Villa at Lullingstone

Lullingstone Roman Villa Lullingstone Roman Villa, Britannia (UK)

Christians at prayer This wall painting was found at Lullingstone, Kent, in the Darenth valley, when the remains of a Roman villa were excavated in 1949. The villa had been built in the late first century AD, and altered and extended several times in the succeeding 300 years. There was evidence for pagan worship at the site well into the fourth century AD, but eventually the family which ran the estate adopted Christianity. At this early date in the history of Christianity, house-chapels and other types of accommodation must have been at least as common as purpose-built churches. A small suite of first-floor rooms at Lullingstone (probably provided with external access) was set aside as a Christian place of worship.

The walls were decorated with elaborate paintings on Christian themes, which have been partially reconstructed. This area shows a frieze of praying figures. The figures pose with upraised hands in an attitude still used by Christian priests when praying before a congregation.

G. de la Bédoyère, Roman villas and the countrysi (London, Batsford/English heritage, 1993)

G.W. Meates, The Roman Villa at Lullingston (Maidstone, Kent Archaeological Society, 1987)

C. Thomas, Christianity in Roman Britain (London, Batsford Academic and Educational, 1981)

Roman marble bust Roman marble bust, found at the Roman villa at Lullingstone.

Lullingston Chi Rho fresco Modern restoration of the fresco containing the Christian symbol of the Chi Rho from the Roman Villa at Lullingstone, now at the British Museum, London.

Lullingstone Roman Villa, model. Model of the Lullingstone Roman Villa, Britannia (UK).

Les environs:

Localisation:

Royaume-Uni, Eynsford
geo:51.364182,0.19649
Précision ± 5-25 m.

Classification:

Villa rustica
Visible

Identificateurs:

vici:place=6595

Annotations

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The Roman Villa at Lullingstone, Kent. The Roman Villa at Lullingstone was first built in about AD75 and developed over the following 350 years. Following excavation between 1947 and 1963 it is now owned by English Heritage¹.This villa complex consists of a villa with rich mosaic tiled floors, a granary, shrine, kitchen and mausoleum.