Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/95

Rh New and very careful examinations in the district of the church of Saint Sebastiano led to his discovery that a cow-house, in a vineyard, contained a Christian Basilica of the oldest date. Broken pieces of marble, with burial inscriptions, which were found under the stones and rubbish, led to the supposition in his mind that the actual Calixti catacomb would be found under this church.

He communicated his discovery and his suppositions to the Pope, Pio Nino, who encouraged him, and furnished him with means to purchase the cow-house and vineyard, and to undertake the excavation. The results of all this were rich beyond expectation. The actual Calixti catacomb, with the martyrs' graves, were not only dis s c overed—the descent being found near the little, most ancient church—but, in connection therewith, the very most ancient catacomb, where the Christians, during the first and second century, congregated, as well as interred their dead. The entrance to this had been again walled up, and—if I am not mistaken—not opened until by De Rossi.

It was with a beaming countenance that the fortunate discoverer led us to those subterranean chambers by the very way which the most ancient pilgrims had descended. This was a handsome, convenient flight of white marble steps. We went down, each one of us bearing a lighted candle in the hand, two guides going in advance with torches. We reached the catacomb of Calixtus. The chapels, the graves, and the passages, are, in many places, ornamented with marble columns, bas-reliefs, and paintings. The number and character of the tombs show that this catacomb