Jordan Hill Roman Temple
Encyclopedia
Jordan Hill Roman Temple is a Roman
ruin situated on Jordan Hill
above Bowleaze Cove
in the eastern suburbs of Weymouth in Dorset, England. .
Amateur excavations in 1843 found coins
that suggest the site was used in the 4th century, during the later years of the Roman occupation. The Roman temple
is thought to have been pagan
, as similar archaeology nearby at Maiden Castle
and at Lydney
in Gloucestershire show a resurgence of paganism at this time.
In the 20th century the site became the property of the Ministry of Works and is currently in the guardianship of English Heritage
.
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
ruin situated on Jordan Hill
Jordan Hill, Dorset
Jordan Hill is located near the coast close to the village of Preston, just to the east of Weymouth, Dorset, England. The hill leads down to Furzy Cliff on the coast to the south. Close by to the east is Bowleaze Cove...
above Bowleaze Cove
Bowleaze Cove
Bowleaze Cove is a small sand and shingle beach, near the village of Preston, just to the northeast of Weymouth, Dorset, England. The beach is a popular family beach during the summer season and it has a slipway for launching small craft including jet skis...
in the eastern suburbs of Weymouth in Dorset, England. .
Amateur excavations in 1843 found coins
Roman currency
The Roman currency during most of the Roman Republic and the western half of the Roman Empire consisted of coins including the aureus , the denarius , the sestertius , the dupondius , and the as...
that suggest the site was used in the 4th century, during the later years of the Roman occupation. The Roman temple
Roman temple
Ancient Roman temples are among the most visible archaeological remains of Roman culture, and are a significant source for Roman architecture. Their construction and maintenance was a major part of ancient Roman religion. The main room housed the cult image of the deity to whom the temple was...
is thought to have been pagan
Paganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
, as similar archaeology nearby at Maiden Castle
Maiden Castle, Dorset
Maiden Castle is an Iron Age hill fort south west of Dorchester, in the English county of Dorset. Hill forts were fortified hill-top settlements constructed across Britain during the Iron Age...
and at Lydney
Lydney
Lydney is a small town and civil parish in the English county of Gloucestershire. It is located on the west bank of the River Severn, close to the Forest of Dean. The town lies on the A48 road, next to the Lydney Park gardens with its Roman temple in honour of Nodens.-Transport:The Severn Railway...
in Gloucestershire show a resurgence of paganism at this time.
In the 20th century the site became the property of the Ministry of Works and is currently in the guardianship of English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
.