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Beliefs: gods for every occasion

Photograph of a bearded older man's head, sculpted in marble. Magnifing glass image

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Sculpture of the god Serapis

Religion was an important part of Roman Londoners' daily life.

 
Photograph of three small statuettes of naked women, all very similar, standing with one arm down and one up touching a complex hairstyle Magnifing glass image

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Statuettes of the goddess Venus

What did the Romans believe?

There was an official Roman religion. They worshipped a family of gods including Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, and Diana. In Rome the Emperor was worshipped as a god. In Britain he did not become a god until he died.

As Romans moved around the Empire they took new gods. Several were introduced to Britain. These included Isis from Egypt and Mithras from Persia.

What about British religion?

The Romans took on local religions and combined them with their own ideas. They often paired a Roman god with a similar one from the local religion.

How did religion work in daily life?

Many people had shrines in their houses with a figure of their favourite god. They believed it was important to keep the gods happy with gifts or statues, like these in clay and bronze.

The gods could also help you get revenge on someone you didn't like by putting a curse on them.

Sometimes people buried a small dead animal, such as a dog, under their houses to protect the house and bring good luck.

 
Photograph of a carved stone man's head, with curly hair and a high narrow cap. His eyes look up and away.

Discovering beliefs

Lead curse

Evidence of beliefs

Photograph of a masonry wall with a parallel ditch in front. One archaeologist sits to the right with a clipboard, the other stands behind the wall

Archaeology in action

Line drawing of a small octagonal building with an arched doorway on one side and small windows cut into alternate sides. The central section of the roof is raised on a wall with a second set of windows.

Beliefs: in detail

Black and white close-up photograph of a stone wall with 2 stripes of thin bricks running through

Play Londinium!
A game to play on your own or as a class