Ritual

"An understanding of religious beliefs and practices is often essential when trying to understand different societies, both those in the past and also those in the present. In the case of Roman Britain we are faced with various situations: the traditions of the indigenous Celts; the beliefs and practices of the pagan Romans; various religions which originated much further to the east than Rome and which were brought to Britain by soldiers, administrators and traders; the dynamics of culture contact between the different social groups (especially the fusion of Roman and native cults); and changes over time. The role of religion in Roman times was very important and affected many aspects of everyday life and involved a duality of both public and domestic religious rituals. Religious practices were therefore undertaken in various 'landscapes' including: urban, rural, temple complexes, shrines, cemeteries and households. This volume provides up-to-date reviews of the evidence for different religious beliefs, practices and types of site within South-East Britain generally, but for London, Surrey, Sussex and Kent in particular." "This book will be of interest and use to a wide range of people: professional and amateur archaeologists, classicists, students and the general public who have an interest in the Roman period."--BOOK JACKET.