Roman Temples in the Upper Thames Valley (original) (raw)

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in Temples across the Thames Valley

There were several temples to pagan gods in Roman Berkshire. They stood inside a sacred area called a 'temenos'. It was surrounded by a big wall. They were visited by lots of pilgrims just like churches in later Christian times. The main ones were at Frilford, near Abingdon. Frilford was a religious centre: a small town which grew up around at least twotemples. One temple was big and square, with a later extension. A smaller round one had a sacred flame inside it. Among the buildings in the town was a large stone hotel for pilgrims. It also had an amphitheatre (big arena) for religious ceremonies and a big cemetery. Some temples were built at the side of the road, like the one at Weycock Hill in Waltham St. Lawrence, near Maidenhead. Weycock means 'Wayside Mound'. The road was the Camlet Way between Calleva (Silchester) and Verulamium (St. Albans). The mound was over the temple ruins. In Victorian times the walls under the mound still stood 2.5 metres high. It was a big octagonal temple with a covered walkway around it. Some people think it was dedicated to Venus, the Goddess of Love. There were a few buildings nearby. They were probably shops and hotels for pilgrims. Other temples were built on their own, often on hilltops. There was a Roman temple on St. Leonard's Hill at Clewer near Windsor. It might have been dedicated to Cernunnus, a god who was long remembered in the area as Herne the Hunter. Legoland has now been built over it. There was another temple on Lowbury Hill, on the border of Aston Upthorpe and Aldworth. Lots of sheep bones were found there and a small statue of a cockerel. It may have been dedicated to Mercury, the Messenger of the Gods. These were his sacred animals. Pilgrims gave lots of brooches and other jewelry to the god worshipped there. Lots of oysters were eaten at the temple. Special religious spears with bells have been found there. What strange ceremonies were they used in? It later had a Saxon burial mound built next to it. Some Roman temples were later replaced by Christian churches. There seem to have been temples where the churches at Finchampstead and Hampstead Norreys now stand. There was a small round temple at Faringdon. These are usually called shrines. The Uffington White Horse was also important in Roman religion. They held annual fairs there. Dragon Hill, near the horse, may have been an open air temple.