Roman Catacomb Mystery Analysis

When we think of the ancient classical civilization of the Romans, what comes to mind? Perhaps it’s the amazing architectural feats, or rather the advanced forms of government that we still use to this very day? I submit that neither is as spectacular as the ancient underground catacombs that hold the mass graves of around 2000 skeletons. After watching the NOVA program (titled Roman Catacomb Mystery) on this specific catacomb, I found several interesting aspects of the graves that include, the question of who these dead skeletons were, specifically what they died of, and why they were buried in the manner that archeologists found them in. Spearheaded by its host Michael Scott, a classical historian who is well versed in graves across the …show more content…
Through its description of who these individuals might have been, the cause of their death, and why they’re buried in such a peculiar manner, this NOVA program does an excellent job of educating and intriguing its viewers far more than any piece of art actually does. Pieces of architecture we commonly associated with the Roman Empire, like the Roman Forum or the famous baths of Rome, are expected to intrigue us because of how we regard the Romans as predecessors to our civilization. Rather it’s the less famous pieces of art that shouldn’t be ignored simply on the grounds that while they depict the decrepit concept of death, these grave sites are able to reveal just as much (if not more) about Roman society. By being able to not only put the flesh back on the bones of these deceased individuals but by also turning these skeletons into real people, the documentary Roman Catacomb Mystery exceptionally details how even graves containing mass death can be just as much a spectacular work of art as the Colosseum or even the