The Christian catacombs of Milos are located just outside the town of Trypiti. They date from the 1st to 5th centuries AD, which suggests the possibility that they're even older than the catacombs of Rome. They're not nearly as extensive or elaborate as the catacombs of Rome, but I think that gives them a unique eeriness. I haven't been to Rome, so I'm just making comparisons based on pictures. The Roman catacombs are enormous, and elaborately decorated in places, clearly the product of a large, wealthy society. The catacombs in Milos seem to be the work of a small, early Christian community.
While the catacombs originally served as a burial place for this group of early Christians, it later provided a place for worship and refuge as persecution of Christians by the Romans became common. It is estimated that 2,000 or more individuals were buried in these arched openings (the technical term is arcosolia) in the walls of the catacombs.
This larger arcosolium was made for an entire family.
While this one held an adult and infant.
Unfortunately, the catacombs had been raided by the time they were rediscovered in ~1840. And despite a scientific excavation around this time, they weren't closed and protected until somewhere in the 1930-1940 time frame, according to our tour guide.
In the interim, at least one early graffiti artist, Mevel Mussou, visited the catacombs in 1874.
This picture was taken just outside the modern entrance to the catacombs. It looked like there had been arcosolia carved into the stone outside the catacombs. I can't imagine that's the case, which makes me wonder if this area hadn't been enclosed at an earlier time.
In any case. Not far from the catacombs is the ancient theater of Milos. Unlike for the catacombs, there aren't many signs pointing the way and there's nowhere to park. We just walked from the catacombs parking lot.
I suppose I could have gone for a closer look than this, but it wasn't very approachable. Also, there was (archeological?) work being done on it and it was partially covered in scaffolding and tarps. It didn't really seem worth the trouble at the time.
And for you Venus de Milo fans out there, this area is where the statue was unearthed by a Greek farmer in 1820. Nothing to look at now though.
While the catacombs originally served as a burial place for this group of early Christians, it later provided a place for worship and refuge as persecution of Christians by the Romans became common. It is estimated that 2,000 or more individuals were buried in these arched openings (the technical term is arcosolia) in the walls of the catacombs.
Unfortunately, the catacombs had been raided by the time they were rediscovered in ~1840. And despite a scientific excavation around this time, they weren't closed and protected until somewhere in the 1930-1940 time frame, according to our tour guide.
In any case. Not far from the catacombs is the ancient theater of Milos. Unlike for the catacombs, there aren't many signs pointing the way and there's nowhere to park. We just walked from the catacombs parking lot.
Great blog and nice photos. Milos is very atractive. You show me a fantastic island to visit. Is easy to reach the catacombs? Can you make some pictures there?
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