Romano-Celtic temple

The architecture of Romano-Celtic temples differs from classical Roman conventions, and archeological evidence demonstrates continuity with pre-Roman Celtic forms.

In French, Spanish, Italian and German scholarship, Celtic temples of the Roman empire are called fanums.

[3] A Roman-Celtic temple consisted of a box-like or tower-like main room (cella), of variable height, surrounded by an ambulatory or veranda[5] built from stone, wood or both.

[5] The main temple building usually stood within a sacred enclosure (temenos) along with other religious structures, which was usually marked off by a wall, palisade and ditch.

In Aquae Sulis (modern Bath, England), an altar was dedicated by a haruspex;[15] this religious role may have existed elsewhere in Britannia as well.

[15] Gallo-Roman temples have been found throughout the region settled by the ancient Gauls, including France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, in both cities and the countryside.

These temples would have been closed at the end of the 4th century by late Roman imperial anti-pagan laws, but many had already been slowly abandoned during the preceding period, their cults having been neglected or the locality depopulated.

The sanctuaries of Ribement-sur-Ancre, Corent, and Saint-Georges Abbey in Boscherville are good examples that show how Celtic temples evolved.

The architecture demonstrates a synthesis of local and Classical traditions, comprising a Celtic cella and a Roman pronaos surrounded by a low enclosure.

Prominent places within a landscape were also chosen as sites for Romano-Celtic temples, such as on top of a hill like the huge Iron Age Hillfort at Maiden Castle, Dorset or on a coastal promontory such as at Brean Down, Somerset.

The off-central location of the temple has been held to imply that a sacred grove or tree occupied the most important position within the temenos One of at least seven found at Roman Colchester.