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International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · 13h

Join us if you are in the #Boston area!
t.co/4tlXs5o1mH

Beneath the streets of Ancient Rome, in the tunnels and crypts of the catacombs, Jews expressed their heritage and faith through unique cultural artifacts, using the artistic tools of their time to connect with their surroundings. In this class, we’ll examine a range of catacomb artifacts that reveal Jewish identity—from inscriptions and symbols to intricate artwork. We’ll also explore how the discovery, identification, and preservation of these artifacts have shaped our understanding of the Jewish community in Ancient Rome. Born and raised in Boston, Jessica Dello Russo went on to earn her doctorate in Archaeology from the Vatican's Institute for Christian Archaeology in 2022. She is the author of "A Jewish Archaeology: The Christian Discovery of Jewish Catacombs in Rome" (Brill, 2025), the book chapter, "Growing the Global Audience for the Jewish Catacombs of Italy" (UniOr Press, 2025), and other studies focused on the catacombs of Rome. Copies of many of these publications are available on the International Catacomb Society's website (www.catacombsociety.org).

International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · 13h

We have partnered with Lehrhaus in Somerville, MA to bring you an exciting class taught by Dr. Jessica Dello Russo on 10/30 at 6pm: "Whispers from the #Catacombs: Discovering Jewish Culture Under Ancient #Rome"

Registration required: t.co/4tlXs5o1mH

photo of Dr. Dello Russo in an underground excavation.
"Whispers from the Catacombs...etc."
Thursday, October 20, 6pm
In this class, we’ll examine a range of catacomb artifacts that reveal Jewish identity—from inscriptions and symbols to intricate artwork.

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Reposted by International Catacomb Society

International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · 21d

Love catacombs and ancient Mediterranean material culture? Oraganized, and good with numbers? We are looking for a new Treasurer and Board member. See announcement below.

Seeking Treasurer for the International Catacomb Society

The International Catacomb Society is in search of a new Treasurer, who would also serve on the Board. We are hoping to fill the position with someone who shares an enthusiasm for the work that ICS supports. While some experience with bookkeeping is a plus, we are open to the right person, regardless of prior experience.
The Treasurer oversees the distribution of our annual grants, helps prepare the annual budget, and manages some regular monthly expenses. The position also Chairs the Finance Committee annual and mid year meeting. It is a vital position that gives one direct access into the Society, and comes with significant support from the Board and team, including our business manager, our financial advisor, our accountant, and the ongoing guidance of two past Treasurers who remain on the Board. This is a volunteer position.
If you are interested in the role, or have questions, please be in touch with ICS Business Manager Shira Telushkin, at internationalcatacombsociety@gmail.com. This would be a real service to the community and, we hope, interesting and meaningful work for the right candidate. Please feel free to share widely within your own networks, as well.

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International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · 3d

We appreciate your patience as the ICS website undergoes planned maintenance that may temporarily interrupt access to some users, depending on region and internet provider. Interruptions may last up to 10 days, until 10/17/25.

www.catacombsociety.org

International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · 11d

We will be organizing an ONLINE session for the 2026 annual meeting of the North American Patristics Society in Chicago -- "Clothing and Meaning-Making in Early Christianity." We'd love to consider your proposal!

CfP opens on October 15.

Clothing and Meaning-Making in Early Christianity
For this online session organized by the International Catacomb Society, we are seeking papers that address the theme “Clothing and Meaning-Making in Early Christianity”. Garments were a defining aspect of Roman society, serving as markers of status, gender, ethnicity, profession, and so on, part of what Terence Turner coined as “the social skin.” The curation and adornment of the body were not necessarily personal choices, but determined by custom, and sometimes mandated by law, locating individuals within a complex of social categories. But garments are not limited to material forms. They can also be verbalized as text, appearing in literary sources as conveyors of meaning, in the form of metaphor, allegory, or symbol. They also appear visualized in art, not simply displaying what actual garments looked like, but part of the code of the overall composition, contributing to the image’s meaning. Early Christians both subscribed to and challenged the sartorial norms of Roman society and produced material, verbal, and visual garments that created and conveyed meaning. For this session we are looking for papers that specifically address meaning-making through material, textual, and/or visual clothing in Early Christian contexts. This could include textiles with embroidered images, or other material remains; allegorical exegesis of biblical garments, or symbolic interpretations of ascetic or episcopal garments; or, interpretations of garments as represented in catacomb frescoes, or on sarcophagi, or in the mosaics of churches. Alternatively, the complex messaging in garments adorned with both Christian and traditional iconography, such as Dionysian imagery, presents another lens through which to explore the "social skin" of Early Christianity.

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International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · 16d

Subscribe to the newletter of the Pontifical Institute of Christian #Archaeology (PIAC) in #Rome

www.piac.it/news/1757680...

Iscriviti alla nostra Newsletter

Per ricevere le notizie su novità, eventi, congressi, conferenze, ecc. iscriviti alla nostra newsletter.

www.piac.it

International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · 16d

Giornate di studio in ricordo di Hugo Brandenburg www.piac.it/eventi/giorn...

Giornate di studio in ricordo di Hugo Brandenburg

Il Pontificio Istituto di Archeologia Cristiana e l'Istituto Archeologico Germanico di Roma invitano a due giornate di studio sulle ultime ricerche e novità sulle chiese paleocristiane di Roma.

www.piac.it

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Reposted by International Catacomb Society

International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · Aug 14

welcome and attn: new followers! 👇

International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · Sep 11

Visit our website and become a member. Members have access to our online image database DAPICS and receive invitations to all ICS programs and events.
catacombsociety.org

International Catacomb Society – Bridging Disciplines • Supporting Scholarship • Connecting the Public

catacombsociety.org

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International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · 21d

Love catacombs and ancient Mediterranean material culture? Oraganized, and good with numbers? We are looking for a new Treasurer and Board member. See announcement below.

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Reposted by International Catacomb Society

International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · Dec 21

Fresco of the good shepherd from the Crypt of Lucina, one of the oldest sections of the #catacombs of Callixtus in #Rome. Early third century. (Wilpert water color)

#archaeology #EarlyChristianity #art #antiquity

Fresco of a young man holding a sheep around his neck and a staff and pot in one hand. Two sheep stand on either side of him. He is enclosed by a circle.

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International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · Aug 20

If you'll be in #Rome in December, check out the special opening for visits to the Jewish #catacombs of Vigna Randanini!

Quarto Miglio Appio @quartomiglio.bsky.social · Dec 13

APERTURA STRAORDINARIA! Alla scoperta delle catacombe ebraiche di Vigna Randanini
Sabato 14 Dicembre 2024 ore 11:00

APERTURA STRAORDINARIA! Alla scoperta delle catacombe ebraiche di Vigna Randanini

Nascosto tra l'Appia Antica e l'Appia Pignatelli si trova un vero gioiello dell'antichità: le catacombe ebraiche di Vigna Randanini, un luogo segreto e intatto che si può visitare raramente.

www.visiteromasotterranea.it

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Reposted by International Catacomb Society

Sarah E. Rollens @apocalypsenow5.bsky.social · Aug 17

I read the RBL review of _Judeophobia and the NT_ about 3 times to make sure I didn’t overlook an incisive critique of something we got wrong. But each time, all I found was a kind, complimentary reflection 🥹 Deepest thanks to Paula Fredriksen for this review—and to the many contributors! ❤️

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International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · Aug 17

Vault fresco from the #catacomb of Saints Peter and Marcellinus with the Good Shepherd figure at the center and biblical scenes in the round including Noah in the ark, the Baptism of Christ, Daniel with lions, and the Raising of Lazarus. Birds and gazelles, too!

(Joseph Wilpert water color)

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International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · Aug 14

welcome and attn: new followers! 👇

International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · Sep 11

Visit our website and become a member. Members have access to our online image database DAPICS and receive invitations to all ICS programs and events.
catacombsociety.org

International Catacomb Society – Bridging Disciplines • Supporting Scholarship • Connecting the Public

catacombsociety.org

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Reposted by International Catacomb Society

International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · Jul 28

And register for next week's online panel with four more Shohet recipients showcasing research on Roman Judea, Morgantina (Sicily), and tomb paintings in Blaundos (Turkey)!

8/5 at 12:30 pm EDT

zoom.us/meeting/regi...

#onlineevents
#archaeology

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Shohet Scholars Panel. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

zoom.us

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Reposted by International Catacomb Society

International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · Jul 10

Join us on August 5th to hear our Shohet Scholars discuss their fascinating research from this past year. Register here: shorturl.at/ua6kE

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Reposted by International Catacomb Society

Kevin Wilbraham @kpw1453.bsky.social · Jul 29

The decorated interior of a 2nd century AD tomb that was discovered in 1951 during works on Quirino Majorana Street in Rome. The whole tomb was moved to the Baths of Diocletian where it can be visited today. 📷 My own. #TombTuesday #RomanArchaeology

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International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · Jul 29

Spanish discovery suggests Roman era ‘church’ may have been a synagogue www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Spanish discovery suggests Roman era ‘church’ may have been a synagogue

Oil lamp fragments point to presence of previously unknown Jewish population in Ibero-Roman town of Cástulo

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by International Catacomb Society

Arthur Urbano @arturoviaggia.bsky.social · Jul 24

This is difficult territory to navigate. I'm thinking we should probably develop a tutorial for the @catacombsociety.bsky.social website using the collective experience of our members!

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International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · Jul 28

And register for next week's online panel with four more Shohet recipients showcasing research on Roman Judea, Morgantina (Sicily), and tomb paintings in Blaundos (Turkey)!

8/5 at 12:30 pm EDT

zoom.us/meeting/regi...

#onlineevents
#archaeology

Welcome! You are invited to join a meeting: Shohet Scholars Panel. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the meeting.

zoom.us

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International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · Jul 28

Interested in learning more about the kinds of projects the International Catacomb Society funds through its Shohet Scholars Grant?

Check out the recordings of our panels featuring presentations by past Shohet recipients.

Here's the 2024 panel youtu.be/hep93VM-9Ac

#archaeology
#grants

2024 Shohet Scholars Panel -- Greg Given, Rebecca Harris, Rachel Patt

YouTube video by International Catacomb Society

youtu.be

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International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · Jul 21

Curious about life in rural Roman Judea, outside of the cities? Cult worship in ancient Morgantina? How 400 rock-cut tombs in Turkey got vivid paintings?

Join the Shohet Scholars Zoom panel, and learn more about religious life in the ancient world! shorturl.at/fG2gv

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Reposted by International Catacomb Society

Arthur Urbano @arturoviaggia.bsky.social · Jul 14

You can also read up on these projects prior to the online discussion. Here's Gregg and Orit's report on their Horvat Midras project www.catacombsociety.org/gregg-e-gard...

Register here! shorturl.at/ua6kE

International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · Jul 10

Join us on August 5th to hear our Shohet Scholars discuss their fascinating research from this past year. Register here: shorturl.at/ua6kE

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International Catacomb Society @catacombsociety.bsky.social · Jul 10

Join us on August 5th to hear our Shohet Scholars discuss their fascinating research from this past year. Register here: shorturl.at/ua6kE

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