This volume is an investigation of Christian grave inscriptions from 3rd to 6th century C.E. Roman catacombs. This is the first time that more than 4,000 examples with figural decoration are arranged and studied in a catalogue. The focus is on the identification and the development of an image repertoire of loculus slabs. Moreover, from this examination, the influence of the related funerary art style in the catacomb paintings and the sarcophagus production process becomes evident. Another key question within this volume is the chronological ordering of individual gravestones. To solve this problem, a dating method based on an analysis of the font used was created using reliably dated tombstones as comparison. This work shows that early Christian gravestones were “private” art and displayed a preference for using symbolic more than narrative compositions. Moreover, this work shows that early Christian grave closures were “private” art and displayed a preference for using the most symbolic narrative compositions over figurative representations of Christian subjects.
