After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal The Dark Side of Ancient Rome
May 5, 2025
Emma Southon, a historian and author, dives into the gruesome realities of ancient Rome, a civilization often glorified yet steeped in brutality. She reveals chilling tales of execution methods like 'the sack' for patricide, exposing the normalization of violence against slaves. The conversation explores the morbid entertainment of gladiatorial combat and public executions, reflecting societal values and power dynamics. Southon also discusses a shocking case of domestic murder revealing the dark intricacies of justice in Roman society.
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Murder Laws in Ancient Rome
- Ancient Rome had no strict law against murder for a long time, treating it mostly as a civil matter.
- Killing slaves was mostly legal until mid-4th century with laws prescribing only some protections.
Lamprey Punishment Anecdote
- Vedius Pollio notoriously punished slaves by throwing them into a pit of flesh-eating sea lampreys.
- This cruel spectacle was performed once in front of Emperor Augustus, who condemned it.
Patricide Sack Punishment
- Patricide punishment was sewing the guilty in a sack with a dog, chicken, monkey, and snake.
- The sack was thrown into water, letting the person drown while fighting terrified animals.
