Catacombs of Sousse- Tunisia

The honor of the discovery of Hadrumetum (actual Sousse in Tunisia)’s catacombs belongs to the first colonel of the forth regiment of the Algerian skirmishers, Sir. Vincent in 1888, and were methodically excavated from 1903.

Five catacombs in total (the Catacombs of Good shepherd, the Catacombs of Severus, the Catacombs of Agrippa, the Catacombs of Hermes, and a fifth one not yet named or entirely discovered), are all located in the northwestern region of Sousse, and they contain openings that were used to lightning and ventilation.

And they were also lit with oil lamps placed in wall openings.

Each catacomb got its name from the funerary inscriptions which were found inside them.

In the etymologic point of view, the term ‘Catacomb’ refers to the place on the ‘Via Appia’ in Rome, where a famous underground cemetery was built, embracing the holy remains of the apostles “Peter” and “Paul”.

Some scholars refer the name to “Cata tumbas” from the Greek “κατα τυμβος”, which literally means “down to the grave”.
Some places in Sousse catacombs are pagan, and they belong to the third and fourth century CE, which is confirmed by inscriptions and the identification of the pagan rituals. But the Christian presence started in the fourth and fifth century CE, and it has been proven by many archeological findings, (epigraphs, marble inscriptions, mosaics, oil lamps, Christian iconography, etc.).

The findings, especially the epitaphs and mosaics reflect the salvation of the Christian waiting for the doomsday, as well as his relationship with Christ (shown by the presence of the cross, the interlocking letter ( Chi Rho cross, the fishing boat, the anchor, the dove carrying the olive branch, or the crater full of grapes.

This collection of monuments, similar to those of Rome, informs us with information related to the history of ancient Sousse between the first and the fifth century CE, through the world of the dead, where poor and rich are mixed, and where reflect the beliefs and charities of a social nature. The catacombs are not be found only in Sousse but also in Carthage, in Salakta, in Lemta, in Kerkennah island, in Gabes, in Hajeb El-Aïoun, in Gammarth, etc.

And also, in many Mediterranean countries, such as Egypt (Catacombs of Kom El-Shuqafa, in Alexandria), in Rome, in Sicily, in Malta, in Greece…

The graves, which were known in Latin as ‘’Loculi”, were dug out of tufa rock in the sides of the galleries, and they were arranged the one upon the other. Most of the galleries contain three superimposed graves, but some contain even four graves and some only two, depending on the space dedicated to the burials. In some galleries, some graves were dug in the floor.

The bodies were shrouded and covered with lime (Calcium oxide), to prevent the decomposition, then the graves were closed by terracotta tiles contain the name of the deceased and some religious symbols, sometimes they were closed by marble slabs or mosaics. And they are also some semicircular graves which are known as ‘’Arcosolia”.

^ Burial of Brumsa inside the Catacomb of Good Shephered.

Inside the catacombs, one can found familial burial chambers ‘’Cubicula”, and these for rich families of the city, where they were meeting; and there are too some chambers with benches, probably used for funerary banquets, where offering tables ‘Mensa’ where placed, and this was inspired from a pagan origin. There are also

Most of Sousse Catacombs were not entirely excavated; and probably there are more to discover, but until now there are four main catacombs among at least five ones, with a total length of five kilometers and more than 15.000 graves:

1- Catacombs of Good Shepherd:

It is an underground cemetery from a pagan origin, it has witnessed a remarkable development in the Christian epoch from the fourth century CE. It was discovered by the French Colonel Vincent in 1888, and contains 115 galleries with a total length of 1557.5 meters, and nearly 4924 graves, two familial burial chambers (Cubicula), chapels and even a burial gallery for babies, etc.

The catacombs of Good Shepherd got its name from a marble slab that was found inside in it and depicts the Good shepherd holding a sheep which now homes in Sousse Archaeological Museum.

A pagan Necropolis was also found by the colonel Vincent next to the entry of the catacombs.

^ The bearded Good Shepherd holding the lost sheep on his shoulders

Grey Marble

Third- fourth century CE

Height: 31 cm

Cubiculum (D), the catacombs of Good Shepherd, Sousse

Sousse Archaeological Museum, Tunisia.

2- Catacombs of Hermes:

It is an underground cemetery from the third and fourth century CE and contains several familial burial chambers (Cubicula). With galleries of total of 545 meters longs, it contains roughly 2000 graves, among them 500 graves were dug out in the floor of the galleries. In the private tombs of Hermes and Æmilia Flora inside the catacombs, many mosaics were found, among them the ‘Mensa’ (offering table) which contains the symbol of Ichtus wrapping around a cruciform anchor and fishes, and the name of “Hermes” from which the catacombs got the naming.

3- Catacombs of Severus:

A Christian underground cemetery, that was established between the fourth and fifth century CE. With galleries of total length of 1767 meters, it contains 3738 graves and some places for familial burials and meeting rooms. The names came from an epitaph which was found there.

4- Catacombs of Agrippa:

A pagan underground cemetery from the third century CE, it contains 18 galleries of 170 meters total length, and 172 graves. The name came from an epitaph found inside the catacombs.

5- A fifth Catacomb:

Mr. Leynaud mentioned in his “Les Catacombes Africaines” (The African Catacombs) that the workers of the company of waters of Sahel who dug for the cisterns of the city, stumbled on a gallery. It has the same dimensions of the Catacomb of Good Shepherd, and it is closest to this last, but unfortunately, the excavations did not start until now.

By: Raafat Reda Ahmed