Catacomb of Calepodius
Coordinates: 41°53′33″N 12°25′57″E / 41.89258°N 12.43240°E The Catacomb of Calepodius (also called the Cemetery of Calepodius) is one of the Catacombs of Rome, notable for containing the tombs of Pope Callixtus I (ironically, the creator of the Catacomb of Callixtus, which once contained the tombs of a dozen other popes) and Pope Julius I, along with the eponymous Calepodius.
Callixtus I (217 - 222) was interred in the Catacomb of Calepodius,[1] instead of that which bears his name, allegedly because the latter was under surveillance of the emperor's guards; this legend as well as that of Callixtus I's martyrdom is unlikely as there was no persecution of Christians under Alexander Severus, the emperor when Callixtus I died.[2] However, Julius I erected a more elaborate tomb of Callixtus I in the catacomb in the fourth century, decorated with frescos of his alleged martyrdom.[2] This tomb was discovered in 1960, although the relics were likely translated to Santa Maria in Trastevere in 790 by Pope Adrian I due to the impending Lombard invasion.[2]
The only other papal tomb in the Catacomb of Calepodius was that of Pope Julius I (337 - 352), who was translated with Callixtus I to Santa Maria in Trastevere.[3] Calepodius, the early Christian martyr eponymous with the Catacomb was translated with the two pontiffs.
Notes
References
- Reardon, Wendy J. 2004. The Deaths of the Popes. Macfarland & Company, Inc. ISBN 0-7864-1527-4
- Visit information, including address