Sacred Britannia: The Gods and Rituals of Roman Britain

by Miranda Aldhouse-Green

A compelling new account of religion in Roman Britain, weaving together the latest archaeological research and a new analysis of ancient literature to illuminate parallels between past and present Two thousand years ago, the Romans sought to absorb into their empire what they regarded as a remote, almost mythical island on the very edge of the known world―Britain. The expeditions of Julius Caesar and the Claudian invasion of 43 CE, up to the traditional end of Roman Britain in the fifth century CE, brought fundamental and lasting changes to the island. Not least among these was a pantheon of new classical deities and religious systems, along with a clutch of exotic eastern cults, including Christianity. But what homegrown deities, cults, and cosmologies did the Romans encounter in Britain, and how did the British react to the changes? Under Roman rule, the old gods and their adherents were challenged, adopted, adapted, absorbed, and reconfigured. Miranda Aldhouse- Green balances literary, archaeological, and iconographic evidence (and scrutinizes the shortcomings of each) to illuminate the complexity of religion and belief in Roman Britain. She examines the two-way traffic of cultural exchange and the interplay between imported and indigenous factions to reveal how this period on the cusp between prehistory and history knew many of the same tensions, ideologies, and issues of identity still relevant today. 110 illustrations

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Mythology, Religion, Ancient History, Roman Britain, British Literature

256 pages, Hardcover

First published June 28, 2018

About the author

Miranda Green was born in London and educated at Greycoat Hospital, Westminster. She took an Honours degree at University College, Cardiff and an M. Litt. at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. She gained a research scholarship at the Open University and was awarded a doctorate in 1981 for her thesis on Romano-Celtic sun-symbolism. She has received research awards from the Society of Antiquities of London and from the British Academy, and was awarded the Leverhulme Research Fellowship at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. After holding posts at Worthing and Peterborough Museums, she took up posts as Tutor in Roman Studies and full-time administrator at the Open University in Wales.

Until recently professor of archaeology at Newport University, Miranda's teaching experience ranges from leading undergraduate courses on Roman Britain and Iron Age Europe to managing and contributing to Newport's MA in Celto-Roman Studies. She has supervised more than twenty PhD and MPhil students to successful completion.

Miranda Aldhouse-Green is Tutor for the MA Archaeology programme, and is module leader for three of the MA skills modules (Research Methods, Writing Archaeology/Writing the Past and Speaking Archaeology). She lectures on Early Celtic Studies and contributes to the third-year undergraduate Theory course.

External responsibilities include membership of the Ancient Monuments Advisory Board for Wales, presidency of the Prehistoric Society (2004-6) and membership of the management board of the University of Wales Press.

Reviews

[Owen Hatherley · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Old Weird Albion'-ing of the apparently so globalised and mass-produced object world of Roman Britain, with a lot of 'it is surely not unlikely that...' Enjoyable, sometimes surprising and with a good range of illustrations but far far far too much 'in a sense, Boadicea is like Brexit'

[Steven McKay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this purely as a research book to get some background for my new novel (The Northern Throne) set in post-Roman Britain but Sacred Britannia is much more than some dry work of non-fiction.
I generally skim read my research books, underlining the odd passage and basically getting through them as fast as I can because usually they're pretty boring. Not this one! Sacred Britannia IS packed with facts and I found myself highlighting much more than I normally would as there's so many interesting little titbits stuffed inside here. And yet, it's not bland or stuffy, it's a very good read with a light touch that doesn't detract from the heavy themes (death for much of it) but instead makes it easier to take in.
I found a few things I might use in my novels but even if you're only reading this for enjoyment you're sure to get a lot out of it. Have your phone or tablet handy though, as there's lots of rabbit holes to fall down and you'll want the internet to help you research them further!
Highly recommended.

[Sam Worby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good general/academic book on religion in Roman Britain. I learnt so much about material I am pretty familiar with. The book is at the accessible end of academic writing, not afraid to draw comparisons with Star Wars or Gladiator. May sometimes push speculation too far, but it open about when this is being done and why: because we need some frame for exploring this mostly unwritten past. Worth reading for a glimpse of a very different world - the past as a foreign country.

[Anthony Batterton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a lot of good information, but tread very carefully. Aldhouse-Green has a bad tendency to overstate the case and to choose the most lurid or evocative explanation for archaeological evidence, particularly in relation to the Druids and to possible cases of human sacrifice. More prosaic explanations are downplayed or buried in endnotes. Always back up any assertion she makes with a reputable recent source.

[Rhiannon Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really useful summary and overview which brings out the theme of religion - often only a minor issue amid other concerns. As other reviewers have noted, the material is mostly not new, but it is linked and presented in different and helpful ways.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This very fascinating and very accessible book is a survey of religion and beliefs during the 400-odd years of Roman occupation in Britain. It discusses the gods and religious practices of the Romans and the gods and practices of the ancient Britons and to some extent ancient Gaul (modern day France), starting from Caesar’s expeditions to the country in 55/54 BC, through the Claudian invasion a hundred years later, and finishing at what is traditionally seen as the end of Roman Britain in the early 5th century AD.

[Beth Kakuma-Depew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very accessible writing. I just wish maybe she hadn't included allusions to the currently political climate of the U.S. References to President Trump were jarring, and will likely date the book. I get that there's a similarity, but seriously, I read about druids 2000 years ago to forget about 21st Cen America.

This book makes a great addition to other books and podcasts about Roman history.

I had to return it to the library at page 165

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sacred Britannia is an excellent academic book on religion in Roman Britain. I learnt a lot the gods and rituals of those times and it the writing is easy to take. However I was not fond of the speculation and which I felt went a little to far. Worth reading for a glimpse of a very different world in a country that I am very familiar with.

[Caleb Keen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this, it covered so many cases and ideas that kept it interesting all the way. The influence of Rome has had such a massive impact on Britain up to today, it's such a shame that so much of what made Ancient Britain the crazy and wild boundary that the Romans found, has been lost or tucked away.
Bring back paganism, send christianity back!!!

[VG · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting content, but none of it seemed especially new or exciting.

[Linda Proud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miranda Aldhouse-Green has written numerous books on the 'Celts' and is an expert on the subject. I did wonder what else she might have to say on the topic but Sacred Britannia is her best. Of course it covers old ground but also includes the most recent finds, and her style is such that it is a very companionable book - one to turn to with pleasure. As a novelist of this period, I found ideas being sparked almost one a page and I am very grateful for that. One quibble is that she does not date her examples, particularly illustrations; the period between first and fourth centuries held so much transitional change that I, for one, need to know the date as well as provenance of the pieces being discussed. That said, it is beautifully produced book and the notes at the back are very easy to refer to.

[Chris Mcmanaman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative. Made Roman Britain appear a lot more mystical than I thought. Definitely going to visit the places mentioned on my next visit to Britain. Highly recommended if you are planning a trip to Britain. It will put you on a pretty spectacular path.

[Patricia Woodruff · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read about Roman influences on Britain. Some great photos. The author also touches on similarities to other cultures, as well as pointing out what style of carving makes it distinctively "Britain".

[Oliver Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comprehensive but rather shallow account of pre-Christian British religion. This volume would likely act as a good introductory or popular historical read, but does not do enough to scratch a research itch.

[Old Bob · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too much speculation, too many assumptions and a strange reference to 'the far right ' (which in Britain right now is anyone who disagrees with our government). A shame really as I was looking forward to reading this .

[Surabhi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written and very informative, but you should not read this if you are new to european history and paganism, this book gives a lot if references about secret praying sites of various cults in Europe and their beliefs and gods like god for healing, warfare etc.