From 'Civic' to 'Urban' Religion in Roman Britain

For Roman Britain there has been much discussion of both urbanism and religion but surprisingly little consideration of religion as an urban phenomenon. A certain tension exists between the ways that the two subjects have been approached. On the one hand towns have typically been seen as the most pronounced expressions of a move toward a more Roman way of life in the province. On the other hand religion is seen as the area of culture where local traditions remained strongest. Moreover, a distinction is often implied between more Roman-looking and more 'civic' aspects of the province's religion and more indigenous-looking aspects that are sometimes seen as more 'rural'. This article examines these tensions and explores the role played by religion in creating a form of urban life unique to the province.