Empire: World History

384. The Roman Invasion: Gods on Hadrian’s Wall (Ep 2)

45 min

The episode examines the religious syncretism of Roman Britain, focusing on how the empire absorbed Celtic deities like Coventina and Antenociticus rather than suppressing them. Historian Eleanor Barraclough explains that Rome's persecution of Druids was political, not theological, and that on Hadrian's Wall, soldiers freely worshipped local gods alongside Persian imports like Mithras. The discussion highlights how polytheism allowed for a blending of beliefs, from the healing springs of Bath to the military forts of the north.

Summarized by Podsumo

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✨ Key Takeaways

1

Roman tolerance of Celtic gods was pragmatic—they persecuted Druids for political power, not religion.
2

Fusion art on Hadrian's Wall, like the dragon-esque brooch, blended Celtic and Roman styles.
3

Mithraism, a Persian mystery cult, thrived among soldiers in underground temples.
4

Curse tablets from Bath reveal everyday people asking Sulis Minerva for justice over stolen items.
5

Christianity arrived slowly; paganism persisted alongside it for centuries.

💬 Notable Quotes

"The gods themselves, as far as the Romans are concerned, are actually quite a big deal. It's not 'our way or the highway'—it's 'nice to meet your version of this god, let's see what we can do.'"

— Eleanor Barraclough
"The Romans are fine with other sorts of sacrifice. Human sacrifice has most definitely been outlawed, and this is something they really, really don't like."

— Eleanor Barraclough
"The idea behind this series came last summer… what really struck me was the sheer religious variety of all these Roman altars put up by guys in and around the wall."

— William Dalrymple