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Temple of Claudius at Colchester

Temple of Claudius at Colchester. Andrew Delaney. Key Facts. 44AD T his was the grandest of all Roman buildings built in Colonia Claudia (Colchester), the first capital of Roman Britain The Romans saw the temple as a symbol of their power and success. Pre-Revolt.

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Temple of Claudius at Colchester

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  1. Temple of Claudius at Colchester Andrew Delaney

  2. Key Facts • 44AD • This was the grandest of all Roman buildings built in Colonia Claudia (Colchester), the first capital of Roman Britain • The Romans saw the temple as a symbol of their power and success

  3. Pre-Revolt • Nothing like it had ever been seen in Britain before. • Within the temple stood a life-size bronze statue of the Emperor Claudius, of which the head still survives. • The local tribal magnates were recruited into the temple cult • But the financial burden of running the temple and the arrogant maltreatment of the locals by the colonists was to cause resentment which boiled into the Boudiccan revolt

  4. Boudiccan revolt – 60/61AD • The lack of soldiers stationed at Colchester and the prospect of destroying a major Roman town led the Iceni tribe to lay siege on Colchester. • Boudica's Army set fire to the temple killing all those held up inside and the whole city was eventually destroyed by the fire. •  Even today a layer of ash can be found under the surface where the ancient city once stood

  5. Function • Worship of Emperor Claudius, Imperial Cult. • To house the head from a life-size bronze statue of Claudius, found in the River Alde in 1907, roughly 30 miles from Colchester, could perhaps have been broken from a statue in the temple by Boudicca's forces and carried off as a trophy, although this cannot be more than a guess unless more evidence is found.

  6. Description • 8 x 11 • 12 columns prostyle • 14 steps • Built on a huge podium (80 x 105ft) • Altar in front of temple • Marble • Built to commemorate Claudius’ invasion of Britain

  7. Additional relevant topics • Religion • Architecture • Economy • Romanisation

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