Horkstow Roman villa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Horkstow Roman villa |
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The 'chariot race' mosaic from Horkstow villa
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Romano-British Villa |
| Location | Horkstow, North Lincolnshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Construction started | c.4th century |
The Horkstow Roman villa is an ancient Roman country house located in Horkstow, North Lincolnshire, England. It is a very important historical site, protected as a scheduled monument. This amazing villa was first discovered in 1797 when workers found a huge, beautiful floor mosaic.
Even though parts of the villa were found over 200 years ago, we still don't know its full size or layout. In 1987, scientists used special equipment to look underground. They found signs of more buildings and walls between where the mosaic was found and a nearby building called Horkstow Hall. This tells us there's still more to learn about this ancient Roman home!
Amazing Roman Mosaics
The most exciting discovery at Horkstow was its incredible floor mosaics! Mosaics are like giant pictures made from tiny colored stones or pieces of glass. These beautiful Roman mosaics were kept in their original spot until 1927.
Where are the Mosaics Now?
In 1927, the mosaics were carefully moved to the British Museum in London. Later, in 1976, they found a new home at the Hull and East Riding Museum. This means you can still see these ancient artworks today!
What Do the Mosaics Show?
The Horkstow mosaic is made up of three large sections, each telling a different story:
- The first section shows Orpheus. He was a famous musician in ancient Greek myths. This type of Orpheus mosaic was popular in Roman Britain. The Horkstow one is one of only two found so far north in England. The other is at the nearby Winterton Roman villa.
- The second section is called the 'painted ceiling' mosaic. It features several scenes from ancient Greek and Roman stories.
- The third section shows an exciting chariot race. Imagine watching ancient Roman chariots speeding around a track!
