Abstract
The catacombs are underground places. This paper reports the results of acoustic measurements carried out inside the catacombs of “San Gennaro” (Naples) and in those one of “San Callisto” (Rome). Originally the catacombs were also used to perform sacred functions, although we don’t know the type of these functions i.e. if they were spoken, sung or performed as psalms. This paper presents acoustic measurements carried out in catacombs using the impulse response method, and by the analysis of the monaural acoustic parameters, (T$_{30}$, EDT, C$_{80}$, D$_{50}$ and STI), the authors intend to understand the type of religious ceremony performed in the catacombs. If the catacombs had been reverberant places, they could not have been used for prayers because the echoes would have created difficulties in concentration and meditation for the devotees due to the poor speech comprehension.Keywords:
catacombs, acoustic measurements, reverberation time, impulse response.References
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Deichmann F. W. (1993), Archeologia cristiana, L'Erma di Bretschneider, Roma
de Jorio A. (1839), Guida per le Catacombe di S. Gennaro de' Poveri”, (Ristampa).
De Santis L., Biamonte G. (2011), Le catacombe di Roma, Newton Compton Italiana
Fasola U. M. (1974), Le catacombe di S. Gennaro a Capodimonte, Editalia
Fiocchi Nicolai V., Bisconti F., Mazzoloni D. (1999), The Christian Catacombs of Rome, Schnell & Steiner Regensburg.
Iannace G., Ianniello C., Ianniello E. (2012), Acoustic measurements in underground rooms of Castelcivita Caves (Italy), Proc Euronoise - 10-13 June 2012 - Prague.
ISO-3382 (2012), Acoustics – Measurement of the reverberation time of rooms with reference to other acoustical parameters.
Stevenson J. (1978), The Catacombs, Thames and Hudson Ltd, London.
Suárez R. , Juan J. Sendra J.J., Alonso A.(2013), Acoustics, Liturgy and Architecture in the Early Christian Church. From the domus ecclesiae to the basilica, Acta Acustica Vol. 99. 292 – 301.
Trematerra A., Iannace G. (2013), The acoustic of the Catacombs of “San Gennaro” in Naples”, Proc. Internoise. Innsbruck 15-18 September 2013.
