Lullingstone Roman Villa

The enclosed interior of Lullingstone Villa

Lullingstone Roman villa is situated in northwest Kent in England.

The earliest stage was built around 80 AD and it lasted until the 4th Century. It underwent several reconstructions and additions, including a heated bath block and a dining room with a fine mosaic floor with one illustration of Zeus, disguised as a bull, abducting Europa and a second depicting Bellerophon killing the Chimera.

A Romano-Celtic temple-mausoleum complex was constructed around 300 AD to hold the bodies of two young people. Although one of the lead coffins was robbed in antiquity, one still remained in situ with grave-goods, undisturbed when excavated.

The mosaic at Lullingstone Villa

In the 4th Century a group of rooms of the main building were apparently converted to Christian use, with painted plaster on the walls, including a row of figures of standing worshipers and a characteristic Christian Chi-rho symbol.

Finds include two Romano-Greek marble heads, now in the British Museum.

It was discovered in 1939 and the villa was excavated in the period 1960-1970 and is now preserved under a specially-built building.

External links

• Article on the Lullingstone mosaics
• Murals and artifacts from Lullingstone on the British Museum website