In 1812 near the village of Withington, two antiquarians, Samuel Lysons (the son of the vicar of Rodmarton) and H. C. Brooke, excavated a Roman villa site. This villa, like most of those discovered in the Cotswolds, was high status and was suitably adorned with a series of mosaics. Thanks to Samuel Lysons’s and R. […]
After several months of work to get it off the ground, Corinium Museum staff Michaela Lennox and Phill Brant-Simmons started a Young Archaeologists’ Club (YAC) at the museum. YACs are held all over the country and provide a unique opportunity for 8 to 16-year-olds to learn about archaeology, and have plenty of fun at the […]
Ahhh the joys of working with children. Sometimes I may joke about the trials, but the delightful reality of my job is that the big ideas that come out of small people absolutely make the (sometimes) difficult world worth bearing. They make me laugh, they are endearing, and they share thoughts with me that took […]
This year we have been celebrating the 200th anniversary of the discovery of the Roman Orpheus Mosaic, but 2025 also marks 50 years since the discovery of the Venus mosaic from Kingscote. The mosaic was discovered as part of an extensive archaeological dig in fields called the Chessalls during the mid-1970s, which revealed the presence of […]
Paternoster school in Cirencester lies in the centre of the Roman town, just off from where the fort stood. Being right in the centre of Corinium, it is rich in Roman archaeology and has been the site of several archaeological digs over the years. The earliest dig happened in 1958 led by Miss D. Rennie, […]
Some 200 years ago, an act was passed in Parliament: “an act for paving, cleansing, draining lighting, watching, regulating and improving the Town of Cirencester”. So far, so yawn inducing, you might think. However, the outcomes of this act had enormous consequences for the town. The act went on – “the Footpaths … within the […]
11th November is Armistice Day, which was originally marked the end of the First World War, honouring those who died in the conflict. Remembrance Sunday is a chance to remember and honour the service and sacrifice those from Britain and the Commonwealth who fought in the First and Second World War and other conflicts. As […]
My name is Amber Swanson, and I’m a conservation student from the United States, currently gaining experience in the UK at the Withington Villa excavations while preparing for graduate study. I’ve known the archaeologists from the Withington Villa excavation for some time, having worked with them on an excavation in Turkey, and it was through […]
In recent years, Greek and Roman mythology have gained renewed popularity among the public, with modern retellings of their myths appearing in various formats. From books to musicals to films, these contemporary adaptations take classic stories and characters, giving them a fresh style for us to enjoy. One such figure is the bard Orpheus, who […]
We know that Roman mosaics held religious connotations linked to paganism, as evidenced by many mosaics featuring their gods and mythology. The Barton Farm Orpheus mosaic, housed at the Corinium Museum, exemplifies this. However, some suggest that other religions, such as Christianity and native deities, have also influenced the depictions of Orpheus in these mosaics. […]
