Barbara Mazzei is an Italian archaeologist known for the discovery of the earliest iconography of the

Apostles An apostle (), in its literal sense, is an emissary, from Ancient Greek ἀπόστολος (''apóstolos''), literally "one who is sent off", from the verb ἀποστέλλειν (''apostéllein''), "to send off". The purpose of such sending ...

Biography

Mazzei works in the Vatican's Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archaeology.

Research

The earliest images of St Paul were uncovered by a team led by Mazzei in 2009 in the catacomb of Santa Tecla (or Thekla). She was martyred at the beginning of the reign of

Diocletian Diocletian (; la, Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus, grc, Διοκλητιανός, Diokletianós; c. 242/245 – 311/312), nicknamed ''Iovius'', was Roman emperor from 284 until his abdication in 305. He was born Gaius Valerius Diocles ...

at the beginning of the fourth century. In 2010, Mazzei's team discovered images depicting the apostles John, Paul, Andrew and Peter in the catacombs of Santa Tecla. These were dated to the fourth century, following the legalisation of Christianity in the Roman empire by

Constantine Constantine most often refers to: * Constantine the Great, Roman emperor from 306 to 337, also known as Constantine I * Constantine, Algeria, a city in Algeria Constantine may also refer to: People * Constantine (name), a masculine given na ...

. The images were on the vault of a tomb of a Roman noblewoman who converted to Christianity. Mazzei believes these images provided the standard for subsequent Christian iconography. These were also the earliest known depictions of Andrew and John. The images were uncovered by removing with a laser the calcium deposits that obscured them, the first time the technique was used in the

catacombs Catacombs are man-made subterranean passageways for religious practice. Any chamber used as a burial place is a catacomb, although the word is most commonly associated with the Roman Empire. Etymology and history The first place to be referred ...

. Mazzei led a seven-year investigation and restoration of Rome's catacombs of St

Domitilla Flavia Domitilla may refer to: *Flavia Domitilla the Elder, the wife of the Roman Emperor Vespasian *Flavia Domitilla the Younger, Vespasian's only daughter *Flavia Domitilla (wife of Clemens) Flavia Domitilla was a Roman noblewoman of the 1st ce ...

, which uncovered frescoes dating to around AD 360. Using laser techniques similar to those at Santa Tecla, the team was able to penetrate the grime in order to reveal the

fresco Fresco (plural ''frescos'' or ''frescoes'') is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaste ...

es, on the ceilings of two tombs of imperial grain merchants. The frescoes also depicted the transport of grain from around the Mediterranean to

Ostia Ostia may refer to: Places *Ostia (Rome), a municipio (also called ''Ostia Lido'' or ''Lido di Ostia'') of Rome *Ostia Antica, a township and port of ancient Rome *Ostia Antica (district), a district of the commune of Rome Arts and entertainment ...

. With the help of the lasers, each layer of smoke deposit, chalk and

algae Algae (; singular alga ) is an informal term for a large and diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms. It is a polyphyletic grouping that includes species from multiple distinct clades. Included organisms range from unicellular mic ...

was stripped. By the use of multiple wavelength lasers and chromatic selection, the deposits were removed millimetre by millimetre. The team discovered the images of the merchants accompanied by two saints, possibly the martyrs

Nereus and Achilleus Nereus and Achilleus are two Roman martyr saints. In the present General Roman Calendar, revised in 1969, Nereus and Achilleus (together) are celebrated (optional memorials) on 12 May. The Tridentine Calendar had on 12 May a joint feast (semid ...

from the time of Diocletian. This enabled the dating of the frescoes to the latter half of the fourth century.

Selected works

Articles

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Books

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mazzei, Barbara Italian archaeologists Living people Pontifical Commission of Sacred Archaeology Year of birth missing (living people) Italian women archaeologists