View Article: Tomb of St. Peter and Pre-Constantine Necropolis of the Vatican-Initial Research

	Tomb of St. Peter and Pre-Constantine Necropolis of the Vatican-Initial Research
	written by Angela Hitt / 07.12.2004

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Site Location

The Tomb and Necropolis can be accessed just outside of the St. Peter’s Basilica on the left, from the Arch of the Bells (Arco della Campane).

Site History

After more than 10 years of intense archeological research, Pope Pius XII announced on December 23, 1950 that the remains of St. Peter were officially “discovered” deep below the high alter at St. Peter’s Basilica. Two Jesuit archeologists and their team found a monument which could be dated to approximately 160 AD.
Not only was there more than one grave, there was an entire “city of the dead.” The bones found at the large monument were quite controversial. What was originally thought to be the remains of a single man in his 60s as Peter would have been, turned out to be an older man, a younger man, a woman, a pig, a chicken, and a horse.
In 1942, an administrator of the project decided to remove the remains he found from a second tomb and store them for safe keeping. After the administrator died, a family friend of the current Pope Paul VI told him of the late administrator’s actions. Testing confirmed that these remains are of a man in his 60s dating to approximately the time Peter would have lived. June 26, 1968 brought a papal announcement that the relics of St. Peter had been found. Scholarly debate still exists on the issue and it is unlikely it will ever completely dissipate.
Recently the necropolis was renovated to provide better access, lighting, and climate control to preserve the graves.

"In search of St. Peter's Tomb" By Dr. Steven Hijmans

Elements of Interest

Christ-Sol

Christus helios, the mosaic of Sol in Mausoleum M, which is interpreted as Christ-Sol

The most intriguing part this particular site is the fact that contrast it presents. As Dr. Steven Hijmans phrased it,

"It is striking, for instance, that although the monument above St. Peter's tomb is unequivocally Christian, all the mausolea in the necropolis around it were pagan. Accustomed as we are to associating the Roman Empire before Constantine with the persecution of Christians, it is interesting to note that Christians were apparently able to erect such a monument in an otherwise pagan area at this time."

The necropolis contains numerous mosaics including one that can be interpreted as either a Christ-like figure or a pagan sun god.

Analyze Image

Chapel at the Tomb of St. Peter

This picture is of the chapel built near the tomb. This is actually the only image I could find relating to how the actual necropolis looks. Cameras are not allowed on the tour so tourist pictures on the web were much more scarce than for St. Peter’s Basilica. Its really hard to tell what is left out because there aren’t many pictures of it, but it is clear that its considered holy ground.

Site Questions

How did they accomplish improvements in lighting and climate control without destroying historic value?
Were St. Peters relics returned to the original mausoleum they were found in or are they locked in a vault somewhere?

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