Abstract

Early Christian portrayals of women involved in religious activities can be found in several Roman catacombs. These depictions of women span both the pre- and post-Constantinian church. The fresco Lunette of the Donna Velata, from the 3rd century catacomb of Priscilla, is a relatively early example of how paleo-Christians represented women and their roles in early Christian ritual within the catacomb frescos. In this fresco, the titular figure is a veiled woman in an orant posture, engaged either in prayer or leading the others around her. The role of early Christian women within Christian ritual is one that shifts and is redefined as the church develops, moving from house churches to a more institutionalized entity. This redefinition of accepted roles for women is less easily traced within the frescos in comparison to contemporary texts, all of which are from a male perspective. This paper explores how early Christian women engaged in religious activities are marked and depicted within Roman catacomb art. These images, along with textual and scholarly work, offer a more nuanced understanding of the places held by women in the early Christian church in Rome, and how the roles of these women in Christian ritual may have changed in the pre- vs post-Constantinian church.

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