Religion in Late Roman Britain: Forces of Change

by Dorothy Watts

Overview

Religion in Late Roman Britain explores the changes in religion over the fourth century; the historical background for these changes and the forces which contributed to them.
Dorothy Watts examines the reasons for the decline of Christianity and the continuation of the pagan, Celtic cults in Britain. The author establishes a chronology for the rise and decline of Christianity, based on the available archaeological evidence, and she charts the fate of the pagan cults and temples in the fourth century. The author discusses the nature of Romano-British pagan religion and she analyses the controversial rite of decapitated burial in the light of some startling new archaeological evidence.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415118552
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	04/16/1998
Pages:	220
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Dr Dorothy Watts is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Classics and Ancient History, University of Queensland and is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London. She is the author of Christians and Pagans in Roman Britain (1991).

Table of Contents

List of Figures, Preface, 1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AD 294-360: The Empire: Diocletian, Constantine and his House, Britain: Paganism and the Rise of Christianity, 2. THE PAGAN REVIVAL OF THE LATE FOURTH CENTURY AD 360-90: The Paganism of Julian, Paganism under Julian's Successors, Paganism at Rome, The Survival and Revival of Paganism in Britain, 3. CLOSURE OF THE TEMPLES AND BEYOND: Paganism and its Survival in Britain, The Nature of the Pagan Revival in Britain, Christianity and its Fate, Political Events in Late Fourth Century and their Effects on Christianity, 4. FURTHER EVIDENCE FOR THE REVIVAL OF PAGANISM: Decapitated Burials, Combs in Late Romano-British Burials, 5.THE ECONOMY AND RELIGION IN THE LATE PERIOD: The Economy in the Fourth Century, Reasons for Decline in the Economy, Effects on Religion, 6. THE QUESTION OF SYNCRETISM: Inscriptions and Temples, The Evidence of the Cemeteries, Syncretism in Religious Art, 7. CHANGE AND CONTINUITY, Appendix 1: Religion and the Fasti 353-94, Appendix 2: A Lead Tank Fragment from Brough, Notts (Roman Crococalana), Notes, Bibliography: Archaeological and Secondary Sources, Index.

Editorial Reviews

"This is an important book with important things to say..." - Ancient, 98

'It deserves to be read with care as it is the result of considerable scholarship. I do not know of a better brief account.' - Martin Henig, The Antiquaries Journal

From the Publisher

Watts (classics and ancient history, U. of Queensland) explores why Christianity declined at the expense of native Celtic religions in fourth-century Britain. She establishes a chronology based on archaeological evidence, charts the fate of the pagan cults and temples during the century, discusses the nature of the religion, and analyzes the controversial rite of decapitated burial in light of new archaeological evidence. She argues that the religion was a dynamic construct responding to external influences. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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