This underground necropolis was created towards
the end of the first century by Christians to
bury their dead during periods of persecution.
The Sousse catacombs are formed of galleries stretching
over 5 kilometres and containing no les than 15.000
graves.

The tombs were dug into the walls of the galleries
on two or three levels. One notes the presence
of niches at more or less regular intervals along
the wall. They used to contain the oil lamps whose
dim light used to light the labyrinth.
The Catacombs were used as a clandestine cemetery
but also as a place of worship and a refuge for
the first Christian faithful until the end of
the IVth century. They also contained many sacred
artefacts that are now displayed in the Sousse
museum: epitaphs, marble carved with sacred symbols
(fish, doves, the Good Shepherd etc.)
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