Low Ham Roman Villa

Low Ham Roman Villa

The Low Ham Roman Villa was a Roman courtyard villa located near Low Ham in the civil parish of High Ham in the English county of Somerset. It is best known for the extraordinary figured mosaic depicting the story of Aeneas and Dido.

Discovery

The villa was discovered by a local farmer, Herbert Cook, in 1938, whilst digging a hole to bury a dead sheep. Protected from deep ploughing during World War II, it was excavated from 1946 to 1955 by H S L Dewar and C A Ralegh Radfordcite book | last = Somerset County Museum | title = The Low Ham Mosaic | date = Unknown | publisher=Somerset County Museum | location = Taunton] .

Villa

The villa appears to have been constructed around AD 340 on a gentle slope facing north-east, only about a mile from other villas at High Ham and Pitney. Aerial photography has shown that there are a number of farm buildings around a large courtyard, although the excavations concentrated on the residential west wing and bath house. The baths were particularly impressive. They featured the usual suite of rooms with a deep cold plunge bath and beautiful mosaic floor along its approach.

Mosaic floor

The large 14 foot (4.3m) square mosaic depicts the story of Aeneas and Dido, as told in the 1st century bc by the Roman poet, Virgil. Like the villa, it dates to the mid-4th century. The Low Ham mosaic is unique in Roman Britain in providing a narrative story in five panels: Aeneas sailing to Carthage, Aeneas meeting Dido, the couple out hunting, the couple embrace and Dido left alone after Aeneas' departure. It is the earliest piece of narrative art in the country. It was lifted in 1953 and is now on display in the Somerset County Museum. [cite web | last = Somerset County Council | title=The Low Ham Roman Mosaic | work=Somerset County Council Museum Collections | url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/culturecommunity/museums/somersetcollection/lowhamromanmosaic/ | accessdate=2006-08-11]

*

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Low Ham — infobox UK place country = England latitude= 51.0600 longitude= 2.8110 scale= 10000 official name= Low Ham population= shire district= South Somerset shire county = Somerset region= South West England constituency westminster= Somerton Frome post …   Wikipedia

  • North Leigh Roman Villa — Coordinates: 51°50′10″N 1°25′34″W / 51.8361°N 1.4261°W / 51.8361; 1.4261 …   Wikipedia

  • Roman sites in the United Kingdom — There are many Roman sites in the United Kingdom that are open to the public. It should be noted that there are many sites that do not require special access, including Roman roads, and sites that have not been uncovered.England*Ambleside Roman… …   Wikipedia

  • Chedworth Roman Villa — Coordinates: 51°49′12″N 1°55′28″W / 51.8201°N 1.9245°W / 51.8201; 1.9245 …   Wikipedia

  • Newport Roman Villa — Coordinates: 50°41′40″N 1°17′30″W / 50.6945°N 1.2918°W / 50.6945; 1.2918 …   Wikipedia

  • Crofton Roman Villa — Crofton Roman Villa, museum General information Location Orpington, England, Unit …   Wikipedia

  • Villa Rustica — Römische Villa Haselburg im Odenwald, Hessen, Modell des Herrenhauses Als Villa rustica (Plural villae rusticae) bezeichnet man ein Landhaus beziehungsweise Landgut im römischen Reich. Sie war Mittelpunkt eines landwirtschaftlichen Betriebs und… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Villa rustica — Römische Villa Haselburg im Odenwald, Hessen, Modell des Herrenhauses Als Villa rustica (Plural villae rusticae) bezeichnet man ein Landhaus beziehungsweise Landgut im Römischen Reich. Sie war Mittelpunkt eines landwirtschaftlichen Betriebs und… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • High Ham — infobox UK place country = England latitude= 51.0765 longitude= 2.8203 scale= 10000 official name= High Ham population= c.800 [cite web| url=http://www.british history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=15109#s4|title= High Ham History| accessdate= 2007 10 …   Wikipedia

  • List of Roman villas in England — Bold links link to a page specifically on that villa ordinary links link to an article on the town or village in or near which that villa is sited (which may or may not include information on that villa).Berkshire*Aldermaston Wharf *Basildon, dug …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”