The Pagan Necropolis Under Vatican City

Summary by Krater

This video explores the pagan necropolis and ancient circus beneath Vatican City, detailing how excavations beneath St. Peter's Basilica revealed tombs, mausoleums, and the trophy of Gaius, which Christian emperors subsequently built over.

From the video

Answers: What is underneath Vatican City and St. Peter's Basilica?

• Vatican City necropolis
• St. Peter's Basilica history
• Circus of Nero
• Roman pagan mausoleums
• Trophy of Gaius
• Constantinian basilica construction

What it concludes

• A pagan necropolis and the Circus of Nero once occupied the site where Vatican City and St. Peter's Basilica now stand.
• Constantine deliberately buried the upper portion of the Vatican necropolis under a million cubic feet of earth to create a level site for his basilica.
• Excavations beneath the high altar of St. Peter's uncovered the Trophy of Gaius, Constantine's shrine, and the Confessio aligned directly on top of one another.