The exact date of construction for the catacombs is unknown, but it seems likely that they were built and used between the . They were discovered in 1853 and became the subject of systematic study only from 1974 onwards. The structure of the catacombs is simple, with two parallel tunnels connected by passages. In total, the catacombs have yielded about seventy epigraphs, one of which is dated precisely to 521. Most of the names listed in the catacombs reflect the tendency of
Jewish diaspora to take
Koine Greek or
Latin names as opposed to names in Hebrew, with only a small minority of the people buried there having names reflecting a Hebrew
etymology. The earliest writing in the catacombs is usually in Koine Greek, with Latin existing in the newer and deeper sections of the catacombs. There is more Hebrew text in these catacombs than in the better-known Jewish
catacombs of Rome. Religious
iconography, such as the
menorah, can be seen in the catacombs. One inscription, possibly from the 5th century, commemorates Faustina, daughter of Faustinus, a 14-year-old who died at the age of 14 and 5 months. She was eulogized by two emissaries (
apostvli) and two rabbis (
rebbites). It is possible that they were sent by the
Nasi. ==References==