The Friar Factor

A visit to the Necropolis of Ostia

In a small area outside of Rome, known as Ostia Antica, there is a Necropolis (a city of the dead) that dates back to the time of St. Peter (1st century AD). The significance of this place is precisely that, it dates back to the time of St Peter and gives us an idea of what the necropolis currently under St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, looked like in its original setting, above ground.

This Necropolis, which served as the burial area of the Port town of Ostia was buried under feet of silt from the Tiber River, which ran to one side of the city, and a creek, which ran on the other. From the picture you can see the amazing preservation that this burial in silt did, until the excavation of this area in the 60s.

The Seminar, which I attend at the Angelicum, "The Tomb of St. Peter", is taught by an American Dominican Fr. Ditton, OP. We visited this site today, and I wanted to share it with you, just for your own viewing pleasure.

posted by Andrew @ 4:04 AM