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Vsevolod II Olgovich (died August 1, 1146) was Prince of Chernigov (1127–1139) and Grand Prince of Kiev (1139–1146). He was a son of Oleg Svyatoslavich, Prince of Chernigov.
- 1 August 1146
- Theophano Mouzalonissa, archontess of Rhousia
- Catacombs of San Gennaro, Naples. Catacombs of San Gennaro. The Catacombs of San Gennaro are the most important monument of Christianity in Naples and date back to the 2nd-3rd centuries AD.
- Catacombs of San Gaudioso, Naples. Catacombs of San Gaudioso. The Catacombs of San Gaudioso are named after the Pope who was buried there around 450 AD.
- Catacombs of Priscilla, Rome. Catacomb of Priscilla. The Catacombs of Priscilla are named after the woman who donated the land on which the first burials of the Christian community arose and have been called 'The Queen of the Catacombs' because of the high number of martyrs buried there.
- Catacombs of St. Sebastian, Rome. The Catacombs of San Sebastiano are named after the martyr who was laid to rest here after his death in 298 AD. Originally a pagan cemetery where mostly slaves were buried, it later became a Christian necropolis.
- Overview
- Rome, Capital of Catacombs
- The Legend of the Holy Grail
Popularized by the movie Indiana Jones, Rome's ancient catacombs are tinged with mystery.
A cross inlaid in the floor of a library marks the spot where Indiana Jones has to dig to access the ancient catacombs of Venice in the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The catacombs, a network of dark and narrow underground tunnels and tombs, hold the secret that eventually leads Indy to the hideout of the Holy Grail.
Unfortunately, the dramatic scene is fictional.
"There are no catacombs in Venice, as the town rises on wood piles in the middle of the saltwater Venetian Lagoon. There is no room for underground chambers or passages, and only a few buildings have a basement," says Luigi Fozzati, head of the Archaeological Superintendence of Veneto.
To find catacombs, go to Rome, home of some of the oldest and longest burial underground tunnels in the world. "Hundreds of kilometers of catacombs run underneath the town and its outskirts," says Adriano Morabito, president of the association Roma Sotterranea (Underground Rome).
"Some of the networks are well known and open to visitors, while others are still scarcely explored. Probably there are a number of lost catacombs, too."
The oldest tunnels date back to the first century. "The Jewish community in Rome built them as cemeteries. Christian catacombs came a century later. They were not secret meeting places to survive persecutions, as historians thought in the past, but burial tunnels, like the Jewish ones," Morabito explains. "They used to grow larger and larger around the tombs of saints because people asked to be buried near their religious leaders."
All Christian catacombs in Rome are property of the Catholic Church, and no one is allowed to explore them without special permission from the Vatican.
The aura of mystery surrounding the catacombs has fed legends for centuries. Recently, Alfredo Barbagallo, an amateur archaeologist, claimed that the Holy Grail could be hidden in Rome, in the catacomb underneath the Basilica of San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura, near the tomb of St. Lawrence, a deacon martyred in A.D. 258.
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Archaeologists study a colossal Olmec stone head in La Venta, Mexico in this 1947 National Geographic photo. The Olmec civilization, the first in Mesoamerica, offers valuable clues into the development of the rest of the region.
Archaeologists study a colossal Olmec stone head in La Venta, Mexico in this 1947 National Geographic photo. The Olmec civilization, the first in Mesoamerica, offers valuable clues into the development of the rest of the region.
Photograph by Richard Hewitt Stewart, National Geographic
May 29, 2018 · Hundreds of secret passages, caves and bunkers (that still haven’t been completely discovered by scientists and researchers) are hidden throughout the city. People make pilgrimages here every year from all over the world because few things are more interesting than exploring Kiev and its catacombs.
Apr 8, 2019 · The catacombs were carved out of tufa - a soft and porous volcanic stone that is surprisingly strong. From the early 2nd century to the 5th century CE, fossores or specialized workers built these subterranean wonders that became the final resting place for many Christian martyrs, as well as Jewish and pagan citizens.
- Kim Martins
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Delve into the hidden world beneath Rome, where the Roman Catacombs reveal an ancient burial site of history and religious significance. Don’t just visit Rome – venture below its surface with our Catacombs Tours. Book your spot for an immersive journey through the city’s ancient burial chambers.
Aug 23, 2023 · Here is a guide to the best ten. The catacombs of Rome constitute a vast system of underground cemeteries located along tunnels that extend beneath the city. These catacombs were primarily used as burial sites during the first centuries of Christianity.
