On 12 July 1727, a group of workmen were digging deep beneath the main street of Bath, constructing a new sewer for the ancient city. It was as they went about this work that they suddenly uncovered a large bronze head, a representation of the goddess Sulis Minerva. Decades later, in the 1790s (during digging of the foundations for the now-famous Pump Room) a large amount of Roman sculptured stone was uncovered, evidence of a temple built by the worshippers of the goddess.
Sulis Minerva was a combination of the Celtic goddess Sulis (who had always been spiritually connected to the springs) and the Roman Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, medicine, commerce, handicrafts, poetry and the arts. In particular, historians believe that she was primarily worshipped as the goddess of healing, hence her connection to the springs, which were renowned for their healing properties. During the Roman occupation, a vast temple to Sulis Minerva was located around the principal spring, alongside a huge bathing complex and a forum.