Woodchester Roman Villa facts for kids
The Woodchester Roman Villa was a large Roman country house located near Woodchester in Gloucestershire, England. It was one of many Roman villas found in this area.
This villa was used by people from the early 100s AD to the late 300s AD. Today, you can't see any parts of the villa above the ground. The area where it once stood is now a churchyard.
The Amazing Orpheus Mosaic
The most famous part of the Woodchester Roman Villa is its incredible Orpheus mosaic. A mosaic is a picture or pattern made from many small pieces of colored stone or glass. This mosaic is the second largest of its kind in Europe and is known for being very detailed and beautiful.
What the Mosaic Shows
The Orpheus mosaic was made around 325 AD. It shows a figure named Orpheus, who was famous in ancient stories for his music. The mosaic shows him playing his lyre (a type of harp) and charming all kinds of animals and plants with his beautiful music. People have always admired this mosaic for how accurate and lovely it looks.
Rediscovering the Mosaic
The mosaic was first found again in 1793 by Samuel Lysons. He was an antiquarian, which means he was someone who studied old objects and history. Since 1880, the mosaic has been carefully uncovered seven times so people could see it. The last time it was revealed was in 1973. There are no plans to uncover it again in the near future, to help protect it.
A Modern Replica
Because the original mosaic is usually hidden, two brothers, John and Bob Woodward, were inspired to create a copy. Their replica mosaic was made from more than 1.5 million tiny stone pieces! This amazing copy was shown at Prinknash Abbey in Gloucester. Later, it was sold in 2010.
