Beneath the streets of Ancient Rome, in the tunnels and crypts of the catacombs, Jews expressed their heritage and faith through unique cultural artifacts, using the artistic tools of their time to connect with their surroundings. In this class, we’ll examine a range of catacomb artifacts that reveal Jewish identity—from inscriptions and symbols to intricate artwork. We’ll also explore how the discovery, identification, and preservation of these artifacts have shaped our understanding of the Jewish community in Ancient Rome.

Born and raised in Boston, Jessica Dello Russo went on to earn her doctorate in Archaeology from the Vatican's Institute for Christian Archaeology in 2022. She is the author of "A Jewish Archaeology: The Christian Discovery of Jewish Catacombs in Rome" (Brill, 2025), the book chapter, "Growing the Global Audience for the Jewish Catacombs of Italy" (UniOr Press, 2025), and other studies focused on the catacombs of Rome. Copies of many of these publications are available on the International Catacomb Society's website (www.catacombsociety.org).