E01273: The Liber Pontificalis, written in Latin in Rome in the 530s, and re-edited before 546, in its account of *Damasus (bishop of Rome, ob. 384, S00535), lists his construction of a basilica of *Laurence (martyr in Rome, S00037) inside the city of Rome; the dedication of a marble tablet at the Catacumbas cemetery on the via Appia, commemorating the former resting place of the bodies of the Apostles *Peter and *Paul (S00036 and S00008); the discovery and honouring in verse of many martyrs; and his burial, with his mother and sister, in his own basilica on the via Ardeatina, on 11 December [AD 384].

Liber Pontificalis 39

First edition (as reconstructed by Duchesne)

Damasus, natione Spanus, ex patre Antonio, sedit an. XVIII mens. III dies XI. Fuit autem temporibus Iuliani. Hic fecit basilicas II, una <.......> ad via Ardeatina ubi requiescit; dedicavit platomam in Catacumbas, ubi corpora Petri et Pauli apostolorum iacerunt, quam et versibus ornavit...
Qui etiam sepultus est via Ardiatina, in basilica sua, III id. decemb. cum sua matre et germana.

'Damasus, born in Spain, son of Antonius, held the see 18 years 3 months 11 days. He was [bishop] in the times of Julian. He built two basilicas, one <.......> on the via Ardeatina where he is buried. He dedicated a marble tablet (platoma) at the Catacumbas [cemetery], where lay the bodies of the apostles Peter and Paul, and he adorned it with verses...
He was buried on the via Ardeatina in his own basilica on 11 December, close to his mother and sister.'


Second edition

Damasus, natione Spanus, ex patre Antonio, sedit ann. XVIII m. III d. XI...
Hic fecit basilicas duas, una beato Laurentio iuxta theatrum et alia via Ardeatina ubi requiescit; et in Catatumbas, ubi iacuerunt corpora sanctorum apostolorum Petri et Pauli, in quo loco platomam ipsam, ubi iacuerunt corpora sancta, versibus exornavit. Hic multa corpora sanctorum requisivit et invenit, quorum etiam versibus declaravit...
Qui etiam sepultus est via Ardeatina in basilica sua III id. decemb. iuxta matrem suam et germanam suam.

'Damasus, born in Spain, son of Antonius, held the see 18 years 3 months 11 days...
He built two basilicas: one to the blessed Laurence close to the Theatre, and the other on the via Ardeatina where he is buried. At the Catacumbas [cemetery], where lay the bodies of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, he adorned with verses the marble tablet (platoma) at the place where the holy bodies lay. He searched for and discovered many bodies of holy martyrs, and also proclaimed their [acts] in verses...
He was buried on the via Ardeatina in his own basilica on 11 December, close to his mother and sister.'


Text: Duchesne 1886, 85 and 212-213. Translation: Davis 2010, 28-29, lightly modified.