Giovanni de Rossi
Giovanni de Rossi
Christian archaeologist , born Rome, Italy , 1822 ; died Castel Gandolfo , 1894 . Graduated in law at the Sapienza, he was appointed a scriptor at the Vatican Library. From childhood he had shown interest in antiquities, and in 1841 he began the study of archaeology under the Jesuit, Marchi. As a result of his explorations and researches De Rossi became a famous authority on epigraphy and Roman topography, and stirred up a world-wide interest in Christian antiquities. In addition to more than two hundred archaeological and historical monographs he wrote several comprehensive works on the catacombs , and early Christian Roman inscriptions, the most important being “La Roma sotterranea cristiana”. Elevated Christian archaeology to the dignity of a science. He was commissioned by Pope Pius IX to systematically investigate the catacombs on scientific principles; his immense learning and careful observations were shown by his voluminous literary output. His Roma Sotterranea Cristiana (Rome, 1864 ) is almost indispensable to the student of Christian archaeology, as is his periodical Bulletino d’archeologia cristiana, a publication begun in 1863 and ended in 1894 .