Class
Article
College
Caine College of the Arts
Department
English Department
Faculty Mentor
Alvaro Ibarra
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
As a result of the merging of cultures and religions, the Romans left their mark on Britain, seen in many other provinces throughout Europe. One location that decidedly represents Roman influence is the Roman baths in Bath, England. Not long after the Romans arrived in Britain, they happened upon the underground hot springs, located in the modern-day city center. They settled and built a 'centre of healing and recreation, naming it Aquae Sulis.' (Bath City Council) A particular artifact of the baths, the Gorgon Head from the later first century AD,is situated at the top of a temple pediment. Often considered the male Medusa of Aquae Sulis, the sculpted head depicts a clear marriage of the classical Roman standards and traditions with Celtic style and native inventiveness (Cousins, 2016). The Bocca della Verità of Rome, Italy, and the Great Dish of Suffolk, England, share similar formal features and mythological contexts. This research presentation aims to investigate the merging of Roman and Celtic religious narratives and viewership in Britannia under Roman occupation.
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
4-8-2022 12:00 AM
Included in
Roman Baths and Water Gods: The Syncretic Merging of Roman Sacrality With Celtic Religion in Britannia
Logan, UT
As a result of the merging of cultures and religions, the Romans left their mark on Britain, seen in many other provinces throughout Europe. One location that decidedly represents Roman influence is the Roman baths in Bath, England. Not long after the Romans arrived in Britain, they happened upon the underground hot springs, located in the modern-day city center. They settled and built a 'centre of healing and recreation, naming it Aquae Sulis.' (Bath City Council) A particular artifact of the baths, the Gorgon Head from the later first century AD,is situated at the top of a temple pediment. Often considered the male Medusa of Aquae Sulis, the sculpted head depicts a clear marriage of the classical Roman standards and traditions with Celtic style and native inventiveness (Cousins, 2016). The Bocca della Verità of Rome, Italy, and the Great Dish of Suffolk, England, share similar formal features and mythological contexts. This research presentation aims to investigate the merging of Roman and Celtic religious narratives and viewership in Britannia under Roman occupation.