Vatican Unveils Newly Restored Pagan Tomb

(AP)  The Vatican unveiled the largest and most luxurious of the pagan tombs in the necropolis under St. Peter's Basilica on Tuesday after nearly a year of restoration work.

A family of former slaves built the Valeri Mausoleum during the second half of the second century, when Emperor Marcus Aurelius ruled. It is one of 22 pagan tombs in the grottoes under the basilica.

The newly restored tomb was shown to media Tuesday. Visitors can have a guided tour of the grottoes by appointment.

Emperor Constantine, a convert to Christianity, had the pagan burial grounds covered up in the fourth century so the basilica could be built over the site holding St. Peter's tomb.

The Valeri tomb, made up of several rooms, is several hundred feet from the burial place of the Apostle Peter, venerated by Catholics as the first pope. Peter was martyred in Rome in the area near the Vatican known as Nero's Circus during the first century persecution of Christians by the Romans.

"This restoration takes us straight to the font of the Catholic Church," said Cardinal Angelo Comastri, head of the Fabbrica di San Pietro, the office that for 500 years has been in charge of the running and upkeep of St. Peter's Basilica.

The mausoleum is considered a particularly fine example of the stucco work popular from that era, as well as for the bas reliefs and statues that adorn the tombs.

The tomb tells the history of the family, particularly in bas reliefs, of a girl and a boy from the Caius Valerius Herma family. The children died young, possibly from plague. Such stuccoed objects as a quill pen and a skein of yarn tell the tale of daily life in the Valeri family. Reliefs of major gods and other pagan figures attest to their strong religious belief.

Several charcoal "graffiti" of designs and Latin inscriptions were left untouched to allow for further research. Scholars think the inscriptions might indicate Peter's tomb.

Once freed, the family of slaves that built the mausoleum amassed a vast fortune.

[wardoglrs]

I never had a problem with CBS watching over anything I say. Even though this is a Military Industrail Complex Neo Con Anti American Pro Isreal Anti Family
CIA watched and FBI ready for anything that threat''s
the very core of freedom & Liberty to the American people.

[rf35]

Oh yes, I forgot to address those "Christian" holidays we observe. Since most of them were hijacked from Pagan holidays, it all comes down to splitting hairs. I no longer cling to any religion, but I still celebrate because it is traditional to do so in America, I had done it all my life, and it''s fun. Corporate interests have pretty much taken Christ out of Christmas anyway.

[rf35]

Hey, singinrick is back with a new name, Repent6! Hi Rick!

Linfinster, we atheists use the term "oh my god" because it has become a meaningless exclamation in current American society. It has no religious meaning when not used in a religions context. We also %u201Cpray,%u201D %u201Cthank god,%u201D etc. without the religious meanings carried in the past. These words and phrases are part of the American lexicon, leftovers from the past for most of us.

lvdragonlady, there is nothing wrong with the term %u201CPagan%u201D (though it should be capitalized). It simply refers to various non-Christian religions practiced around the world. Similarly, the word %u201CHeathen%u201D is also not really an insult. It refers to a country-dweller, one who lives on the heath, the place where heather grows. At worse, it could be seen as equating to a %u201Ccountry bumpkin,%u201D though I personally don%u2019t subscribe to that view. Like the terms mentioned above, the meanings have changed as the English language evolved. However, when used in the proper context as in this article, they are not meant to insult.

[wiccanwoman]

In any faith it is wrong to Judge others! People need to look to them selves to find salvation. You are the only true temple to what ever God or Non God you choose to believe in!

[ioweign]

Ironically(or not!) Roman Catholicism mixes paganism with true Christianity which is why they pray to Pope,s to Mary, and have concocted up false doctrines not in the Bible like "purgatory" and calling a mere mortal man "Holy Father"(which is totally against the Scriptures by the way)

Posted by Repent6 at 05:47 PM : May 27, 2008


Have you ever attended a Catholic service ?

[p-syrus]

They should clear all that "christian" rubbish away from our sacred & historic monuments.

Ave atque Vale, Valerii.

[linfinster]

Amen, Repent6.
Also, I find it amusing that the people find can religion so repulsive yet PROBABLY celebrate the religious holiday''s, might say, "Oh my GOD!" a few times a yr ..etc.
Well, time is short and the devil is seeking to devour .. just a heads up.

[singingrick]

Repent6


What do you know about the scriptures anyway? You are still stuck in the old testament?


lol!

[lvdragonlady-2009]

Who is the vatican that they can call something pagan?
There beliefs could appear to be pagan so some, why not get over that holier then thou atitude and share these kind of things with the world. It is HISTORY not every thing is about religion.

[rf35]

Praise be to Jupiter, god of gods!

I''m surprised the Catholics are pointing these things out. I guess it diverts attention from their little child molestation problem.