arcosolia

An arcosolium is a vaulted arched recess cut into the wall of a subterranean tomb, typically used as a burial chamber in early Christian catacombs. The term arcosolium derives from Italian arcosolio, itself from Latin arcus (arch) and solium (seat or bier). The form is characteristic of funerary architecture in Late Antiquity and across the Mediterranean, where dedicated spaces for individual burials were integrated into the wall of a burial complex.

Architecturally, an arcosolium consists of a niche with an arched opening that opens into a deeper back chamber or loculus designed to hold a sarcophagus or cremated remains. In front, there may be a shelf or bench used for offerings or mourners, and the structure is often sealed with a lid or cover. Many arcosolia are richly decorated with Christian imagery, epitaphs, and inscriptions, underscoring their dual role as burial places and sites for commemoration and ritual.

Arcosolia are a common feature of Roman catacombs and other early Christian burial networks, dating roughly from the 2nd to the 4th centuries. They illustrate how early Christian communities organized burial space and conducted rites near the days’ end. Notable examples are found in the Catacombs of Priscilla and the Catacombs of Callistus in Rome, among others across the region. Over time, shifts in burial practices and architectural styles led to changes in tomb design, and the arcosolium form became less common in later medieval periods.