The Via Labicana (leads out of the ancient Esquiline Gate).
The “Pilgrim Guide” here referred to mentions that, in the group of cemeteries situate on this road, “many martyrs rest.” In another place it alludes to “many other martyrs”; in another, “30 martyrs.”—Itinerary of Salzburg.
Another “Pilgrim Guide” tells us of “a countless multitude of martyrs” buried in this group of Catacombs.—De Locis SS. Martyrum.
Another “Itinerary,” after specifying some famous names, mentions that here were “other martyrs unnumbered.”—Itinerary of Einsiedeln.
The Via Tiburtina. (The road which through the Tiburtina Gate, now the Porta S. Lorenzo, leads to Tivoli.)
The “Guide” speaks of the Church of S. Laurence and the two basilicas in the cemetery adjacent. It says: “Many martyrs rest there”; and again, in the cemetery hard by, mentions “a multitude of saints” buried there.—Itinerary of Salzburg.
Another “Itinerary,” describing these cemeteries, records that “with S. Cyriaca and S. Symphorosa are buried many martyrs.”—De Locis SS. Martyrum.
The Via Nomentana (leads out of the old Porta Collina to the town of Nomentum (Mentana). The modern Porta Pia is close to the old gate).
After describing the group of cemeteries lying round the Basilica of S. Agnes, and mentioning some of the better-known saints, the “Itinerary” says: “Many others sleep there.”—De Locis SS. Martyrum.
The Via Salaria Nova (leads in a northerly direction out of the old Porta Collina (Porta Pia now). The great Cemetery (Catacomb) of Priscilla is a little way out of the city on this road).
The “Itinerary” is speaking of the old Basilica of S. Sylvester; its ruins are in the Priscilla Catacomb. There, it says, “a multitude of saints rest”; and further on, still speaking of the same Basilica of S. Sylvester, says that “under the altar with certain famous confessors there are a multitude of saints.”—Itinerary of Salzburg.
Another “Guide,” writing of the great ones who rest in the “Priscilla” Cemetery, adds how they sleep there “with many saints.” Hard by, the same “Guide” tells us how one of the confessor-sons of S. Felicitas in the same spot rests “with many saints”; and again alludes to “the many martyrs buried there.” And once more, speaking of the shrine of S. Sylvester, relates that “very many more saints and martyrs lie hard by.” In one grave, the “Guide” adds, “373 are buried.”—De Locis SS. Martyrum.
William of Malmesbury, copying—as we said—from a much older “Pilgrim Guide,” after enumerating the names of the more prominent martyrs, adds, “and there are innumerable other saints buried there” (alii innumerabiles).—William of Malmesbury.
The Via Salaria Vetus. (This road was in the immediate neighbourhood of the last mentioned, the “Via Salaria Nova.”)
The “Itinerary,” describing the group of cemeteries on this road, writes, after mentioning the better-known names of saints: “These are buried with many martyrs”; and further on relates how “230 martyrs are interred here.”—De Locis SS. Martyrum.
William of Malmesbury, writing of the same group, relates that “in the one grave 260 martyrs rest,” and “in another 30.”—William of Malmesbury, Itinerary.