The temple faced east and was first built in the late-3rd century, possibly to the god Mercury.[1] After the collapse of the original building another temple was built, which again fell into ruin. The final rebuild, after about 367 CE included the addition of an internal screen. The latest dateable coin found at the site was of Arcadius (383–408). The last building collapsed in the 5th century.[2]
The site of the temple is on the aptly named Pagans Hill, although that name is modern[3] and any link to the site in the naming of the road has been lost.[4]
Appearance
It was a double-octagonal temple building comprised an inner wall, which formed the cella or sanctuary, surrounded by an outer wall forming an ambulatory, or covered walkway. The outer portico measures about 56½ feet in diameter, the inner cellar about 32 feet across. All walls were about 3 feet thick. Along each wall were two features described by Rahtz as buttresses but were more likely to have been pilasters, as their small size would render them ineffective as wall supports. Warwick Rodwell suggests that the ambulatory would have been cross-vaulted and the pilasters used as external supports for this. This would allow for a good deal of natural light to circulate the building and give an aesthetically balanced look to the structure. The ambulatory would then give the illusion of a labyrinth of side chambers running off from the central area.[5]
The site formed a large pilgrimage centre including guest houses and priest's house as well as the octagonal temple and holy well.[6]
Excavations
The temple was on a promontory overlooking the River Chew. It was excavated by Philip Rahtz between 1949 and 1953.[7][8] In addition to the foundations of the temple a well (17 metres deep) and several ditches were found which contained small artifacts showing occupation of the site before the Roman period including pottery of Iron Age type,[9] and a coin dating from c. 335–337 CE.[10] Evidence of continuing use after the Roman period is provided by a bucket and an exotic 7th century glass jar found in the well.[11]
It was originally thought, on its discovery in 1830, to have been a beacon, for signalling between adjoining hill forts.
Pagans Hill Dog
Among the artefacts found in the well approximately 15 meters west of the temple foundations, was an unusual sculpture of a dog with collar. The statue was in four sections, measured 63 cm in height overall and was made of Doulting Stone, a limestone, as still quarried today at Doulting Stone Quarry.[10]
^"Pagans Hill temple". Curse tablets from Roman Britain. Retrieved 14 November 2010.
^MacInnes, Charles Malcolm; Whittard, Walter Frederick (1973). Bristol and its adjoining counties. p. 174.
^Dunning, Robert (1983). A History of Somerset. Chichester: Phillimore & Co. ISBN0-85033-461-6.
^Rodwell, Warwick (1980). Temples, Churches and Religion: Recent Research in Roman Britain. Chichester: British Archaeological Reports. ISBN0-86054-085-5.
^Ford, David Nash. . Britannia. Archived from the original on 12 November 2006. Retrieved 3 January 2007.
^Rahtz, P.; Harris, L.G. (1958). "The temple well and other buildings at Pagans Hill, Chew Stoke, North Somersetshire". Proceedings of the Somersetshire Archaeological and Natural History Society: 25–51.
^Rahtz, P.; Watts, L. (1991). "Pagans Hill revisited". The Archaeological Journal. 46.
^Hucker, Ernest (1997). Chew Stoke recalled in old photographs. Ernest Hucker.
^ abBoon, George C. (1989). "A Roman sculpture rehabilitated: The Pagans Hill dog". Britannia. Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies. 20: 201–217. doi:10.2307/526163. JSTOR 526163.
^Gelling, Margaret. "Temples in Somerset and neighbouring areas" (PDF). Archeology Data Service. Retrieved 3 January 2007.
January 21, 2023
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The Pagans Hill Roman Temple was a Romano British style temple Romano Celtic temple excavated on Pagans Hill at Chew Stoke in the English county of Somerset Pagans Hill Roman TempleA reconstruction drawing of Pagans Hill Roman TempleMap showing the location of Pagans Hill Roman Temple in Somerset LocationChew Stoke Somerset RegionSouth WestCoordinates51 21 39 N 2 38 14 W 51 360732 N 2 6373580 W 51 360732 2 6373580 Coordinates 51 21 39 N 2 38 14 W 51 360732 N 2 6373580 W 51 360732 2 6373580TypeRomano Celtic TempleHistoryFounded3rd Century ADAbandoned4th Century ADCulturesRomanManagementEnglish Heritage Contents 1 History 2 Appearance 3 Excavations 4 Pagans Hill Dog 5 See also 6 ReferencesHistory EditThe temple faced east and was first built in the late 3rd century possibly to the god Mercury 1 After the collapse of the original building another temple was built which again fell into ruin The final rebuild after about 367 CE included the addition of an internal screen The latest dateable coin found at the site was of Arcadius 383 408 The last building collapsed in the 5th century 2 The site of the temple is on the aptly named Pagans Hill although that name is modern 3 and any link to the site in the naming of the road has been lost 4 Appearance EditIt was a double octagonal temple building comprised an inner wall which formed the cella or sanctuary surrounded by an outer wall forming an ambulatory or covered walkway The outer portico measures about 56 feet in diameter the inner cellar about 32 feet across All walls were about 3 feet thick Along each wall were two features described by Rahtz as buttresses but were more likely to have been pilasters as their small size would render them ineffective as wall supports Warwick Rodwell suggests that the ambulatory would have been cross vaulted and the pilasters used as external supports for this This would allow for a good deal of natural light to circulate the building and give an aesthetically balanced look to the structure The ambulatory would then give the illusion of a labyrinth of side chambers running off from the central area 5 The site formed a large pilgrimage centre including guest houses and priest s house as well as the octagonal temple and holy well 6 Excavations EditThe temple was on a promontory overlooking the River Chew It was excavated by Philip Rahtz between 1949 and 1953 7 8 In addition to the foundations of the temple a well 17 metres deep and several ditches were found which contained small artifacts showing occupation of the site before the Roman period including pottery of Iron Age type 9 and a coin dating from c 335 337 CE 10 Evidence of continuing use after the Roman period is provided by a bucket and an exotic 7th century glass jar found in the well 11 It was originally thought on its discovery in 1830 to have been a beacon for signalling between adjoining hill forts Pagans Hill Dog EditAmong the artefacts found in the well approximately 15 meters west of the temple foundations was an unusual sculpture of a dog with collar The statue was in four sections measured 63 cm in height overall and was made of Doulting Stone a limestone as still quarried today at Doulting Stone Quarry 10 See also Edit Ancient Rome portal Somerset portalAncient Roman religion Roman Britain History of SomersetReferences Edit Aston Michael Iles Rob 1987 The archaeology of Avon Bristol Avon County Council ISBN 0 86063 282 2 Pagans Hill temple Curse tablets from Roman Britain Retrieved 14 November 2010 MacInnes Charles Malcolm Whittard Walter Frederick 1973 Bristol and its adjoining counties p 174 Dunning Robert 1983 A History of Somerset Chichester Phillimore amp Co ISBN 0 85033 461 6 Rodwell Warwick 1980 Temples Churches and Religion Recent Research in Roman Britain Chichester British Archaeological Reports ISBN 0 86054 085 5 Ford David Nash Narrative History of the County of Somerset Britannia Archived from the original on 12 November 2006 Retrieved 3 January 2007 Rahtz P Harris L G 1958 The temple well and other buildings at Pagans Hill Chew Stoke North Somersetshire Proceedings of the Somersetshire Archaeological and Natural History Society 25 51 Rahtz P Watts L 1991 Pagans Hill revisited The Archaeological Journal 46 Hucker Ernest 1997 Chew Stoke recalled in old photographs Ernest Hucker a b Boon George C 1989 A Roman sculpture rehabilitated The Pagans Hill dog Britannia Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies 20 201 217 doi 10 2307 526163 JSTOR 526163 Gelling Margaret Temples in Somerset and neighbouring areas PDF Archeology Data Service Retrieved 3 January 2007 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pagans Hill Roman temple amp oldid 1110411406, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
