Found in Vatican: Paul’s Portrait

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While excavating in the Catacomb of St. Thecla near the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Vatican archaeologists recently discovered some wall frescoes that included an icon of St. Paul—recognizable by his thin face and dark pointed beard, known from other early depictions. His likeness, with small eyes and furrowed brow, was painted against a vibrant red background with a circular gold border. Experts from the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission of Sacred Archaeology, which has jurisdiction over Rome’s catacombs and subterranean Christian burial places, used fine lasers to remove layers of built-up limestone and clay from the frescoed walls to reveal the ancient paintings. They date the portrait to the early fourth century and say it is the oldest known image of the apostle.

Catacombs, underground passageways easily dug into Rome’s soft tufa bedrock, were used by early Christians as secret gathering places and burial chambers—especially during times of persecution by the Roman emperors. More than 40 catacombs have been discovered in Rome.

This catacomb was identified as the burial place of Thecla, a first-century woman who, according to tradition, was converted to Christianity by Paul and then joined him as an apostle and missionary before being martyred.^a Her story is recorded in the second-century Acts of Paul and Thecla.

The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls marks the traditional burial spot of St. Paul following his martyrdom around the year 65. (Tradition preserved by the church fathers Eusebius, Jerome and Tertullian says that Paul, a Roman citizen, was beheaded rather than crucified.) In 2006 the Vatican announced that a stone sarcophagus had been discovered beneath the church. At one time a hole in the lid (now filled) allowed pilgrims to touch the remains or insert small items for devotional purposes. Closely following the discovery of the St. Paul fresco last June, the pope announced that tests on some of the sarcophagus’s contents revealed carbon-14 dates in the first or second century A.D. and small blue and purple cloths with pieces of gold. The speculation, of course, is that this was the sarcophagus of St. Paul.

While excavating in the Catacomb of St. Thecla near the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Vatican archaeologists recently discovered some wall frescoes that included an icon of St. Paul—recognizable by his thin face and dark pointed beard, known from other early depictions. His likeness, with small eyes and furrowed brow, was painted against a vibrant red background with a circular gold border. Experts from the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission of Sacred Archaeology, which has jurisdiction over Rome’s catacombs and subterranean Christian burial places, used fine lasers to remove layers of built-up limestone and clay from the frescoed walls […]