Types of Tombs in the Catacomb

1. The Crypt: Generally it is designated for the martyrs or the hierarchy of the Church like Popes or Bishops. Initially this was a family tomb but then was transformed into a bigger room and most often it was transformed into an underground Church.

2. The Loculo: Along the walls of the galleries were excavated "loculi", they are rectangular types of tombs designated to one person. At times you may find more than one but those were rare cases. The dead were laid inside the loculo without coffin but wrap with a mantel or a shroud. In some cases the corps were sprinkled with lime or perfume. There at times some aromatic vases were collocated inside the tomb. After deposition of remains of the deceased person the loculo was closed with tiles, bricks or thin marble slabs. This will be sealed with lime or mortar. Two small oil lamps made of terracotta were located inside the small wholes curved at the side of the tomb and sometimes they also put a glass flask filled with perfume. Almost 90% of tombs were belonged to the poor people and to the slaves converted to Christianity (A. Barrufa, Le Catacombe di S. Callisto, 45).

3. The Cubiculum (Family Tomb): There were few tombs that are dedicated to the well-off families, those who donated their lands to the Church. Inside the cubiculum there are "loculi" and "arcosolium". Cubiculum has the form of square or polygonal. They were often decorated with Christian symbols and paintings.

 4. The Arcosolium: It is a special tomb dedicated to important people such as the martyrs, hierarchy of the Church (Diacons and presbyteries) and wealthy families. It is a tomb with an ark on top: Solium sub arcu. The marble slab will be collocated horizontally on top of the tomb. It can only contained one person or sometimes the entire members of the family. They were decorated with Christian paintings and sometimes also with pagan mythologies. It is a type of tomb from the 3rd and 4th century (Le Catacombe di S. Callisto, 45-46).

5. The Forma: These are the tombs excavated on pavement of a crypt, cubicula or along the galleries. Seldom we find them near the tombs of the martyrs or the Popes (Le Catacombe di S. Callisto, 45).

6. The "Mensa": It is a bigger loculo. It won't be closed in a vertical way but in a horizontal way like a table or an altar. It is often used in the 2nd century (Le Catacombe di S. Callisto, 45).

7. Sarcophagus: This type of burial was very rare in the catacombs, because it is very expensive. Only the rich families could afford to have them. Most often they were made out of a marble stone. At times they were sculptured with biblical personalities (Le Catacombe di S. Callisto, 46).

Identification of the Tombs

Most of the Christians who were buried in the catacombs were poor and from humble condition of life. There were also slaves. Most of the tombs had no identification. The Church provided for them free tombs in order that they may also be buried in a dignified manner. Few of the tombs had identifications with inscriptions of their names or Christian symbols. At times we find little lamps, jewelry, coins, glasses or shells to be recognized (Le Catacombe di S. Callisto, 46).