DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.53561#0133
Vol. II. to ITALY. 109
poorer sort of People in Rome were uSually in-
terr'd, makes a description of ’em which agrees
exaAly with the Account I have given you of
the Catacombs.
Hue prius anguftis eject a Cadaver a Cellis
Confavus will partanda loeabat in.area :
Hoc misera plebi ssab at commune Sepulchrum.
'Thomas Goodwin, an Englijh Author, has repre-
sented 'em after the same manner in his Anthology
of the Roman Hifiory ; see the Chapter that treats
of Funeral Ceremonies.
(2.) I am not ignorant that the Christians were
wont to imitate the Heathens on many occasions,
but the words Fata, Diss Mani bus, Damns lAEterna,
and Several other such-like Expressions, that are
often found in the Epitaphs on theSe Tombs, were
so peculiar to the Heathens, that it is not conceiva-
ble that they were ever us’d by Christians. I might,
is it were necessary, confirm my Opinion by the
Authority of no less famous an Antiquary than
for you may observe in the Collection
of ancient Inscriptions with which he has enrich-
ed the Account of his Voyage.to Greece, that he
cou’d not be perswaded to believe that the Epi-
taph on a Tomb at Thebes, which they assur’d him
was St. Lukes Sepulchre, was made by a Chrijtian,
meerly because of the Word MOIPHC, which
he found in it, tho’ it also mention’d the Immor- lomce
tality of the Soul. The same Author Speaks
more positively to this purpose, when he refutes
the common Opinion concerning the pretended
Tomb of a Saint near Valentia. He says expressy,
that the Words cofahera and Supers* mention’d in
the Inscription are, in his opinion, Sufficient Ar-
gun. cats to prove that it is the Tomb of a Hea-
tiien, and Subjoins this Maxim, That the Stile
poorer sort of People in Rome were uSually in-
terr'd, makes a description of ’em which agrees
exaAly with the Account I have given you of
the Catacombs.
Hue prius anguftis eject a Cadaver a Cellis
Confavus will partanda loeabat in.area :
Hoc misera plebi ssab at commune Sepulchrum.
'Thomas Goodwin, an Englijh Author, has repre-
sented 'em after the same manner in his Anthology
of the Roman Hifiory ; see the Chapter that treats
of Funeral Ceremonies.
(2.) I am not ignorant that the Christians were
wont to imitate the Heathens on many occasions,
but the words Fata, Diss Mani bus, Damns lAEterna,
and Several other such-like Expressions, that are
often found in the Epitaphs on theSe Tombs, were
so peculiar to the Heathens, that it is not conceiva-
ble that they were ever us’d by Christians. I might,
is it were necessary, confirm my Opinion by the
Authority of no less famous an Antiquary than
for you may observe in the Collection
of ancient Inscriptions with which he has enrich-
ed the Account of his Voyage.to Greece, that he
cou’d not be perswaded to believe that the Epi-
taph on a Tomb at Thebes, which they assur’d him
was St. Lukes Sepulchre, was made by a Chrijtian,
meerly because of the Word MOIPHC, which
he found in it, tho’ it also mention’d the Immor- lomce
tality of the Soul. The same Author Speaks
more positively to this purpose, when he refutes
the common Opinion concerning the pretended
Tomb of a Saint near Valentia. He says expressy,
that the Words cofahera and Supers* mention’d in
the Inscription are, in his opinion, Sufficient Ar-
gun. cats to prove that it is the Tomb of a Hea-
tiien, and Subjoins this Maxim, That the Stile