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History
Originally, there were three separate cemeteries, dedicated, respectively, to Saint Gaudiosus (San Gaudioso), Saint Severus (San Severo) and St. Januarius (San Gennaro). These catacombs in Naples are different from their Roman counterparts in that they have more spacious passageways along two levels. The lower level is the oldest, going back to the 3rd-4th century and may actually be the site of an earlier pre-Christian cemetery later ceded to the new sect. It apparently became an important religious burial site only after the entombment there of Bishop Agrippinus. The second level was the one expanded so as to encompass the other two adjacent cemeteries.

The foundation of San Gennaro extra Moenia is connected with the Catacombs of San Gennaro, the largest Christian catacomb complex in southern Italy. The first structure was probably the result of the fusion of two ancient burial sites, one from the 2nd century CE that contained the remains of Saint Agrippinus of Naples, the first patron saint of Naples, and the site from the 4th century CE that contained the remains of St. Januarius, the patron saint of the city.

The site was consecrated to Gennaro (Januarius) in the fifth century on the occasion of the entombment there of his remains, which were later removed to the Cathedral of Naples by Bishop John IV (842-849) in the 9th century. Until the eleventh century the catacombs were the burial site of Neapolitan bishops, including Quodvoltdeus, the exiled bishop of Carthage who died in 450 AD. Between the 13th and 18th century, the catacombs were the victim of severe looting. Restoration of the catacombs was made possible only after the transfer of skeletal remains to another cemetery. During WWII the catacombs were used by the local population as a place of shelter. The Catacombs were reopened in 1969 by the Archbishop of Naples and modern excavations started in 1971.

Types of Burials
The types of tombs include loculi, arcosoli, pits dug in the ground, and less often, sarcophagi made of tuff, or recycled marble and stone from older graves. The loculi are aligned vertically and the most simple style of burial found in the catacombs but not indicative of the status of the deceased. Arcosoli, made for family funeral areas, are built into the walls of the galleries and cubicles and are more sophisticated than the loculi. Sometimes decorated with mosaics or frescoes, the burials may be stacked horizontally. This type of burial is often found in Sicilian catacombs as well, and can be described as a “Siracusa” burial and is often found in Greek areas of catacombs. Occasionally child burials are found in the bottom wall of the lunette, another example of the efficient use of space in the catacombs.

Oil Lamps
Approximately 200 oil lamps dating from late antiquity to the middle ages have been found in the catacombs. Included in the findings are 54 African red slip lamps. A thorough study of all the lamps will indicate trade routes from the time period as well as the types of people using the catacombs for burial and ritual purposes. The oldest oil lamps found date back to the second half of the third century and were made in Naples.

The catacombs lie under the Rione Sanità neigborhood of Naples, sometimes called the "Valley of the Dead".

The Catacombs of San Gennaro are underground paleo-Christian burial sites in Naples, Italy. They are situated in the northern part of the city, on the slope leading up to Capodimonte (it). The site is now easily identified by the large church of Madre del Buon Consiglio.

NOTES with links:

The catacombs of San Gennaro are underground burial grounds and places of worship dating from late antiquity to the middle ages. There are two levels of the catacombs carved out of volcanic rock over thousands of years. The lower level is called San Gennaro Inferiore and the upper level is called San Gennaro Superiore. The catacombs lie under the Rione Sanità neigborhood of Naples, sometimes called the "Valley of the Dead".

The types of tombs include loculi, arcosoli, pits dug in the ground, and less often, sarcophagi made of tuff, or recycled marble and stone from older graves. The loculi are aligned vertically and the most simple style of burial found in the catacombs but not indicative of the status of the deceased. Arcosoli, made for family funeral areas, are built into the walls of the galleries and cubicles and are more sophisticated than the loculi. Sometimes decorated with mosaics or frescoes, the burials may be stacked horizontally. This type of burial is often found in Sicilian catacombs as well, and can be described as a “Siracusa” burial and is often found in Greek areas of catacombs. Occasionally child burials are found in the bottom wall of the lunette, another example of the efficient use of space in the catacombs.

Oftentimes the remains of martyrs or saints would encourage the growth of underground basilicas, so Christians could be near holy remains. The tombs of martyr or saints would become the center of burial grounds and galleries would grow around it. Sometimes the function of an underground space changed over the centuries making it difficult to find original use of space. In Hellenistic and Roman times the catacombs were used for pagan burials but with the growth of Christianity the underground areas were expanded and the way in which people were interred was quite different and more egalitarian.

As the burial areas grew around the remains of St. Agrippino and St. Gennaro so did underground places of worship for the growing Christian faith. An early example of religious use of the catacombs is the Basilica of St. Agrippino dating to the fourth century. An altar and chair are carved from the tuff creating a meeting place for worshipers. Other ritual spaces included a confessional, baptismal font, a carved tuff table used as a seat for a consignatorium (area for confirmation), or “oleorum” table for holy oils,  and possibly, monastic and hermit cells. When the relics of San Gennaro were brought to the catacombs, more and more places of worship were carved out of the tuff to make room for increasing amounts of Christians visiting the catacombs. In the year 432 the “Bishop’s Crypt” was initiated with the burial of Bishop John I. Later burials include Quodvoltdeus, the exiled bishop of Carthage who died in 450 AD. The Bishops Crypt was decorated and maintained until the remains of bishops were removed by Bishop John IV (842-849) to Basilica Stefania in the 9th century.

Approximately 200 oil lamps dating from late antiquity to the middle ages have been found in the catacombs. Included in the findings are 54 African red slip lamps. A thorough study of all the lamps will indicate trade routes from the time period as well as the types of people using the catacombs for burial and ritual purposes. The oldest oil lamps found date back to the second half of the third century and were made in Naples.

bibliography

Zambella C., et al. "Environmental Monitoring of the St. Gennaro and St. Gaudioso catacombs in Naples." Conference Paper: Built Heritage 2013, Milan, Italy. 2013. pp. 1479 -1486

Amodio, Maria, and Ebanista, Carlo. "Aree funerarie e luoghi di culto in rupe: le cavità artificiali campane tra tarda antichità e medioevo." Atti del VI Convegno Nazionale di Speleologia in Cavità Artificiali, Napoli, 30 maggio-2 giugno 2008. pp. 117-144

Ebanista, Carlo. "Il contributo di Nicola Ciavolino alla conoscenza della catacomba di San Gennaro a Napoli: le indagini archeologiche del 1971-72." Campania Sacra Rivista di Storia Sociale e Religiosa del Mezzogiorno, volume 46-47, 2015-2016.

Ebanista, Carlo, et al. "Le lucerne di età tardoantica e altomedievale dalla catacomba di S. Gennaro a Napoli, in Isole e terraferma nel primo cristianesimo. " Atti XI Congresso Nazionale di Archeologia Cristiana. Cagliari, 2015, pp. 727-742.

Licardo, Giovanni. "Redemptor meus vivit: iscrizioni cristiane antiche dell'area napoletana." Il Pozze di Giacobbe, 2008.