Catacomb of Saint Thecla

Thecla's catacomb is located along the current Via Silvia D'Amico, in the southern Ostiense quarter which has mostly been used as an industrial centre over the centuries.

[1] The catacomb is referenced in several ancient sources, namely pilgrimage itineraries like the Notitia Ecclesiarum Urbis Romae (7th century).

Both of these archaeologists concluded that the catacomb, like many other Christian burial sites, was repurposed space, i.e. underground storerooms cut into the tufa rock.

[1] There are several chambers within the catacomb of various sizes, labelled Hypogea A-D.[2] They are connected by ambulatories (walking spaces), as this was a place where people would visit on a regular basis, depending on who was buried there.

A notable feature – shared by the nearby catacomb of Commodilla – is that throughout the complex, there are spots for many tombs to be packed into a relatively small space.

In 2008 (and up until 2010), under the auspices of the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology, a team led by Barbara Mazzei used laser technology to remove the calcium build-up on the walls of the catacomb.

The task was successful and the artwork was exposed, vivid pictures against a backdrop of colours commonly used during the imperial age: red and black.

Thecla, inspired by Paul's discourse on the virtues of chastity, wanted to remain a virgin, angering both her mother and her suitor.

Since the catacomb was built sometime after the saint's death, then it is possible that her remains were later brought to the current site from either within Rome, or even as far as Seleucia in Asia Minor.