The Pagan Necropolis Under Vatican City

Beneath the floor of St. Peter's Basilica, an ancient Roman cemetery holds the secret to the origins of Vatican City.
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Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:47 Excavations begin
1:36 The Vatican before Christianity
2:35 The Vatican Necropolis
4:07 The Trophy of Gaius
5:04 Constantine's Basilica
6:12 Shrines and high altars
7:30 The bones of St. Peter?

[@ATKieren]

it always trips me out to think that the romans were excavating and transporting Egyptian artifacts. really puts time into perspective.

[@TheAlchaemist]

As they say, Cleopatra is closer to us in time than to the big pyramids, or even worse the Sphinx!

[@steviechampagne]

@@TheAlchaemistand the pyramids and sphinx are far older than 4000 years old… they’ve been the center point of the known earth for 10000 years and more…

[@CrownxMe7]

Egypt had already fallen by the time the Romans came to power. You had the Greeks ruling prior to that, Assyrians etc.

[@shayalynn]

You guys should read the book of Daniel… you might find it interesting, specially the second half of the book. It was written a couple centuries BC

[@user-vf6km4sf2r]

Now think that the pyramids in Egypt are much much older than we are told

[@AncientAmericas]

If you ever go to St. Peters in Rome, I cannot recommend the scavi tour under the church enough. It's incredible!

[@s33eragon]

woah what are you doing here?

[@AncientAmericas]

@@s33eragon watching some awesome content! 😎

[@MrMrblazer1234]

heyyyy, this isn't ancient america!

[@loquemacuh]

I love your videos ❤

[@samurguybriyongtan146]

We went this summer. Agree it is amazing. The place where you can be next to the Red wall and look up though all the layers to the current oculus of the dome was mind blowing and humbling, like some human scale Grand Canyon.

[@harrisoneps]

I was lucky enough to receive a tour of this spellbinding necropolis. The story our guide told us about the finding of St. Peter’s remains was even more elaborate, with the initial burial recess the remains were supposed to be being found empty by excavators. By chance, the remains were later found in a hidden recess in a graffiti covered wall behind the initially supposed burial site. The conjecture is that the body had been hidden from grave robbers and the spot marked in graffiti by his followers. The cathedral contains a small subterranean chapel slight above and adjacent to this site. Two short staircases on either side of the altar lead to a small platform where one can look out onto a recess holding a transparent box containing the supposed remains of St. Peter….and the majority of tourists walking in nave above will probably never have an idea of what’s below them.

[@iDuckman]

I couldn't finagle a tour of the cemetery, but in the crypt there are vent holes below some of the sarcophagi where you can get a glimpse down into it if the lights are on. #1 on my bucket list for Rome, sadly unlikely now.

[@ams5156]

Altar not alter.

[@edh4808]

​@@iDuckmanWhy unlikely? I got tickets pretty easily

[@ilikecinema1234]

​@repentandbelieveinJesusChrist8 God wouldn't allow any of this. He has abandoned this race that has been blindly enslaved for almost 2,000 years. Templars used his name to kill and destroy whilst they praised the baphomet, and the Catholics use his name to destroy thousands, maybe millions of children's lives, that's why all those sick degenerates stay within their Vatican.

[@sorellman]

The story about the remains of the so-called St. Peter is just that, a story. Peter, whose actual name was Simon, has never set foot in Rome. As per Paul, he also never converted to Jesus' teachings, which, by the way, it was an anti-religion, anti-sacerdotal class message. The Catholic Church would destroy or appropriate many of the pagan temples and every Christian "tradition" is in fact a pagan or Buddhist one. The very existence of the Catholic Church we have today is the result of one of the biggest fraud in the history of humankind, a fraud even the Catholic Encyclopedia is admitting to.

[@brunerguy1]

I visited the “Scavi” as the Italians call it underneath St. Peter's Basilica in 1987. This video offers a balanced and visually insightful understanding of how that necropolis and the two basilicas historically were related. I would add, though, that the experience of walking along that excavated via from the 1st and 2nd centuries of the current era and realizing I was seeing bricks almost 2,000 years old brought an extraordinary sense of history. One item this video didn't make much note about was the increasing density of early Christian iconography in the mausolea closer to the Trophy of Gaius. This is a strong testament to early Roman Christian belief of the sacred nature of that site.

[@spacemanapeinc7202]

I believe referred to the Christian iconography in another video.

[@t.d6379]

Shhh Protestants will be raging

[@PunkDogCreations]

Protestants don't worship icons like Roman Catholics do, as the Bible warns against it. ​@@t.d6379

[@nowhereman6019]

Kind of amazing that the whole of Saint Peter's can rest on hollow ground.

[@alexandersalter6686]

It must have some pretty robust subterranean support columns and arches/vaults.

[@gothicwestern]

Kind of amazing how many underground tunnels there are under loads of cities.

[@nowhereman6019]

@@gothicwestern I mean, that one kind of makes sense. There isn't any room in the surface to build anything else, so until steel beams are invented your only option is to dig down.

[@clank4001]

@@alexandersalter6686 it does, some walls over 7 feet thick.

[@dodiswatchbobobo]

Thank the Roman obsession with arches I suppose.

[@helmort]

Guys, I don't want to come across as boring, but it's important to consider that a significant portion of Europe sits atop ancient necropolises and various layers of past civilizations. For example, the entire city of Rome boasts an extensive network of underground tunnels and structures that span for kilometers beneath the city. This subterranean maze encompasses entire neighborhoods and much more. Similar to Rome, cities like London, Paris, Naples, and many others also have layers of history beneath their streets, with one civilization built upon another over time. I'm British-Italian, and my Italian family's hometown in southern Italy, although it is considered insignificant today for various reasons, reveals a fascinating underground world. There, beneath the surface, lie more than seven layers of ancient cities that vanished due to disasters like earthquakes, plagues, invasions, and genocides. As you delve deeper, you stumble upon perfectly preserved prehistoric houses. Visitors to these captivating yet perilous locations have reported encountering untouched Roman palaces, ancient Greek residences, temples from vanished Bronze Age cultures, intricate mosaics, rivers, tunnels from the Middle Ages constructed during sieges, hidden churches built during times of persecution, and enormous necropolises teeming with skeletons and tombs. If this is just a glimpse of what my "insignificant" hometown holds, one can only imagine the hidden treasures waiting beneath the oldest cities in Europe. 💀☠💀☠💀

[@cjclark1208]

What’s your home city?

[@helmort]

@@cjclark1208 Brindisi city, also known as Brundisium, is a name that most historians and enthusiasts of Ancient Rome are familiar with! :D

[@TheAlchaemist]

All true, but this one, due to what happened to it, is amazingly conserved and you can walk in there, it feels like time traveling when you are there, most paintings and mosaics preserved. When they filled the sepulchers they didn't break the whole thing, instead they made a small hole in the ceiling and filled them with dirt, effectively preserving everything.

[@Shvetsario]

Let's go on an adventure and explore these lost cities lmao

[@ashmomofboys]

As an American I’ve always been fascinated that Europeans can walk around and not be in complete awe of the places they stand. So much history soaked into the ground so deeply. I’m so envious.

[@jota55581]

The romans never converted to christianty..they just played the greatest trick ever ...the roman empire lives .

[@washablerelief_8843]

The phrase “Christin graffiti” is extremely funny to me. I’m imagining big bubble letters in a hip hop font like “HE IS RISEN”

[@liljs4189]

It was probably symbols like the fish or the anchor or the chi-ro sign

[@IvarEriksson83]

*Hip Hop Font, what is this?

[@semiprolific774]

@@IvarEriksson83genuine question or fishing for outrage?

[@richyhigg3042]

See the life of Brian haha

[@josephwinder6878]

Yeah right coz hip hop invented graffitti.

[@frodo4627]

I am eternally grateful to have seen this with my own eyes. I was only a teenager and had no idea about the catacombs. Turning a corner and standing on a Roman street buried underground was the single most amazing moment of my young life

[@TheAlchaemist]

Just a detail, these are not the catacombs, this is a Roman standard cemetery above the ground (that fortuitously ended up covered for 1600 years) with beautifully decorated colombariums and marble sculpted sepulcres, no cristians sepultures are visible. And while they excavated it in the 40s it only opened to public very recently. Going there is like visiting Rome 2000 years ago and walking through a narrow street. It's a shame that they don't allow to take photos...

[@theemeraldfox7779]

Lmao son you must of not of ever gotten laid!😂

[@BleachDemon707]

Ugh, was that after you threw the ring into Mordor? 🙄

[@mookelman]

@@BleachDemon707🤣🤣👍🏼

[@joerampino6303]

When I lived and studied in Rome, I used to give official tours of that necropolis, the preparation for which involved coming through all of the archaeological notes and reports Freon the excavations in to 40s. Thanks for telling some of the story, and if you ever want to know more of it, please let me know!

[@Damian1975]

Do you believe saint Peter was really buried there

[@letsgodababypotion7806]

Yea

[@melissamoonchild9216]

what a cool gig

[@fabrisseterbrugghe8567]

In the early 1980s, I found _A Traveler in Rome_ by H.V. Morton. He wrote it in the mid-1950s and got permission and a guide to go through this cemetery. It's amazing to read about, and it's so nice to have someone talk about it.

[@spiritualanarchist8162]

My dream is to buy a house in the old centre of Rome and just start digging down so I can add multiple ancient subterranean floors to my home ;)

[@sandrodunatov485]

Yeah nice but... If you buy a house downtown Rome, you will carefully abstain to dig more than a couple of centimeters under it, as you wouldn't be happy when something remarkable is found and excavated under your (former) house... as a minimum you will lose use of your basement

[@spiritualanarchist8162]

@@sandrodunatov485 I'll just don't tell anybody.

[@bepinkfloyd814]

​@@spiritualanarchist8162😂 pretty much illigal to do tho

[@spiritualanarchist8162]

@@bepinkfloyd814 Well that's why it's a dream. Digging into the fundaments of a house in Rome destabilizing an appartement block and ruining archaeological findings is not something I'd advise people to do in real life 😅

[@johnmb69]

Very interesting. I knew about St. Peter's tomb, but didn't know about the whole necropolis underneath St. Peter's Basilica! Thank you for posting this!

[@TheAlchaemist]

Another interesting detail is that when they were building the new basilica they found more Roman tombs under the steps of the main stairs. And that to the side of the necropolis there was Honorius mausoleum which was demolished but not really excavated, only some sarcophagus sacked, so there is much more around that just wasn't excavated... Another thing that totally breaks my heart is just how destructive they were both when the old basilica was built and worse when the new one was, they would simply melt all the gold and silver found, break the marbles and repurpose the stones, throw away the corpses... a criminal destruction of history, not only of ancient Romans but also all the middle ages Christian tombs, popes included...

[@CarlOttersen]

very true

[@FrostyGerardo-kr7xs]

Remember the mottos of the Church in those times: " Do as You must God will recoignize his own." And " As long as you do whatever with the intention of helping god. Know this You will be rewarded."

[@FrostyGerardo-kr7xs]

So who cares. Say is for god or think is for god. And You can do whatever You want

[@alialassadi5576]

Preserving history and ancient monuments wasn’t really a thing before the enlightenment, even in other parts of the world.

[@TheAlchaemist]

@@alialassadi5576 and even in that time and place, when the new basilica was being built there were many who were enrage that even the church history , was being torn down... but they didn't care. And this happens sometimes today as well, just think of the gilded age mansions and buildings torn down in NY. The problem is always people who do not care being in power positions.

[@abbeyo89]

thanks for the video!! your videos always have such interesting subject matter and the visuals do a great job supplementing everything!

[@user-fc7is6jo2e]

Outstanding Presentation! Thank you for making and sharing this. I learned about this topic long ago, but I am very impressed by the way you presented this very interesting information.

[@ZakeriasRowlandJones]

One of my favourite channels, great work as always Garrett.

[@free_at_last8141]

Very neat, congratulations on your well-deserved success. I'm going to order your new book now. Keep up the great work.

[@SobekLOTFC]

Wake up bro, new Told in Stone just dropped 😊 Keep up the exceptional work, Garrett 👍

[@dirtonableach8066]

They NAMED the place after the Etruscan goddess of the underworld, Vatika, at her Necropolis… I’m pretty sure they knew BEFORE the Renaissance

[@liminal-waves]

Love your stuff Dr. Ryan

[@jominatozaki2089]

you could do hours long video essay or sort about the vatican necropolis and i would watch it. i’m just hooked and wildly fascinated

[@RickLowrance]

Great subject. The Scavi Tour was one of the best things I saw in Rome. Our guide didn't tell us much. I would like to have watched this video before I saw it. But, like Arnold said, "I'll be back."

[@thislittlelightofmine8776]

This channel is fascinating, thank you

[@alexandersalter6686]

I love your videos! This is probably one of my favourites so far. I read all about this just a few months ago (and the Egyptian obelisk originally in the circus was later moved to the centre of the new Renaissance colonnade. It was given a new base in Roman times and then another base beneath that after it was moved in the Renaissance I think. You can still see how it was added to and made taller over the centuries). It’s interesting how they built a major church over Peter’s tomb just like how the Church of the Holy Sepulchre was built over Jesus’ tomb. It’s fascinating how sites change and adapt over the centuries yet still have parts of the previous constructions! Maybe you could do a video on the evolution of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre next? It has a similar story.

[@patrickgaimari4478]

In 1968 I was given a tour of St Peter's in I was walked down those stairs and it was told to me that Peter was buried here.

[@ladywisewolf3942]

I don't understand the Egyptian obelisk's veneration by the Vatican and it's position of prominence there. This was a pagan symbol in Caligula and Nero's Circus which witnessed the slaughter of thousands of people; slaves, gladiators, Christians, innumerable animals, some in just blood sport, others in pagan rituals. So why is this obelisk in the center of the holiest of holy Christian enclaves??

[@shelleyhender8537]

@@ladywisewolf3942 It’s likely the Vatican preserved the obelisk due to the mere fact that it’s ancient history. As a Christian, I too find it perplexing as to why the Vatican would install and preserve the overtly pagan obelisk…yet…I find the sexually perverse naked statues of hermaphrodites, goddesses and the like on full display within the walls of the Vatican itself. I can appreciate fine art, even if it’s a “naked” babe, but it’s the sexually, pagan perverseness of Roman deities that is disturbing to me! You certainly won’t find anything of the sort in or near the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Have a wonderful weekend!🇨🇦😊🇨🇦

[@patrickgaimari4478]

@@shelleyhender8537 It's a matter that the Almighty God has created us perfectly. Man made clothing. Through the insecurities of the mindset. Created by man masters. Rome and Romans as well Greeks were very entwined with the Egyptian beliefs and customs. Egyptians were the first people to believe in a singular God. The word Amen is Egyptian. The story of The Egyptian god Horus, is the same as Jesus Christ word for word. The holy Cross is Egyptian. The similarities are unbelievable. And as stated, Man's History.

[@shelleyhender8537]

@@patrickgaimari4478 I appreciate your response. Have a great weekend!🇨🇦😊🇨🇦

[@sirchromiumdowns2015]

I had never heard about a Roman era cemetery under the Vatican. Fascinating video.

[@user-eu9gs3dx4x]

Love your stuff Dr. Ryan. Love your stuff Dr. Ryan.

[@aleksywnek95]

Where are those numerous images/drawings of the architecture desctibed in the video? I love learning about history, but I always craved a visual input of such. Really amazing, thank you

[@Kellycreator]

Anyone thinking this is by accident is very much mistaken. They knew back then what they were doing building on this ground.

[@rickchollett]

This would be incredible to see in person!

[@RelojsuizoHdR]

I live in Rome but have no occasion to visit such an interesting place. Thank you for sharing uour knoweledge.

[@quantafreeze]

So crazy! Very interesting. Thank you.

[@samuelb1007]

I would love for there to be a project like ice core drilling done in some of these cities with thousands of years of history, to see how many layers, vaults, and tombs lay just below the pavement. Hell, some American cities have undercities. Also love your stuff Garrett!

[@alexandersalter6686]

They could then make it a public exhibition where you travel down back in time.

[@WelcomeToDERPLAND]

I really hope not- it could end up destroying an immense amount of history if done so recklessly. It would be like a modern day example of what happened at Troy... Much better to just use sonar/X-ray technology to scan it and slowly over years with many archaeologists carefully dig and reveal what is discovered.

[@samuelb1007]

@WelcomeToDERPLAND Sonar and X-ray is how it's done now and they still find Charlemagne's nephew's bones when they build a parking lot. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

[@WelcomeToDERPLAND]

@@samuelb1007 Yes but that was a freak stand out case- it's incredibly lucky that the parking lot was all they were building there and didn't have to dig deeper to build foundation, otherwise without an archaeologist advisor watching the construction take place- they could have destroyed the bones and anything else in the vicinity. It took years of a single extremely dedicated person doing an immense amount of research, petitioning and work to finally check the spot and its incredible it actually panned out. Just taking a ice boring drill and going straight down to take a chunk out of whatever is below Vatican city would certainly destroy anything it ran into, bringing up only the remaining parts of it.

[@ReadIcculus93]

@@WelcomeToDERPLANDThe only real downside of Geo-physiology is that with the scans, they can only make out shapes and holes in the Earth. They are unable to confirm anything without an excavation and archeological study of artifacts. Both of which, the Catholic Church simply won't allow. X rays and sonar wont show you much of anything, you're not looking through soft tissue or the water, you're searching through layers of dirt and rock.

[@karenokeane6461]

Utterly Fascinating Narrative. Thank you.

[@seankh562]

Fascinating info. Just subscribed.

[@ducodarling]

There is something dear, lost to history, in all the detailed spiritual pursuits of the many people relegated to the black-hole of "pagan"

[@joshmellor9950]

The Scavi tour where you can visit the necropolis is only €15!!! An absolute bargain, well worth the price of admission. Did it in May and it was amazing, you also get entrance into the basilica above without having to wait hours in the main line.

[@danielmcintyre]

Great video

[@marioluna2957]

Great content👍👍👍

[@oldworldchris4187]

Great vid, very interesting!

[@trentp151]

That's interesting. Also worth noting that Emperor Constantine was a life-long pagan who received a vision in one of his battles which consisted of a cross in the sky with the words "In hoc signo vinces" which translates to "By this sign, conquer." At which point, he assembled the church fathers to canonize the books of the bible into what the Catholic church would soon use exclusively. About 50 books were removed by Constantine's Council of Nicea, yet many of these "Banned books" can be found complete or nearly complete in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

[@caseyschryber1255]

Yeah… that didn’t happen.

[@trentp151]

@@caseyschryber1255 It definitely happened. You need to read your history books.

[@maggiemae7539]

@@trentp151definitely did not happen!

[@Lemma01]

Fascinating. Many thanks ❤

[@mendo35]

Amazing, I never new about this.

[@denniscarvell1828]

Well conceived vid ,needing a depth of knowledge,of this focal point for believers .

[@justinmus2896]

Goodluck with your new book!

[@airingcupboard]

Excellently told.

[@brandonfowler4240]

If only my teachers throughout school were this captivating. Not to mention the subpar curriculum. One of my favorite youtube channels.

[@tonysizzle8574]

Fantastic vid.

[@jackdaniels2905]

Finally a KZbin recommendations I can be happy about.

[@jakethejeweler3092]

The first question that comes to my mind is why, across millenia and cultures, is this the seat that power chooses?

[@raphaelledesma9393]

Do you mean Rome itself or the Vatican? The short answer is that it became a holy site since a great saint was buried in it. When Christians were persecuted, they could not build any public building over that but with Constantine legalizing Christianity and endowing the Church with gifts, the site of St Peter’s tomb which was preserved in the traditions of the Roman Christians became one of the places where he would build a basilica (the other was the site of St Paul’s tomb).

[@moniker2804]

Strategic advantages Rome had include: 1. River access 2. On a hill 3. Peninsula in the middle of a sea that connects several powerful and wealthy states Also power likes to find a comfy spot and stay there if at all possible.

[@jakethejeweler3092]

Thank yall for the good answers. Monikers seems to make more sense as far as cultures go, pagans wouldn't care about another culture martyrs and vice versa

[@voxac30withstrat]

The church SAID a great saint was buried there and provided no proof. After all, would the Catholic Church lie? Right?@@raphaelledesma9393

[@14489]

@@raphaelledesma9393 Christians were persecuted for roughly 13 years in general. 3 years in the 3rd century and after half a century they were percecuted for 9 more years until 313. what you talk about does not make any historical sense and belongs in the christian folklore just like the supposed tomp of Jesus that is build again by Constantine on top of an ancient pagan temple of Aphrodite . Helen claimed she found the cross of Jesus there 300 years after Jesus lived. This again is impossible, the temple existed there before Jesus.. Constantine tried to erase the pagan mythology and create a new one out of thin air.

[@starcrib]

🏛🌿🟧🟥🟥⬜️⬜️🟫🔳🌬🕯🌿🌿 Excellent Commentary and Video Production.

[@ruperterskin2117]

Cool. Thanks for sharing.

[@paulkoza8652]

I've been under the impression that the area around St. Peter's was a paupers field in the Roman times. This brings a different interpretation to this area.

[@ReadIcculus93]

100% it was once a roman circus, where they would persecute and put criminals to death. It would make sense if they simply carried the remains to the edge of the circus and buried the remains there. Not in a typical roman burial of cremation, but as you were, diseased and all.

[@paulsanderkay]

@@ReadIcculus93 I am wondering if you have read Rodolfo Lanciani, who said in this book 'Pagan and Christian Rome' (1892) "...in the reign of Nero, the topography of the Vatican district, which was crossed by the Via Cornelia, was as follows:-On the left of the road was a circus begun by Caligula, and finished by Nero; on the right a line of tombs built against the clay cliffs of the Vatican. The circus was the scene of the first sufferings of the Christians, described by Tacitus in the well-known passage of the "Annals," xv.45. Some of the Christians were covered with the skins of wild beasts so that savage dogs might tear them to pieces; others were besmeared with tar and tallow, and burnt at the stake; others were crucified (crucibus adfixi), while Nero in the attire of a vulgar auriga ran his races around the goals. This took place in A.D. 65. Two years later the leader of the Christians shared the same fate in the same place. He was affixed to a cross like the others, and we know exactly where. A tradition current in Rome from time immemorial says that S. Peter was executed inter duas metas (between the two metae), that is, in the spina or middle line of Nero's circus, at an equal distance from the two end goals..." This has always fascinated me. And Dr. Ryan's wonderful video seems to support this possibility. I realize and appreciate that many are not convinced of Peter and the many traditions associated with same, but it does seem possible, given the evidence uncovered and new emerging interpretations?

[@TheAlchaemist]

Kind of, but remember that it continued in use until Constantine around 330AD. I believe the circus was no longer in use back then. I guess it got upgraded over time ;) The Roman colombariums in there are very decorated. And the marble tombs are beautifully sculpted.

[@35mm21]

This is fascinating.

[@anaibarangan4908]

From what I know, a temple of The Roman Empire goddess Cybele, that's one of the most important symbols of Madrid, Spain. The fountain of Cybele in her chariot, where whenever there's a win by The Real Madrid soccer team, that's where the celebration takes place. The largest building near where the fountain is located, used to be that of Telecommunications, but now is Madrid City Hall. Above from the fountain The Door of Alcala, and The Retiro Park.

[@MsDuketown]

Amazing Plaza indeed.. Madrid became capital of Spain in 1561. Before, the Aragon was most powerful. Funny that Atletico has strong Argentinian ties.

[@WelcomeToDERPLAND]

I've heard of this place before, and what I wouldnt give to have a large team of archaeologists slowly peel back the layers in places like this.

[@ReadIcculus93]

What archeologists wouldn't do to get that opportunity. The Catholic church is too afraid of the scientific community proving anything they say wrong, so they'll keep up with their oral tradition, and prevent anyone from doing any real study of the archeological site. In history and archeology there are areas the cross over with religious oral traditions. Any time archeologists examine the evidence, they tend to prove that the historical evidence doesn't match the stories within the oral tradition. Perhaps the most famous being that Moses free'd the Jewish Slaves of Egypt as told in the bible. No evidence has ever been provided that the ancient Egyptians ever had Jewish slaves. No cultural or archeological evidence exists that suggests Jewish people ever lived in Egypt in ancient times. No real evidence that slaves of any race existed in Pharaonic Egypt, when the Bible claims there were Jewish slaves in Egypt, During the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II (Ramses the great). I mean, the catholic church really doesn't like it when entire stories in the bible are proven wrong, so they wont likely ever let anyone study these tombs. They wont like what they hear, that they built their massive church on top of a cemetery of people who worshiped goat-men with large erect penises.

[@TheMoneypresident]

Destroy a beautiful building to look at old crappy building remnants. Brilliant. 😂

[@ReadIcculus93]

@TheMoneypresident nobody said anything about destroying the basilica. Its not like they'd have to tear the whole thing down to check it out, you're crazy. There's already access points to those areas that exist, the catholic church rarely ever let's anyone down there. They simply don't want any evidence to surface that it might not be the place peter was buried, since there's no real proof or evidence that Peter, any of the other disciples, or Jesus for that matter ever existed as historical figures in the first place... but hey, the more you know.

[@ReadIcculus93]

@TheMoneypresident just keep in mind that the first historical accounts of that being the location of Peter's burial came from Constantine's era. Over 300 years after Peter's death. Without a legitimate archeological study we won't ever know for certain any of these "beliefs" the catholics have about Peter and that location. But that's the way the catholic church wants it.

[@WelcomeToDERPLAND]

@@TheMoneypresident what? using Sonar/Ultra-Sound & X-rays to check various areas under famous ancient buildings then carefully peeling a small area of the ground proven to have 'something' under it- done by professionals as delicately as possible would never destroy any building it's done to.

[@eamonnelliott8444]

Where do you get the source for the beginning quote? I've been looking everywhere for it since I'm learning Latin currently, and it would be really awesome to find the primary source so I can have a go at translating it.

[@F4xP4s]

The necropolis is filled with ancient knowledge being hidden from us all!

[@KingofgraceSARA]

All of which was stolen.

[@luigidisanpietro3720]

History on top of History....👍

[@trenthobson2756]

I'm getting all sorts of inspiration for a potential Dungeons & Dragons campaign.

[@--Paws--]

It's like a Mayan pyramid, almost. The previous temple/pyramid is built on by the next ruler, then so on, until what is left is a massive structure enveloping the previous ones within it.

[@trickyplays240]

They say satans throne lies beneath the earth so maybe 👀

[@MikeHunt-zh6lt]

I stumbled on a video one of a guy claiming it was a satanic temple underneath the vatican

[@josephwinder6878]

No the Vatican, esp st peters IS THE SATANIC TEMPLE.

[@MsBee-tj2ji]

Reminds me of the wolf cultist hideouts from Assassin’s creed: Brotherhood.

[@youtubecensors5419]

ⁿᵉʳᵈ

[@heroiccombatengineer6018]

I wonder how pagan it is in the actual Vatican 🤔😬

[@MalleusIudaeorum]

Probably a lot since every Abrahamic religion worships a pagan god that’s like the equivalent to Thor in Germanic paganism. The Yahweh/Allah that Christian’s, Muslims and Jews worship is a Babylonian/Sumerian pagan god and not even the main one. The difference is that some people know the real god they’re worshipping and most don’t because they’ve been lied to.

[@itsmommablox7481]

Beyond your wildest dreams

[@ah-ha-VAH-CReATER]

Vatica - goddess of Etrurscians

[@extrapickles8885]

Peter would never, never, never want to be venerated this way

[@arteboaarteboa]

You don't wait for your mother to ask when you honor her

[@albertmiller3082]

The whole damn planet is built on a continuous mausoleum of death and rebirth coming out of the remains. This video is interesting but not surprising.

[@ellenpendergast6481]

Interesting thanks!

[@Cole_1]

I've always wondered but never asked, why does it seem Rome is built on top of a buried city? Maybe it's not as common or maybe I misunderstanding some things but I always see things saying how underneath old homes and such are even older buildings? Is this something that happens far less then I think it does or did the just cover up old buildings and build atop then?

[@erdngtn9942]

Between dust and human waste of all kinds, even during rome's prime, new doors were cut I to buildings higher up as refuse built up over centurys.

[@erdngtn9942]

Like London and all of middle east, all built on older cities. Erosion. Waste.

[@logicoverall]

Yes it's normal. Cities are settled in specific places for specific reasons, and as long as those factors don't change neither will their location. What will change is the culture, quality of their buildings, and the materials used. Look up the concept of "Tel" Mounds in the Middle East. Areas that look like natural hills are actually ancient cities, and you can chart the advancement of that settlement by starting at the bottom and working up.

[@gothicwestern]

Conquest

[@stonedwizard0420]

That is something that happens in very, very old cities--buildings sink into the dirt over the years, and wind and earthquakes and such help that process. Roma went so long after the fall of the Empire and Senate without anyone to care for her ancient monuments that they were simply buried by the passage of time, some intentionally so, such as here, where Constantine buried the mausoleums to build his basilica, allowing the walls and vaulted roofs of the graves to serve as foundations. After that, knowledge and record of the mausoleums became lost or forgotten.

[@patrickgaimari4478]

In 1968 while visiting Rome and St Peter's cathedral. I was given a tour and walked down the spiral staircase. It was told to me that St Peter was buried here.

[@nancytestani1470]

Just fascinating.

[@nirad6766]

David Ewing Jr. covers this in his book "Skull and Bones and Common Cannibals". All of his books are worth your time.

[@bato2699]

News papper clips from 1920 they were digging in Pueblo Mexico and found five layers under each other with bigger and bigger humans in every layer

[@TattooedTraveler]

Bro, thanks for the new idea 😆

[@kaos45]

Been to necropolis twice in 06 and 07. Pretty amazing and creepy underground they don’t like to advertise, I assume because there are many depictions of old Roman gods. Also they would say the bones found were missing the feet, which matches with the biblical story of how Peter was crucified upside down. His followers had to chop him down when sneaking off with his body.

[@marcobelli6856]

In the tomba of the Julii there is a Mosaic that is mix with pagan and a Christ Like figure. Very Strange

[@nicl8749]

A lot of the main monuments like the acropolis were built on ancient pagan monuments.

[@Prodigy68]

They built their temples over shrines and temples, not over burial grounds.

[@nilspochat8665]

any idea if the spiraling columns we can see on the wall of st-peter's (the ones we see in the background at 7:26) were cannibalized parts from either the original of the 3rd century or the one from the 6-7th century? I've got a source implying that

[@Suz-e-K]

Fascinating. What is the source(s) of the painted images?

[@dylanbrady5926]

Very interesting as always

[@jigold22571]

Thank You..

[@dandrechesterfield5411]

Sounds like it’s time we build a new layer on top of it now. Someone grab the sheet metal and I beams

[@adrian-qr6zk]

What publisher does your book?

[@thephotonepoch9759]

Why is the intro "the lick"

[@lmonk9517]

Didn't realise that the site was so old. St peters grave being under the entire building is impressive.

[@joshbrz8902]

Peters grave is not there they were feeding Christians to lions at that time

[@williameck3391]

There’s also an old Roman cave prison that was rumored to have demons in it and was where the Lion of Carthage was imprisoned. I thought that was very interesting.

[@notrocketscience1950]

Great video again - please can you do your own voiceover on audible?

[@--Paws--]

The scripture pun at the end, nice touch.

[@jstantongood5474]

There are two pagan necropoli in the Vatican city state. One under st peters basilica one next to the Vatican museums entrance at the ancient Via trionfale. The second just opened to the public.

[@silvierousso3995]

Thank you for the Video ! A story of money and POWER ...That' s all it is...

[@alexandersalter6686]

The first picture of St. Peter’s Basilica has always had me wondering, why does it have two towers on either side of the front facade? Was this ever built and later changed or just a plan that never came to fruition?

[@undergroundman4646]

They initiated the construction of one of the towers, but the main central portico began to crack due to unbalance of charge over the general structure. After that, it was considered too risky to acomplish the project as it was designed, originally including two towers, as its shown. Sorry for my english, it's not my first language.

[@harperrish]

I saw the graffiti of peters tomb underneath the basilica. It was so cool!! I had to lie about my age to go down there

[@vrccim5930]

Thanks.

[@labbeaj]

Great Story! Unbelievable....

[@fredsilvers1427]

The seashells at 3:35 are nephilim. The gushing subterranean stream mentioned is the most sinister.

[@ladywisewolf3942]

Thank you for this, I had no idea what was beneath the Vatican. Fascinating!

[@thebuliander1870]

On the topic I hotly recommend Schwerpunkt's videos on Roman religion and the Catholic Imperial Tradition BOTH in paganism AND Christianity. If anyone's confused about such definition that's exactly why I recommend the channel

[@Nomed38]

Thank you for the recommendation to us all. I will gladly check out the videos of Schwerpunkt after this video fren. 🍀

[@zertyuz]

Schwerpunkt is great but he can be highly ideological

[@kellytraveler4748]

foxes book of martyrs is another good one that most people don't know about.

[@Thomas-lg6jx]

Nothing in commen between catholiscism from the Catholic Triune God & paganism. Only Christianity that has links to paganism is bible only protestantism & other non catholic non Holy sacrificial man made Christian religions.

[@Thomas-lg6jx]

​@@kellytraveler4748 Bible only protestant heretics are not martyrs...only Catholics are martyrs as they have the true faith.

[@SJam491]

The bones allegedly belonging to St. Peter were uncovered in the 1930s? I was always under the impression that they were always known to have been there. Thanks for the clarification.

[@AnotherHistorianWargamer]

They were always there it's just the Church never felt the need to go digging them up because it had always had the tradition that the bones of St Peter are directly under the High Altar and it turns out the tradition is completely accurate. The other factor was that excavation on the lower Basilica wasn't done until about the 1930's/40's so no one ever went down there because it was all filled in with rocks. Once they started excavation they were able to reveal more tombs and find the wall with the graffiti. Short version is the Church had no need to go digging because the tradition was very clear and accurate as we now know.

[@MrEVAQ]

@@AnotherHistorianWargamer "it turns out the tradition is completely accurate". Just because the tradition professes that there were bones beneath belonging to St. Peter and then bones were found in the same place where the tradition held them to be does not implicate that the bones belonged to St. Peter. If a genetic analysis were to be done on the bones and it was shown that the genetic profile of the bones matches the genetic profile of a 1st century Near Eastern man, then that would be a much stronger case.

[@savioblanc]

​@@MrEVAQit has been verified that the bones are indeed of a man in his 60s. They were found with traces of purple dye and gold flakes, showing that the bones at some point in the 3rd century had been wrapped in rich purple and gold. They didnt do genetic testing though, as the Church felt it was disrespectful to the relics and a reluctance to destroy any piece of the relics

[@MrEVAQ]

@@savioblanc And in Ancient Rome there were traditions of where Romulus' bones were buried under the Forum. The point is that it's very common for lofty kinds of claims such as these to be made under the veil of "tradition". The bones of a man in his 60s could be St. Peter, but it could also be the bones of some early church leader in Rome whose bones were later misattributed to St. Peter. That's not to say that there is no chance that they actually belonged to St. Peter, but that in all likelihood they did not.

[@pierdurin]

@@MrEVAQ The comparison with Romulus is not fair. Romulus is almost totally a legendary character, living in a time so remote it had become almost entirely legendary for the romans themselves. The pagan world was full of "heroa" tombs, held to belong to mythological heroes. Some of them were surely attributed to these figures, and monumentalized too many centuries after their construction, in a completely arbitrary way. Some of them though might have been legitimate after all (of course the myths around the man growing ever more fantastical with time, and merging with other figures and traditions). But St. Peter lived in the height of the roman empire, there is nothing that could be thought of as "fantastical" in the tale of his life, if you don't take into account the miracles: he was just an early christian leader, migrated and killed in Rome. We have evidence of christian tombs starting to coalesce around that particular one not so much later than the date of his death, with a consequent monumentalization of the site. I would say that in all likelihood those bones might very well be his. I don't see why it would be so questionable. We just lack a DNA analysis, but even that would never dissipate every doubt on the identity: we already know the age of the man, it should be enough to start believing reasonably that he might be him.

[@stateofflorida5082]

Sounds like a good set up for a horror or action drama movie

[@christofmaupin2023]

I've visited the underground necropolis, and it really is absolutely worth the modest price of admission. All tours are kept to a small number of people. The environment is carefully climate controlled. Some sections are very humid, others very cold. So be prepared for anything. It's surprising more visitors don't even know about this.

[@aspienrg4388]

How did it get covered so fast or all at once in the past/before building on top of it? Did they know it was there!

[@Budjarn]

Reminds me of how the Jedi Temple on Coruscant is built on top of Sith ruins.