Catacombs & Necropolis by Ender

Catacombs & Necropolis 

by Ender

During our trip to Rome, descending into the catacombs was truly one of the most surreal parts of the trip. Compared to the bustling, hot, city, stepping into the quiet and cold catacombs provided a stark contrast to the rest of the trip. Learning the facts about how they stretch 20 kilometers over 4 floors really helped to provide the scope of how big Rome was. The walls were lined with pockets ranging in sizes showing the unfortunate difference in ages, especially highlighting the high infant mortality rate. What stood out most were the faded paintings and symbols which demonstrated a lot of religious beliefs. Overall, the catacombs were quiet and almost hidden, like a place to be protected over the rest of the highly seen sights on the rest of the trip. 

However, continuing revealed the necropolis. Although used for the same purpose as the catacombs, the difference was striking. The catacombs were built to be simple, with the sole purpose of storing bodies, and the only designs being small religious sentiments. However, the necropolis truly reflected what a lot of Romans often wanted. A display of wealth. In the necropolis, bodies were stored in tombs, decorated like their own temples with bright paintings and beautifully carved sculptures. Overall, seeing the necropolis was a reminder that in every society, and even after death, people still try to show off.