Il cubicolo B61 della catacomba di S. Gennaro a Napoli: nuovi dati sulla decorazione musiva

Since 2010, the Pontificia Commissione di Archeologia Sacra has been promoting studies in the Catacomb of St. Januarius in Naples, including the study of the marble, painted and mosaic coverings of the cemetery. As part of these studies, we have analysed the mosaic covering of chamber B61, located on the south side of the main gallery on the lower level of the catacomb. The covering has largely disappeared, but the remains, on the vault and in the arcosolium at the bottom of the room have allowed us to identify geometric and ornithomorphic motifs that show a stylistic continuity with the paintings preserved in other areas of the cemetery. By comparing the analysis of the decoration and the topography, we propose to date the excavation of chamber B61 and its decoration to the years following the translation of St. Januarius, which took place around 431, when the main gallery of the lower level was deepened towards the east.