ROMAN REMAINS IN BATH. 77 



(fön \\)t Jlnmnu Umains bisrnnertii i« 



BY THE REV. H. M. SCARTH. 



MR. Wright, in hls work called " The Celt, the Roman, 

 and the Saxon," p. 143, says : 

 " The extensive and rieh district between "Sorbiodunum, 

 Old Sarum,^and Glevum, Glos'ter, was covered in every di- 

 rection with extensive and rieh villas, marking it out as 

 the most fashionable part of the island. In its centre stood 

 a city, remarkable for its splendid edifices, its temples, its 

 biiildings for public amusement, and still more so for its 

 medicinal baths. For this latter reason it was caUed Aquae 

 Solis, the waters of the sun, and for the same cause its 

 representative in modern timea has received the name of 

 Bath. Remains of the Roman bathing houses have been 

 discovered'^in the course of modern excavations. Among 

 its temples was a magnificent one dedicated to IVIinerva, 

 who is supposed to have been the patron Goddess of the 

 place. From inscriptions found at different periods, it ap- 

 pears that military Commanders, high municipal officers, 

 and other persons of rank, frequented this city for the benefit 

 of its waters, and perhaps to mix in its fashionable society." 



