The Nicene Age · AD 313–400
Veneranda
d. shortly after AD 356 · Laywoman of Rome · the catacomb of Domitilla, Rome
The Nicene Age
Who Veneranda was
A Roman laywoman known from one painted wall and nothing else. Her arcosolium in the catacomb of Domitilla shows her as an orant being led into paradise by a woman labelled PETRONELLA MART, with her own name written beside her and a date shortly after 356. No text of any kind mentions her. She is here because the object that names her is contemporary with her, which is a stronger attestation than most literary figures of the century can claim.
Named once, on a contemporary inscription, fresco or object. No text of any period mentions her.
Also listed in women.
Common questions
When did Veneranda die?
Veneranda is dated d. shortly after AD 356 in the archive, which places Veneranda in the Nicene Age (AD 313–400).
Which early sources mention Veneranda?
Veneranda is named in 1 primary-source passage catalogued here, drawn from Epigraphic. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Veneranda from?
The archive associates Veneranda with the catacomb of Domitilla, Rome. The sources record more than one location, so the places are listed in the order the record moves through them.
Who were Veneranda’s contemporaries?
The archive links Veneranda to 1 other figure, including Petronilla. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Primary-source mentions (1)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
The painted arcosolium of Veneranda, catacomb of Domitilla — the fresco itself is the attestation
c. AD 356VENERANDA — painted beside the orant figure, with PETRONELLA MART beside the second figure.Epigraphic · ICVR, catacomb of Domitilla, arcosolium of Veneranda
The painted arcosolium of Veneranda in the catacomb of Domitilla, dated c. AD 356, showing her led into paradise by Petronilla. Inscription published in Inscriptiones Christianae Urbis Romae (ICVR); the fresco is described in the standard catacomb literature.
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 301 · Hripsime and her company, AD 301
- AD 303 · The Great Persecution begins, AD 303
- AD 303 · The search of the church at Cirta, AD 303
- AD 306 · The Council of Elvira, AD 306
- AD 311 · Galerius’ edict of Serdica, AD 311
- AD 313 · The Edict of Milan, AD 313
- AD 314 · The Council of Arles, AD 314
- AD 320 · Silvanus tried before Zenophilus, AD 320
- AD 325 · The Council of Nicaea, AD 325
- AD 339 · The persecution of Shapur II, AD 339
- AD 343 · The Council of Serdica, AD 343
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Veneranda.
- 1Rome