Fossores

Like most cultures which bury their dead the world tend to look down on those who deal with the deceased, the ancient Romans treated gravediggers as outcasts.  With the advent of Christianity, that changed. Fossores or "Diggers" (from 'foedere'; 'to dig') not only dug graves, but there is evidence that they decorated and painted them as well.  In fact, several sources name 'fossores' as one of the minor orders of clerics.  There is also evidence that part of their duty was to exclude outsiders from Eucharistic celebrations held in the catacombs or in Christian cemetaries.     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravedigger#Fossors

The drawing of the fossor Diogenes was badly damaged in the attempt to remove it from the wall on which it was drawn, but we have this sketch of its appearance.  He stands with the tools of his trade; a pick, a staff, and a light, as well as a sack lunch.  We will examine the symbols on his clothes in our next post.