Ipogeo di via Dino Compagni

The hypogeum was discovered in 1955 during building construction work. It was meant for only a few households and was built in four distinct phases between approximately 320 and 360 AD. The entrance staircase leads down to a gallery that has two cubicles decorated with scenes from the Old and New Testament (the fall of Adam and Eve, Noah drunk, Isaac’s supper). A staircase at the end of this gallery leads to another two cubicles – the first of which has corner columns and a groin-vault ceiling. The paintings either depict Old Testament themes appearing for the first time in catacombs or depict traditional themes approached with some originality. Among these is a probable representation ofthe Great Flood, Samson strangling the lion, Joseph’s dream, Moses saved from the waters, Adam and Eve together with Cain and Abel, the crossing of the Red Sea. The third construction phase saw the building of a gallery, at about halfway along the previous one, and this led on to a vestibule connected to another two cubicles. One of these has paintings depicting pagan themes (the Gorgon, Tellus, and zoomorphic elements) while the other, oval-shaped, cubicle has Christian themes that are even quite original, such as Samson killing the Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. Another vestibule leads on to two galleries, one with loculi and the other with stairs leading to a well. The fourth and last construction phase saw the building of an ambulatory in a westward direction, and this led to a hexagonal plan vestibule with corner columns and a vault. This vestibule leads onto two chambers and two arcosolia. Another, fenced off, vestibule leads to another three cubicles containingpaintings of pagan themes (the labours of Hercules, Ceres) alternating with scenes of the Christian faith (soldiers gambling for Jesus’ tunic, Job with his wife, the delivery of the Law). Although it is not possible to attribute the hypogeum to any particular household, for lack of epigraphic sources, it may be noted how this burial complex was first created for Christians and then also used by pagans, probably during the momentary rekindling of paganism under Julian the Apostate.