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.
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.
The original wall paintings are in the British Museum
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?
Pete's Favourite Things 