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 The
Romans worshipped a lot of different gods and goddesses
and built separate temples for them. When people wanted
to ask the god or goddess something they wrote it out
on a lead tablet and put it inside the temple. Every
Roman home had a small altar or shrine. The family worshipped
there each morning.
By Rachel Orange
The
Romans told lots of stories about their gods. Here is one
about Mercury the
messenger of the gods. |
These
Roman ladies and their slaves have been making a
sacrifice to the god Oceanus. The ladies' husbands are about
to sail from Arbeia to Londinium.
They
burnt a small fire of pine cones on the focus of the altar
and offered the god wine and honey cakes.
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When
you visit a Roman site or museum look out for these designs
and symbols on the stone altars.
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A
patera (small bronze dish) used to
pour the offering of wine
onto the altar. |
A
knife to kill a cockerel or other
bird as an offering to the
gods. |
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Vines
are a popular decoration, a sign
of the grapes used to make
wine. |
A
jug containing wine, ready to
offer to the gods. |
| Celtic
gods were worshipped along with the Roman gods. Sometimes
a Celtic god would be given a Roman name. For example, the
Celtic god, Maponus, was sometimes given the name of the
Roman god Apollo. |
 The
Romans were very anxious not to upset the local gods. This
is a carving from a well near Hadrian's Wall that was sacred
to the goddess Coventina. When archaeologists excavated the
well they found lots of offerings made to the goddess. |
Mithras
was known as a god of the heavens. This sculpture shows Mithras
bursting from the Cosmic Egg. In his hands are the Sword of
Truth and Torch of Light. Surrounding him is the Cosmos containing
the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac.
This
carving is thought to be the earliest surviving illustration
of the Signs of the Zodiac in Britain.
Read
the story of Mithras
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