Page:A Letter from Mr John Monro to the Publisher, concerning the Catacombs of Rome and Naples (IA paper-doi-10 1098 rstl 1700 0043).pdf/5

 places where the holes were made, and little Monuments ereed over the holes themselves, to which the name of Putei is continu'd to this day.

This is the true notion of the Puticuli, holes dug perpendicularly in the ground to throw Bodies indifferently and without any decency in; and according to the argument this ought to be the condu of the Ancient Romans, with respe to their Slaves, as implying simplicity and the care to avoid a greater expence; but then what's all this to the Galleries and Chambers of the Catacombs, where decency and distinion of quality is nicely observ'd; and that, if they were look'd after, and kept in better repair, would be without dispute the noblest Burying-place this day in the world. As often as they fall under my consideration, I cannot forbear thinking they were made for this end by the ancient Romans, and made in consequence of these two ancient opinions, and the shadows hate the light, and love to hover about the place where the Bodies are laid, they appear so easy and decent for a resting place for the one, without the least fear of being ever disturb'd, and at the same time there is provided a noble and a vast convenience full of variety for the others, to space themselves freely and with pleasure in.

I think 'twill not be deny'd, that laying up the Bodies in Caves was the original way of disposing of the dead; this was that of the Phænicians, and as they were the men that with their Colonies peopled the Western parts of the World, 'tis more than probable they carry'd it along with them whither soever they went. Afterwards, as men grew great and powerful, they ereed noble and magnificent monuments for themselves above ground; at length others of inferiour degree imitated them, all leaving room enough and excluding the light: but then interring as we do now in the open air, or in Temples, was never the manner till