Abstract
The purpose of our study is to research Peter’s memory ad catacumbas. According to the Depositio Martyrum—a document of the late Emperor Constantine period—there was no memory of the first St. Peter’s Basilica on the Vatican Hill. We start with a critical analysis on the Roman Basilica attributed to Emperor Constantine in Liber Pontificalis, then we deepen the search of Peter’s memory in the catacombs of the Sts. Marcellinus and Peter (ad Duos Lauros), also known as Tor Pignattara. Indeed, the basilica and mausoleum built in this cemeterial area are the only buildings attributable, with certainty, to Emperor Constantine, who wished to be buried in the mausoleum, close to an apostle. Besides some striking archeological finds on Peter’s memory already discovered near a particular cubicle in these catacombs, a geometrical and mathematical study of the unusual architectonic characteristics of the basilica and mausoleum of Tor Pignattara shows that the buildings were part of a single architectonic plan, very likely designed for coding data useful to locate Peter’s burial site unambiguously, in the area of the cubicle mentioned.
Highlights
IfIfthat thatsimple simple entire graffitihas hasbeen beenconsidered consideredasasthe theindirect indirectproof proofofofPeter’sPeter’sburial burialininSt.St.Peter’s Peter’sBasilicaBasilicaon on graffiti the theVaticanVaticanHill, Hill, thenititcannot cannotbe beexcluded excludedthat thatthe theplaque plaqueofofFigureFigure55can canbe beaaproof proofthat thatSt.Peter, Peter,maybe maybefor foraacertain certainperiod, period,was wasburied buriedininthe thecatacomb catacombadadDuos DuosLauros
The basilica and mausoleum built in this cemeterial area are the only buildings attributable, with certainty, to Emperor Constantine, who wished to be buried in the mausoleum, close to an apostle
Besides some striking archeological finds on Peter’s memory already discovered near a particular cubicle in these catacombs, a geometrical and mathematical study of the unusual architectonic characteristics of the basilica and mausoleum of Tor Pignattara shows that the buildings were part of a single architectonic plan, very likely designed for coding data useful to locate Peter’s burial site unambiguously, in the area of the cubicle mentioned
Summary
Since the 4th century, the Catholic Church has venerated Peter’s memory in the Vatican. The most accepted opinion is that Peter’s remains were moved in one of the Roman catacombs [12,13], because there is another ancient memory of St. Peter ad catacumbas, dated at the end of the Emperor Constantine period (306–337). A more ancient source than Liber Pontificalis, the Itinerarium Burdigalense, lists the stops of a pilgrimage from Gaul to Jerusalem, which occurred in the years 333–334, and describes the basilicas just built by Constantine in Jerusalem, mentioned by Eusebius of Caesarea. Neither Eusebius nor Athanasios, Christian authors of the 4th century, mention any important building erected by Constantine in Rome, such as a basilica For this reason, historians today are cautious in attributing to him what is reported in Liber Pontificalis [14]. Barbero observes that it is not possible that Eusebius, a very attentive observer, had ignored the construction of a large basilica by Constantine, much more important than a statue [14] (p. 336)
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