What are catacombs?

Catacombs were underground tombs near Rome. Here was where the bodies of the early Christians who were persecuted by the Romans were buried. The tombs were cut in soft rock in a sacred area surrounding Rome. When emperor Nero began to persecute Christians, they would gather in the tombs to worship as here they were safe from attack. After the persecution ended, pilgrims began visiting the catacombs. In 410 AD, the entrances to the catacombs were filled up after the Goths sacked Rome.