The Catacomb of Priscilla is an archaeological site on the Via Salaria in Rome, Italy, located in what was a quarry or pit in Roman times. This pit was used for Christian burials from the late 2nd century through the 4th century. Some of the walls and ceilings display fine decorations illustrating Biblical scenes. The Catacombs are divided into three principal areas: an arenarium, a cryptoporticus from a large Roman villa, and the underground burial area of the ancient Roman family, the Acilius Glabrio.The image of the Good Shepherd is the most common of the symbolic representations of Christ found in early Christian art in the Catacombs of Rome, before Christian imagery could be made explicit. Theform of the image showing a young man carrying a lamb round his neck was directly borrowed from the much older pagan kriophoros. The image continued to be used in the centuries after Christianity was legalized in 313.
