that “very many more saints and martyrs lie hard by.” In one grave, the “Guide” adds, “373 are buried.”
—De Locis SS. Martyrum.
William of Malmesbury, copying—as we said—from a much older “Pilgrim Guide,” after enumerating the names of the more prominent martyrs, adds, “and there are innumerable other saints buried there” (alii innumerabiles).
—William of Malmesbury.
The Via Salaria Vetus. (This road was in the immediate neighbourhood of the last mentioned, the “Via Salaria Nova.”)
The “Itinerary,” describing the group of cemeteries on this road, writes, after mentioning the better-known names of saints: “These are buried with many martyrs”; and further on relates how “230 martyrs are interred here.”
—De Locis SS. Martyrum.
William of Malmesbury, writing of the same group, relates that “in the one grave 260 martyrs rest,” and “in another 30.”—William of Malmesbury, Itinerary.
The Via Flaminia. (This ancient road leads out of the modern Porta del Popolo, is a direct continuation of the modern Corso. It is the great road communicating with North Italy.)
There is only one Cemetery or Catacomb on this road, that of S. Valentinus. The “Guide” relates how the martyr S. Valentinus rests there together “with other martyrs unnamed.”
—Itinerary of Salzburg.
Another “Guide” says: “Many saints are buried here.”
—De Locis SS. Martyrum.