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ROMAN YORK (EBORACUM): RELIGION The Romans in York worshipped a variety of deities. Soldiers in particular favoured those associated with war — Mars, Hercules, Fortuna and Victoria — and Mercury, messenger to the gods, was thought to protect traders. As well as the offical Roman cults and native British religions, mystery cults associated with death and rebirth were popular. These included the worship of the Egyptian gods Isis and Serapis, and the Persian god Mithras. Another eastern cult, Christianity, grew in popularity in the 4th century. The dead were always buried outside the city, usually along main roads. Cremation burials were common in the 1st and 2nd centuries, but by the 3rd century inhumation (burial intact) was standard. In addition to the tombs occasionally disturbed during road works, the Trust has investigated a cemetery in Blossom Street which illustrates changing burial practice during the late Roman period.
A clay figurine of Venus
Part of an altar stone depicting Mercury, the winged messenger to the gods, as a cockerel
A cornelian gemstone from a ring depicting a charioteer — thought to be Mars, god of war
A late 3rd or 4th century storage jar with stone lid associated with burials
A 3rd century glazed pottery vessel associated with the cult of Bacchus
A tazza of late 1st century date
A fragment of a face pot probably used as a cremation pot or placed in a grave |
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