Level 3 - Life in Roman Sussex - Religion

Religion

Priests & Rituals

A brooch offering from the temple at Chanctonbury

Roman religious rituals are well known from classical writers, inscriptions, sacred images, and archaeological research. From the evidence at Romano-British religious sites - including those in Sussex - it seems that the methods by which people sought favours from the gods were essentially the same - votive offering, sacrifice and feasting.

Most artefacts found on temple sites such as Chanctonbury and Muntham Court are likely to have been ritual deposits left by people visiting the site, possibly in fulfilment of a vow made to the deity. Such items commonly consist of coins and jewellery, although they may have been made especially, like the votive leg from Muntham Court. These offerings would no doubt have been displayed in and around the temple, before possibly being taken down and buried nearby.

The remains of a ritual feast from the shrine at Muntham Court

Other common finds at temple sites are animal bones - probably the remains of creatures sacrificed at the cult altar. Sacrifice was the most important ritual ceremony, and was usually governed by many strict regulations, including the final burial of bones. At Chanctonbury, there were large quantities of pig teeth and bones within a polygonal building near to the temple, while at Muntham Court there were three internal pits containing ox skulls and bones. Some of these animals would have been used in ritual feasting within the temple precinct, and this activity was almost certainly represented by the large dump of oyster shells at Chanctonbury.

Very little is known about the priests who conducted these rituals, but if they were similar to those in classical regions, some may have been specialized personnel undertaking different tasks, such as conducting the sacrifice and inspecting the remains for divination (haruspices). The sceptre pommel and sacrificial knife from Muntham Court are the only indications of priestly regalia in Sussex, although elaborate headdresses have been found in Surrey temple sites.

Finally, it must be remembered that there would have been many personal rituals performed by families or individuals, such as the offering of food at the household shrine and the wearing of lucky charms like the mini scabbard from Chichester. Religion and superstition were integral parts of people's lives.