Recently I got the chance to visit Winchester City Museum, you might have seen some of my other visits to museums and siteson here (e.g. Richborough, Worthing, The Mithraeum or specific exhibitons at the British Museum such as Feminine Power, Legion or Persia to Greece). However, this visit had a personal resonance. Around 15 years ago I was in Roman kit for Legio II Augusta and we did a couple of days in the Museum during half term. I was even able to get a member of staff to take a photo of me where I stood all those years ago (thanks Katie!).
The museum is well worth a visit, there’s lots of displays (though I was headed to the Roman section). The staff are also very friendly – always an important thing.
Venta Belgarum (or Roman Winchester).
Under the Claudian invasion of AD 43 the forces of Rome headed westwards from their bases in southeast England. The area around what is now Winchester sat in the lands of the Atrebates. These were a people originally from modern day northern France, Luxembourg and Belgium, an ofshoot of which had settled in southern England in the 1st century BC. This tribe, like many in Britain, had different relationships with the other tribes there and to the north of them were the Catevellauni. It’s fair to say that the Atrebates were no friends of their neighbours to the north but they had been on good terms with the Romans. As such when Rome invaded they may have seen Rome as a useful ally. This might explain why no substantial forts are found in the area of Winchester, because there wasn’t much resistance to Rome from them.
The area around Winchester had been settled by the Atrebates before Rome arrived. However, in AD 70 Rome made a formal settlement there known as Venta Belgarum. This translates as ‘the market place of the Belgae’. The Belgae links back to the Belgic tribes which the Atrebates had come from, it’s interesting to see that this was still how they were seen. As for the reference to a market – well when it was founded the settlement was known as a civitas. Rome had various names for the settlements it founded which indicated what type they were. A civitas can be thought of as a settlement with the least oversight. They were allowed to continue with their traditions, culture and even form of government. Albeit with the caveat that Rome was in charge. Again, perhaps this was because the Atrebates were considered allies or similar to Rome. The reference to market in the name of the settlement might underpin what Venta Belgarum was about – trade and commerce.
In the following centuries Venta Belgarum became an important trading hub.
Winchester – a Roman era skeleton.
In the northern cemetery a skeleton was discovered in a wooden coffin. The skeleton belonged to a man in his mid 20s who had died around AD 330-350. In his mouth there were two coins found, possibly to pay Charon. However, what I found as interesting were some hobnails around his feet. This suggests he was buried with his boots on.
Evidence of Christianity, cults and other religions.
Objects found in and near Venta Belgarum point to a variety of religions and cults there. I’ll start with Christianity which can be evidenced from the Chi-Rho symbol.
Aside from Christianity there was the traditional gods, as it were. Below (left) are two faces from Samian pottery. The higher one is Pan (you can just about make out the horns). The lower one is of Medusa. On the right are figurine fragments of Venus.
There was also this intriguing oak statuette which is thought to have been Epona, a Celtic horse goddess.
Domestic life.
A number of items give a great window into what daily life must have been like. First up some decorated wall plaster from a house dated to the 2nd century AD.
There was also some glassware and I’m always amazed how this survived. Not only that but how the pieces survived as some were from other parts of the Roman empire. A good example of the trade networks in it.
Finally some more personal items which must have been used regularly. Just remember that Romans didn’t have buttons so brooches and pins were what you needed.
