In about 240 AD the temple of Mithras, or, the cult of Mithras, was built on the east bank of the Walbrook stream in Londinium (Museum of London). The romans believed that each individuals place had a “genius”, which the rational powers and abilities of every human being were attributed to their soul, and this “genius” was the gods (Lewis). Mithras was the god of heavenly light who was adopted to the Roman world from Persia and the eastern Mediterranean. The cult of Mithras was organized as a secret society for men only, mostly army man, which demanded honesty, purity and courage from its followers (Museum of London).
During the 4th century, the finest sculptures were buried under the temple floor; it is unknown whether Mithraists buried them for protection or by later worshippers out of respect for a past religion (Museum of London). The temple of Mithras is perhaps the most famous of all twentieth-century Roman discoveries in the City of London, during rebuilding work in 1954.
With the withdrawal of the Roman Empire on the city of London came also the extraction of the Roman gods faith. Medieval London was taken by people who prayed to saints asking them to intercede for them with God. London’s first cathedral built by the Anglo-Saxon was destroyed by fire in 1087. Following the fire the church is rebuilt again by the Normans, after 1241 recruits began almost immediately on extending the east end in the new gothic style (Museum of London). To show they were devout Christians, Londoners went on pilgrimages to distant shrines where the body of a saint or some other holy relic was preserved. Many of the saints were adopted from the religion in different countries, but London’s own saints were displayed in the common seal of the c...
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...ity a taste of different believes and costumes. The romans have different gods to worship, who preform different tasks for their every day life necessities (Orr). While the medieval Londoners were more concerned on the state of the soul and the display that religion portrayed for the city of London. In some way we can assume and consider that the roman gods are equivalents to the saints of medieval London.
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There are many distinct differences between Medieval society as illustrated by Achen in 800 AD and Roman society as illustrated by Pompeii in 79 AD, with some similarities. There are many aspects to examine, such as education, religion, tolerance, social classes, materialism, view of time, infra-structure, trade and cities.
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It was Roman myths of origin which imparted the most quintessentially Roman qualities onto the city and its people. Since Rome’s founders first exhibited the desire for conflict, so too has Rome. The sense of divine protection of such importance to the city’s people, is a direct product of the creation myths. The myths also provided evidence of the honour found within rusticity, giving rise to the value Romans placed on thrift and simple living. The myths of origin also stipulated the nobility of Rome’s founders, who would come to reflect the nobility of later Romans. The broad implications of the creation myths on Roman society, were felt most sharply by women, who were subjugated throughout the city’s history. Rome is deeply reflective of its myths of origin, as it was the myths which shaped the city into what it became.
Throughout the history of Rome, from the monarchy to the late empire, religion had played a great role in it's society and was involved in almost every aspect of the life of the Roman citizen. It was common for each house to have it's own patron god/gods and ,on special occasions, the head of the house would make a sacrifice to the personal gods of the family. Also, great festivals were usually held in honor of certain gods and would include spectacles like chariot races and Gladiatorial fights.
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