(ANSA) - Rome, June 22 - Archaeologists and restorers
working at the Roman catacombs of Saint Tecla announced on
Tuesday they had found the world's oldest paintings of the
apostles Peter, Paul, Andrew and John.
"They're the oldest images of the apostles and are datable
to the latter half of the fourth century AD," said Fabrizio
Bisconti, superintendent of archeology at the catacombs, which
are owned and maintained by the Vatican's Pontifical Commission
for Sacred Archaeology.
They were found on the ceiling of the burial chamber of an
ancient Roman noblewoman who commissioned painters to decorate
it with scenes from the Bible, probably after her conversion to
Christianity.
The Vatican had anticipated news of the discovery last
June, saying that archaeologists carrying out routine
restoration work had uncovered the oldest known icon of the
Apostle Paul.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, the Vatican team said
Paul's image was part of ceiling painting that also included the
full-face icons of the other three apostles.
"The paintings of Andrew and John are undoubtedly the
oldest ever.
Some showing Peter have been found that date to the middle of the fourth century although this is the first time that the apostle is not shown in a group but singly, in an icon," Bisconti told reporters. "The discovery is evidence that the devotion to the apostles began in early Christianity," said Barbara Mazzei, chief restorer at the site.
The catacombs of Saint Tecla are some 500 meters away from the Basilica of St Paul's Outside the Walls, where the saint is buried. They were discovered by chance in the 1950s during excavations for the construction of an office building.
Mazzei said restorers had been able to uncover the images thanks to a new and sophisticated laser technology which peeled off the thick calcium carbonate deposits without damaging the colours underneath. photo: St Paul
Some showing Peter have been found that date to the middle of the fourth century although this is the first time that the apostle is not shown in a group but singly, in an icon," Bisconti told reporters. "The discovery is evidence that the devotion to the apostles began in early Christianity," said Barbara Mazzei, chief restorer at the site.
The catacombs of Saint Tecla are some 500 meters away from the Basilica of St Paul's Outside the Walls, where the saint is buried. They were discovered by chance in the 1950s during excavations for the construction of an office building.
Mazzei said restorers had been able to uncover the images thanks to a new and sophisticated laser technology which peeled off the thick calcium carbonate deposits without damaging the colours underneath. photo: St Paul
