Temple in Greenwich Park
The Roman temple in Greenwich Park in London was discovered in 1902 and partially excavated. Further research took place in the 1920s and 1970s, with the identification of the Roman remains in Greenwich Park as a temple being conjecture. Further excavations took place in 1999.
During the various excavations, the remains of several Roman stone buildings were found. None of the buildings has been completely excavated so that a complete plan is not available. Even the first excavations were rich in finds that testified that an important, probably public building stood here. Among the finds were about 350 coins that date from the time of the emperor Marcus Antonius to under Honorius . There were inscriptions on marble and sandstone, ivory work and the right arm of a limestone statue as well as two column bases. The more recent excavations in turn produced numerous coins dating from Vespasianus to Theodosius I. Noteworthy is a coin from Emperor Laelianus , who ruled only briefly in 269 and of which only a few coins are known. Remnants of high quality wall paintings have been found.
The surviving texts are very fragmentary, but probably come from four independent inscriptions.
The interpretation of the complex is open, but the interpretation as a Gallo-Roman temple is most likely. Especially the findings of the inscriptions seem to rule out the interpretation as a villa. The facility is not located within an ancient settlement. The next Roman settlement is believed to be at Plumstead .
The location of the temple is now marked with a sign in the park. However, there are no ancient remains to be seen.
literature
- Becky Wallower: Roman temple complex in Greenwich Park? Part 1 , in: London Archaeologist 10 (2) (2002), pp. 46-54 online
- Becky Wallower: Roman temple complex in Greenwich Park? Part 2 , in: London Archaeologist 10 (3) (2002), pp. 76-81 online
Web links
Coordinates: 51 ° 28 ′ 43.4 ″ N , 0 ° 0 ′ 16.6 ″ E