Field Studies to St. Peter's Tomb and Churches

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Yesterday, for my religion class, we had the special opportunity to visit the scavi where St. Peter's Tomb is located. Legend has it that the Basilica of St. Peter's was built above directly above his grave. 'Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.'

We went into the crypt, which originally was a Basilica constructed by an Emperor. From that level (which is beneath the present day St. Peter's Basilica) we went a level lower, into a second century cemetery, which was discovered by accident within this century when a Pope was being buried in the crypt. They had to adjust the grave a few more inches, and by digging down further, that is when they found the cemetery. The cemetery was from the second century, and was an interesting mix of both Pagan and Christian tombs. There was elaborate housing for the dead with beautiful paintings inside since the pagans believed that after death, the spirit of the dead lives in the tomb. The tombs were so well preserved because when the Emperor wanted to build the Basilica, he wanted to do it at the site of the graves but was superstitious against destroying the graves. So instead, he covered the entire thing with dirt and build it right on top. This preserved everything very well.

We walked on until we reached this small square with two white columns, and above it, from the way the excavation was done, a huge marble box was revealed. Inside the first small marble box was a shrine built above the believed tomb of St. Peter about 100 years after his death. There is an inscription on the wall of the shrine that says Peter is here (or Peter in peace). When the first Basilica was built, the shrine was encased in a small marble box and kept near the alter of the church. Centuries later, another Basicilia was built, with the altar of the church being placed directly above the marble encased shrine. And when the church was redone, that altar was encased in different marble. And now, since 500 years ago, the altar of St. Peter's Basilica also is directly above all those other altars. They believe that since there is such a perfect veritcal structure of all the altars above this one (Christian) tomb that it is St. Peter. They also found bones, not in the grave, but inside the shrine that was encased in marble. The bones are that of a man in his 60s, which would match that of Peter. So this is all the evidence that can be gathered. But I believe it is the bones of St. Peter.

On the way out of the crypt, I had the chance to see Pope John Paul II tomb, which I was so happy to do. We then ascended a set of stairs that brought us right out into the modern Basilica.

Then today, for my psychology of art class, we went around Rome to churches where the artwork plays with the perception of the viewer. One church, Sant'Ignasio had a completely flat ceiling, but the artist was so talented that he made the ceiling look to be curved and even have a dome in one section. So that was very cool to see. I couldn't take pictures of a lot of what I saw on my field study but here is a few.

Also, the reason why people can take pictures in St. Peter's Basilica is because there are no paintings in the church. Every piece of art is a mosaic or statue. Fun fact.

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Photos

The Dome on the ceiling.
There is no dome, the ceiling is flat there

Comments

[Laura Sahyoun]

The Crypt
The Basilica was one of my favorite places we visited together, touching the foot of Saint Peter's statue, the Pieta...there were so many people inside yet it was so quiet...so beautiful... it must be extra special for you now since you visited the tomb of Saint Peter and Pope John Paul II.