Level 3 - Life in Roman Sussex - The Towns

The Towns

Religion & burial

Mother goddess inscription found at Chichester

Roman towns across the empire generally contained considerable numbers of shrines and temples, dedicated to different divinities. The inscription to Neptune and Minerva, which is perhaps among the most well known in Britain, is the only real evidence for a temple in Chichester, although others must surely have existed. Part of a tile-bonded wall was found near to where the inscription was found (corner of Lion St & North St), and this is the only possible structural indication of this temple.

Other evidence for civic religious activity in the city is slight, but include the Jupiter column or statue base, the mother goddess inscription and two altars, both of which are heavily worn. Evidence for personal devotion is examined in 'Religion'.

Cremation burials at St Pancras cemetery

It was generally not permissible to bury the dead within the sacred boundary of the Roman town, which was called the pomorium. For this reason, most towns had a series of cemeteries lining the main roads leading from them, and Chichester was no exception.

Burials have been found outside the west and north gates, with the most extensive and earliest cemetery lying outside the east gate at St Pancras. For more information on these sites, see 'Burial'.