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| Question:
Where did the Romans gather in Sussex for religious events? |
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| Lancing Down |
| The most common type of temple in Britain was called a Romano-Celtic temple. It is easily recognised by having an inner shrine (cella) surrounded by an outer corridor (ambulatory). They were usually positioned within a sacred enclosure (temenos), such as this example from Lancing Down. The worshippers would have gathered outside in this enclosure, rather than in the temple, which would have contained the cult statue. |
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| Chanctonbury |
| This is a large Romano-Celtic temple, standing on the highest part of an Iron Age hillfort, which was used as the sacred enclosure. There were often other buildings in the sacred precinct, such as those shown here. The unusual building below the temple contained many pig teeth and bones – probably the remains of animals that had been sacrificed at the site! |
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| Muntham Court |
| At Muntham Court archaeologists found the remains of a circular timber temple. Many metal objects were found in the shrine – probably placed there as offerings to the god or goddess. This photo shows excavations at the shrine in the 1950s. |
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| Bosham |
| Archaeologists believe that this may have been a large Roman temple, with a sacred pool (piscina) in the middle. A stone sculptured head was found there, which may have been part of a religious statue. |
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