In Rome, found the ancient image of the apostles Andrew and John
ARTinvestment.RU   23 июня 2010

In Rome, found a group picture of the apostles John, Andrew, Peter and Paul.

During the excavation of the Roman catacombs scientists found a group picture of the apostles John, Andrew, Peter and Paul. The fresco dates from the second half of IV - beginning of V century BC. As the curator of the excavations in the Roman catacombs Biskonti Fabrizio (Fabrizio Bisconti), «this is currently the oldest known image of the Apostles Andrew and John».

These murals have been found previously on the wall of the tomb of a rich Roman, also known as the catacomb of Santa Tecla (Santa Tecla). However, completely clean up the image was only two years later, thanks to an investment project of the Vatican. It spent about 60 thousand euros for the clearance works on the special laser technology from the layer of limestone sediment formed over more than fifteen hundred years.

figures of the apostles are part of the group surrounding the image of Jesus Christ. Judging by the rich colors of the frescoes and rich decoration of the tomb, she belonged to an aristocratic family. According Biskonti, it confirms that at the time of the image to know Rome had already adopted Christianity.

Santa Tecla refers to a group of about forty catacombs below the modern areas of the city of Rome. Directly above it is eight-storey building. Entrance to the catacombs open to the public.

material prepared by Mary Onuchina, AI

Sources: news.bbc.co. uk , cnn.com