Lullingstone Villa

LocationLocated in KentCantiaci/Cantii tribeNear Watling Street and Stane Street

LondonCanterburyChichester

Pre-Roman occupationWattle and daub Believed to have been a farming settlementLike this until c. 80ADSuggests the farmer was being Romanised

during the early stages of their rule

First building80-90ADFlint and mortar walls Likely that help from the Empire was called

upon due to probable lack of expertise in stone building in Britain

Basic rectangular structureThatched roof

Circular TempleSecond Century AD constructionSmall, only fifteen feet internal diameter Red and yellow tessellated floorEvidence for ritual firesNo altar or cult statue/devotions foundDismantled in c.300AD to allow for the

building of a larger structure

BathsLate second century additionNo apodyterium, would change in the

frigidariumPlunge pool included, but became shallower

over timeWater taken from a twelve-feet deep wellNo trace of hypocaust system remains

Cult RoomsTwo rooms added in the second centuryOne room had its walls painted in red, yellow

and green, of which many examples existed in Roman Gaul and Britain

The Deep Room was dedicated to the water goddess and extravagantly decoratedBack wall covered in fresco of three Water

NymphsWalls in corridor, too, were painted, showing

that this section of the second century villa was very important

Who owned it?

Very wealthyAbandoned in c. 200 AD“Two marble busts from the 2nd century

found in the cellar perhaps depict the owners or residents of the villa, which may have been the designated country retreat of the provincial governors. There is some evidence that the busts are those of Pertinax, governor of Britannia in 185-186, and his father”

Third CenturyRe-occupied in c.280 ADKitchen modified to be a tannery, with two

pits dug into the chalkStairway to the Deep Room blockedRoom with heating system built atop the old

staircase Granary also constructed

Fourth Century

Temple-MausoleumConstructed c. 300 ADDesigned for burial of young man and womanFocused around a cult statue with pillars

surrounding it

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&docid=fMxVa-_LxeECjM&tbnid=MaBIhbyNNNvwcM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.heritage-explorer.co.uk/web/he/searchdetail.aspx?id=10739&crit=lullingstone&ei=0szvUpDjF5KV0QXr_oGACA&psig=AFQjCNFU5YqKNgRxUM1JfXPOUKqu1nm26A&ust=1391533632785766

Mosaic floorsLaid down between c. 330 AD and

Christianity In the apse area which was newly built with a

reception room and a dining roomDining room mosaic depicts the abduction of

Europa by JupiterReception room mosaic depicts Bellerophon

riding Pegasus killing the Chimeara

Mosaics

Christian ChapelOwner seemingly embraced Christianity

when it was introduced, as the rooms were built between c. 360-370 AD

Pillared portico painted on wallBetween pillars were depictions of praying

Christians

c. 400 AD, the buildings were destroyed in a devastating fire

Thank You