The Temple of Sulis Minerva
The head of Sulis Minerva
“The priests who offered worship all their lives... obtained by their service the favour of the Gods.” (Manilius, Astronomica 19, 1st Century A.D.)
Who was Gaius Calpurnius Receptus?
Gaius was the first priest in charge of the Temple Of Sulis Minerva. He led religious ceremonies in the Temple and its courtyard. He may also have been the leading official in the walled area of Aquae Sulis.
His gravestone is in the shape of an altar. It is the only memorial from Roman Britain in which the occupation of the deceased is reflected in the shape of funerary monument.
His gravestone is in the shape of an altar. It is the only memorial from Roman Britain in which the occupation of the deceased is reflected in the shape of funerary monument.
Basic Information...
Roman citizens in the temple courtyard
The Temple, with its Gorgon’s head pediment, stood facing the open courtyard and great altar. Only three of the steps that led up to the Temple can be seen. (The pagan Temple may have been destroyed by Christians in the 7th century when a monastery was founded at Bath.)
The Temple is in the middle of the open-air Temple courtyard. This is where most of the ceremonies take place. In front of the Temple is the great altar where the priests make sacrifices to Sulis Minerva. They kill cows, sheep and pigs and give them to the goddess.
On each side of the courtyard are other big buildings. The gateway to the Spring building has a picture of the sun at the top. The other building has pictures of the four seasons: winter, spring, summer and autumn.
The Temple is in the middle of the open-air Temple courtyard. This is where most of the ceremonies take place. In front of the Temple is the great altar where the priests make sacrifices to Sulis Minerva. They kill cows, sheep and pigs and give them to the goddess.
On each side of the courtyard are other big buildings. The gateway to the Spring building has a picture of the sun at the top. The other building has pictures of the four seasons: winter, spring, summer and autumn.
Gods and Goddesses
Aesculapius
Those seeking divine help for an illness or affliction might rest overnight in special temple buildings. On waking, priests of the Roman god of healing, Aesculapius, helped them interpret their dreams of visions.
Mercury
The messenger of the gods and patron of traders, shopkeepers, and thieves. He was a very popular god in the western provinces of the Empire.
Three Mother Goddesses
The three mother goddesses were worshipped throughout the Celtic lands of the western Empire, and sometimes given local names.
Rosmerta
Rosmerta is a Celtic goddess known as the great provider. Here she has her source of plenty, a wooden bucket. The cloaked figures below are genii cucullati, Celtic spirits that are often shown in threes.
Those seeking divine help for an illness or affliction might rest overnight in special temple buildings. On waking, priests of the Roman god of healing, Aesculapius, helped them interpret their dreams of visions.
Mercury
The messenger of the gods and patron of traders, shopkeepers, and thieves. He was a very popular god in the western provinces of the Empire.
Three Mother Goddesses
The three mother goddesses were worshipped throughout the Celtic lands of the western Empire, and sometimes given local names.
Rosmerta
Rosmerta is a Celtic goddess known as the great provider. Here she has her source of plenty, a wooden bucket. The cloaked figures below are genii cucullati, Celtic spirits that are often shown in threes.
Offerings to the Goddess
Many thousands of people must have visited the Sacred Spring during the Roman period. Nobody knows who they were or exactly why they came. The gifts and messages they threw into the spring for the goddess Sulis Minerva give people some clues.
What was given? Which people gave what?
The temple and the spring might have been the main centre of worship for the local people. These offerings could have related to their work or been bouthdfd on the many stalls near the Temple.
Jewellery, combs, and spindle whorls show that women gave gifts to Sulis Minerva in addition to over 12,000 Roman coins found in the spring, spanning the entire period of occupation of Britain, for the 1st to the late 4th century A.D. Even the soldiers from the Legionaries and would have come to the springs in the hope of benefiting from Minerva’s military powers.
Messages to the Goddess
Pewter curses were written in Latin as personal messages to the goddess and were only to be read by Priests. People may have written the curses themselves or paid an official scribe if they did not know how to write Latin. Most of the curses deal with the theft of items and ask for the goddess’s help in getting the items returned. Many of the items could have been stolen from the changing rooms in the baths while the owners were bathing! These items included bracelets and gloves.
Many thousands of people must have visited the Sacred Spring during the Roman period. Nobody knows who they were or exactly why they came. The gifts and messages they threw into the spring for the goddess Sulis Minerva give people some clues.
What was given? Which people gave what?
The temple and the spring might have been the main centre of worship for the local people. These offerings could have related to their work or been bouthdfd on the many stalls near the Temple.
Jewellery, combs, and spindle whorls show that women gave gifts to Sulis Minerva in addition to over 12,000 Roman coins found in the spring, spanning the entire period of occupation of Britain, for the 1st to the late 4th century A.D. Even the soldiers from the Legionaries and would have come to the springs in the hope of benefiting from Minerva’s military powers.
Messages to the Goddess
Pewter curses were written in Latin as personal messages to the goddess and were only to be read by Priests. People may have written the curses themselves or paid an official scribe if they did not know how to write Latin. Most of the curses deal with the theft of items and ask for the goddess’s help in getting the items returned. Many of the items could have been stolen from the changing rooms in the baths while the owners were bathing! These items included bracelets and gloves.
Special Parts of the Temple Complex...
The Altar
The Temple Courtyard
Worshippers would have entered the open Temple courtyard through this entrance to attend religious ceremonies, which would have taken place around the great, alter.
The Altar
The sacrificial altar was the focus for public worship where priests conducted ceremonies and animal sacrifices. There are the carvings of Hercules Bibax on the left and Baccus on the right of the altar.
Worshippers would have entered the open Temple courtyard through this entrance to attend religious ceremonies, which would have taken place around the great, alter.
The Altar
The sacrificial altar was the focus for public worship where priests conducted ceremonies and animal sacrifices. There are the carvings of Hercules Bibax on the left and Baccus on the right of the altar.