Comments on: The Spitalfields Roman Woman

By: Ravinath Kirindhe

Ravinath Kirindhe — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 18:17:55 +0000

On a previous article it was mentioned that this lady was probably in her teens when she was married to top powerful Roman administrator who would have been twice her age. Women marring men of power twice or thrise their age was the custom not only in those days but it goes on even nowadays it seems. Her parents with close connections to the Senate or the Caesar himself would have given her in marriage with great expectations and then for her to pass away so young so far away from home is rather sad.

Perhaps she was bumped off probably because she had an affair with a younger man and would have considered a security threat to the Roman rule. As a cover up the Romans would have given her an elaborate funeral with all kinds of paraphernalia buried with her. Also it’s interesting to see the work of art on the coffin lid. Those shells on the lid – does it mean she was an Admiral’s daughter.

By: Pamela Traves

Pamela Traves — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 14:33:43 +0000

This is so Amazing!! I hope that they can learn more about this Lovely Young Woman. Thank You So Very Much!!

By: Saige Jane England

Saige Jane England — Sat, 27 Jul 2019 04:28:01 +0000

Another fabulous article full of insightful information and such great photos thank you. I wonder how many of us are descended from Romans like this woman, how many have that North African ancestry. We are so much more mixed than we have been led to believe, our blood runs thick with the cultures of many. These heritages are fascinating. Like many, I have found that my deep DNA via gedmatch throws up all sorts of links, connecting me to rich parts of the world and people who travelled far and wide to reach the cold isles of Britain. I only wish we could reach back through the years and ask them to speak to us. Keep up the great work.

By: Andrea Hay

Andrea Hay — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 18:39:40 +0000

I remember this lady and her burial being the subject of an episode of Meet The Ancestors several years ago. This included a facial reconstruction in clay, complete with elaborate hair in the Roman fashion. It was quite awe-inspiring to meet this woman and her possessions when I visited the Museum Of London as a result of watching this episode.

By: Gary Arber

Gary Arber — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 17:39:08 +0000

The lady in that burial was treated far better than the one found in Armagh Road, Bow in around the 1960’s. The gas men digging to repair a pipe in Armagh Road hit this slab of stone and when it was removed it was a sarcophagus of the same size and thickness as the one in the photos
The authorities wanted to take it to the museum but the vicar of St. Paul’s Church in St. Stephen’s Road said that it must be displayed at the back of the Church for the local people to see.
The body was the wife of a Roman man but when the man died they opened it up and put his body into it. What we saw was the male skeleton laid out in all of his glory and his poor wife swept into a pile of bones at his feet. The sarcophagus was forgotten for many years and eventually the bones were taken by someone researching illnesses and the sarcophagus remained until the Church was altered. Health and safety was different in those days, in the pictures in the blog the researchers were in white overalls and face masks. but in the days when we were looking in the Church the lid was laid alongside the coffin and everything was left unattended. I picked up and examined an interesting pin that was beside the body,I am now 87 so I suffered no ill effects.
Gary

By: gkbowood

gkbowood — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 16:33:44 +0000

Such lovely teeth! I bet she had a wonderful smile…

By: Carol Onstad

Carol Onstad — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 14:50:23 +0000

I feel compelled now to visit the Spitalfields
area if it is possible.

By: Heather Cole

Heather Cole — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 14:45:02 +0000

In the midst of life — Death. Incredibly moving.

By: Laura Williamson

Laura Williamson — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 13:48:52 +0000

I’ve been reading about the Roman period girl discovered when the Baltic Exchange was demolished and the Gherkin built. She was eventually reburied with great respect close to that site. It would be nice to think that eventually perhaps this lady could return to Spitalfields, to what was her resting place for so long.

By: Paul Loften

Paul Loften — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 10:54:54 +0000

Will we ever know who she was ? Perhaps these once venerated remains say that all of us are like dust in the wind.
Thank you for this most interesting story