Ad Clivum Cucumeris Catacomb
catacomb in Rome, Italy
The ad Clivum Cucumeris Catacomb (Italian: catacomba ad clivum Cucumeris) was one of the catacombs of Rome, sited on the ancient via Salaria (today's via Paisiello, via Bertoloni and via Oriani) according to ancient sources but not yet conclusively identified with any surviving ancient remains.
These sources place it last on the topographical list of Rome, after those of San Panfilo and Sant'Ermete. The Notitia ecclesiarum urbis Romae, a 7th-century pilgrims' guide, invites the faithful to visit the catacombs of San Valentino then to go along the via Salaria and—before going to Sant'Ermete—to visit the cemetery of Saint John "ad clivum cucumeris" (literally "on the watermelon hill" or "on the cucumber hill"). Other sources refer to it as sancti Ioannes ad clivum cucumeris, septem palumbae (seven pigeons), coemeterium ad caput sancti Iohannis (cemetery of St John's head). The saint John in question is a priest called John, beheaded under Julian - the head was buried in an underground basilica, whilst the rest of his body was placed in the catacomb. The ancient sources state that the same catacomb also contained the remains of Liberatus, Longinus, Diogenes and Bonifacius, and Festus and Bastus.
Pasquale Testini theorises that it was near the Acqua Acetosa, whilst others have identified the clivum cucumeris as the steeply-sloped present-day via Francesco Denza, which branches off what was the via Salaria and turns towards the ancient via Flaminia. Investigations between via Denza, via Bertolini and via Mercalli by Father Umberto Maria Fasola between 1954 and 1955 led him to announce that he had discovered the catacomb. New studies place it on a diversion off the ancient via Salaria at the top of via Denza and via Oriani.
The public source identifies “Ad Clivum Cucumeris Catacomb” as catacomb in Rome, Italy. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Clivum, Cucumeris and Catacomb.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Ad Clivum Cucumeris Catacomb”, the useful work is to connect “catacomb in Rome, Italy” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
The citation trail is more important than the brevity of the summary: it shows where individual claims can be examined in context. The source revision retrieved here is dated Mar 14, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q3663159. Authority coordinates are 41.927, 12.483. None of the 1 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1954 and 1955.
The absence of detail may reflect summary conventions rather than a lack of surviving documentation. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Ad Clivum Cucumeris Catacomb”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Ad Clivum Cucumeris Catacomb primary sources, Ad Clivum Cucumeris Catacomb archive and Clivum research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Ad Clivum Cucumeris Catacomb”?
- What terminology or title could unlock a more precise catalogue search?
- Which institution is responsible for the underlying evidence?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Ad Clivum Cucumeris Catacomb” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.