Pete's Favourite Things

Probably the most fascinating thing about the Villa is the finding of a cult room in a cellar. The original pagan shrine appears to have been dedicated to a water deity, perhaps not surprising given that the river Darent flows through the grounds of the villa.

Well like structure in Cult room

Niche in Cult room for statue or idol

it appears that sometime in the third century, the nature of the worship in this room changed and two male busts were found here. It has been suggested that this constituted a change to a form of ancestor worship or of a household deity.

In the fourth century the room above the cult room was converted into a Christian chapel as indicated by the paintings of Christian worshippers and the presence of the Chi-rho symbol. This Christian house church is a unique discovery in Roman Britain.

Picture of Chi-rho symbol from wall paintings

Picture of christian worshipers from wall painting

One further intriguing suggestion is that both rooms may have been in operation at the same time. Was this a family hedging its bets or one refusing to go completely with the new religion of the Empire?

One of the most interesting features of this villa is the central dining room and its mosaics. These date from the mid 4th century and evidence suggests that this impressive dining room which is situated in the centre of the main building was probably added around this time. There are two mosaics one depicting the abduction of Princess Europa by the god Jupiter, disguised as a ball, and the second, which depicts Bellerophon slaying the Chimera.

This room must’ve been the showpiece of the villa and it is easy to imagine its residents as they declined in their dining room looking out over the valley below.

Photo by Loz Pocock (http://www.flickr.com/photos/blahflowers/)

Photo by Loz Pocock (http://www.flickr.com/photos/blahflowers/)

Unfortunately, this is the only in situ mosaic in the Villa and so it is difficult to estimate whether all the other rooms were decorated in such an opulent style or whether it was only confined to this the most public of rooms,

Visited Lullingstone Roman villa which is situated in Eynsford in Kent.

photo by Scott (http://www.flickr.com/photos/protactinium/)

One of the unique features of this villa is that it appears to span the entire time period of the Roman occupation. The first structure was estimated to have been built around 82 CE and was expanded on at least three occasions up until the fifth century when it seems as though a fire damaged the Villa and it was finally abandoned.

There has been some suggestion that this villa may have served as a country residence for the governor of the province of Britannia. This idea is based upon the finding of a bust identified as Pertinax, Governor of Britain in 185 to 186 CE (and later Emperor for approximately 3 months in 192 to 193 CE, following the assassination of The Emperor Commodus). In addition to this a personal seal of the British governor has also been found on the site.

Copy of bust found at Lullingstone suggested to be of Pertinax

Personally, I confess I’m a little doubtful about this association as I would imagine that the governor of a major Roman province would have a much larger house and it would be much more elaborately decorated.

The villa was rediscovered in 1750 when the fence around Lullingtone Deerpark was being renewed, when a post hole broke through a Roman mosaic. These finds were duly noted and more evidence of a Roman villa was noted when tesserae were found in 1939 after a tree had been blown over in a gale disturbing the ground which had been planted. A proper excavation was conducted between 1949 and 1961 which exposed the Remains of the Villa as it is seen today.

phot by Ian May (http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyebee/)