International Catacomb Society
@catacombsociety.bsky.social
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Bridging Disciplines • Supporting Scholarship • Connecting the Public at catacombsociety.org.
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catacombsociety.bsky.social
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.
catacombsociety.bsky.social
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.
Reposted by International Catacomb Society
catacombsociety.bsky.social
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.
Reposted by International Catacomb Society
catacombsociety.bsky.social
welcome and attn: new followers! 👇
catacombsociety.bsky.social
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
catacombsociety.bsky.social
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.
Reposted by International Catacomb Society
catacombsociety.bsky.social
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.
Reposted by International Catacomb Society
apocalypsenow5.bsky.social
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! ❤️
catacombsociety.bsky.social
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)
catacombsociety.bsky.social
welcome and attn: new followers! 👇
catacombsociety.bsky.social
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
Reposted by International Catacomb Society
catacombsociety.bsky.social
Join us on August 5th to hear our Shohet Scholars discuss their fascinating research from this past year. Register here: shorturl.at/ua6kE
Reposted by International Catacomb Society
kpw1453.bsky.social
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
Reposted by International Catacomb Society
arturoviaggia.bsky.social
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!
catacombsociety.bsky.social
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
catacombsociety.bsky.social
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
Reposted by International Catacomb Society
arturoviaggia.bsky.social
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
catacombsociety.bsky.social
Join us on August 5th to hear our Shohet Scholars discuss their fascinating research from this past year. Register here: shorturl.at/ua6kE
catacombsociety.bsky.social
Join us on August 5th to hear our Shohet Scholars discuss their fascinating research from this past year. Register here: shorturl.at/ua6kE
Reposted by International Catacomb Society
demiliopics2.bsky.social
Imitations of catacomb paintings in the crypt of Foligno Cathedral, painted at the beginning of the 20th century. The Cathedral also has a contemporary mosaic on the west facade with Pope Leo XIII. @arturoviaggia.bsky.social @catacombsociety.bsky.social
demiliopics2.bsky.social
The crypt at Foligno Cathedral was an unexpected (for me!) gem of this kind (or a horror, depending on your perspective).
Vaults are divided by painted and ornamented borders into circle and cross patterns. In some of the panels, we see the "abbreviated images" characteristic of the early Christian catacombs of Rome. These include an orans figure and a peacock, as well as floral and other decorative motifs. Everything is on a pale white ground, and red predominates for the delineation of the borders. A detail of the dragon-like sea monster spitting out Jonah who has his arms fully extended. The green monster has long front legs, a very thin neck, and a very long spiky tail in curls.
Reposted by International Catacomb Society
catacombsociety.bsky.social
Join us for a sponsored session at NAPS on "Useful and Personal Objects as Evidence for Early Christian Belief"

Saturday, May 24th, at 9am CT

Session Chair: Robin Jensen.

Presenters linked below, including our own @arturoviaggia.bsky.social !
Reposted by International Catacomb Society
catacombsociety.bsky.social
• 9:40am, Arthur Urbano

“Statues of Orators and the Christianization of Paideia in Mid-Fourth-Century Rome and Constantinople”

• 10:00 AM: Discussion!