G. Roman-Style Crime & Punishment
The Roman Empire did not take kindly to those of their subject peoples who rebelled against their rule... Those bold enough to take up arms fully realized that they would need huge reserves of courage and fortitude to face up to the cruel and often barbaric punishments they would suffer should they fall into Roman hands...
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RnB018 “Crucifixion of a Tribal Chief”
Crucifixion was a method of capital punishment in which the victim was tied and / or nailed to a large wooden cross and left to hang for several days and nights. Usually the eventual cause of death was exhaustion and asphyxiation.
Although
the crucifixion of Jesus is the most famous example of this form of lethal punishment it was a fairly common execution method for thieves, murderers and rebel chieftains.
RnB019 “Scourging The Prisoner”
Prior to execution it was normal Roman procedure to flog the prisoner... The usual instrument was a short whip with several single or braided leather thongs of various lengths. Into these thongs would be tied small iron balls and sharp pieces of bone at irregular intervals.
For scourging, the prisoner was stripped of most of his clothing
(women were never scourged) and tied to a large wooden or stone post.
Two Roman soldiers would be on either side of the victim and would take it in turn to flog him. Extreme pain and blood loss would soon follow and it was not uncommon for the prisoner to even die of shock at the post. Should the prisoner survive his ordeal the soldiers would often taunt their victim adding extreme insult to injury!
RnB021 “Life or Death...?”
The fate of captured rank and file rebels was usually decided in the immediate aftermath of a battle... If slaves were required either to be worked to death in the Roman quarries or as ‘gallery-slaves’ they lived
(for a time) . Similarly, they might to spared to be trained as gladiators to fight in the arenas that had sprung up across the empire and in Rome itself.
If, alas, they were unsuitable for any of these destinations or were declared
“surplus to requirements” a quick sword thrust was usually the end result!
RnB023 “The Sitting Centurion”
Sitting, observing his soldiers go about their duties is this sitting
Centurion. As he rests, both hands on his sword, his helmet by his side he ensures that all punishments are carried out with cruel efficiency.
AVAILABLE: Mid November
