Caligula - Atrocities and Tortures

Revision as of 18:51, 20 April 2013

Here is a list of Atrocities and Tortures carried out by Caligula. He was certainly addicted to other people's suffering. It is said that he often tortured people slowly to death to prolong their agony from which de derived some perverse pleasure but also as some experiment to understand or obtain proof of an after life. Could they, he enquired, see Isis. Death was also undertaken for percuniary gain. He spent so lavishly that the treasury was bare and according to Cassius Dio was seize the murdered person estate fro himself. in reality it was because of their property; for the treasury had become exhausted and he never could have enough^[1]

Was his blood lust the unhappy consequence of his serious illness at the beginning of his reign. Did this event chnage his countenance or was he exacting pain on others such as he had felt himself during his sickness. Or did the emotion pain of losing his sister Drusilla unhinge him? He seemed to take his loss out on his nearest and dearest who had got him to his position. Others, again, owed their ruin to the emperor's illness of the preceding year and to the death of his sister Drusilla, since, among other things, any one who had entertained or had greeted another, or even had bathed during those days, incurred punishment. ^[2]

The relationship between Gaius and his subjects worsened and spiralled out of control. His laws were opposed by the populace, which in turn led to fits of petulant childish rage, which provoked yet more resistance from his people. In one who was not all powerful the effect would not be so violent but for an immature Emperor who witnessed the sour anger of Tiberius it was lethal. His contempt for his people was such that during one gathering at the amphitheatre Suetonius and Cassius Dio both quote him as saying that he wished all of Rome had but a single neck to hang them by. Cassius Dio observes an angry ruler on one side, and a hostile people on the other, were plainly in evidence ^[3]

an angry ruler on one side, and a hostile people on the other, were plainly in evidence ^[4]

This is not to excuse his barbarous behaviour but may seek to explain it, if only to a small degree.

Tortures

Beaten or Flayed

• Writers at the Grecian games at Syracuse and Attic plays at Lyons in Gaul were beaten with a rod or thrown in twater if their praises did not meet with Caligula's approval.

[Performers]...were forced to blot out what they had written with a sponge or their tongue, unless they preferred to be beaten with a rod, or plunged over head and ears into the nearest river.

• The Overseer of the Spectacle, who was a kind of producer of Gladitorial battles was beaten with iron and leather mannicles. These would have the effect of removing the flesh off the bones of the victim.

overseer of the spectacles and wild beasts to be scourged in fetters, during several days successively, in his own presence, and did not put him to death until he was disgusted with the stench of his putrefied brain

Branding or Burning

• Unknown victims of high rank were branded with irons

After disfiguring many persons of honourable rank, by branding them in the face with hot irons...

Amputations

• A knight who had fought wild beasts and then cried out his innocense had his tongue cut out and then was sent back to the arena

A Roman knight, who had been exposed to the wild beasts, crying out that he was innocent, he called him back, and having had his tongue cut out, remanded him to the arena.

• A slave who had stolen some silver had his hands cut off and draped around his neck and paraded to all the guests

a slave having stolen some thin plates of silver with which the couches were inlaid, he delivered him immediately to an executioner, with orders to cut off his hands, and lead him round the guests, with them hanging from his neck before his breast

Hard Labour

• Unknown victims of high rank were made to work back breaking work

condemned them to the mines, to work in repairing the high-ways

Bondage and other Restraints

• Unknown victims of high rank were bound to a stake or shut up in cages

tying them by the neck and heels, in the manner of beasts carried to slaughter, would shut them up in cages

Psychological Torture

• A parent was forced to watch his son being executed and then invited to a celebration and forced to make fun of the execution

Another he invited to his table immediately after he had witnessed the spectacle, and coolly challenged him to jest and be merry

Victims of Atrocities occasioning Death

Suffication/Strangulation

• Tiberius . He allegedly sufficated and strangled Tiberius, his step-father as he lay dying.

He caused a pillow to be thrown upon him , squeezing him by the throat, at the same time, with his own hand

Crucification

• A Freedman of Tiberius who witnessed his death at the hands of Caligula was crucified

One of his freedmen crying out at this horrid barbarity, he was immediately crucified

Poisoning

• Antonia, his grandmother may have been poisoned by Caligula

Indignities of this kind, and ill usage, were the cause of her death; but some think he also gave her poison

Stabbings and Decapitations

• His cousin Tiberius Gemellus had previously been made joint heir by Tiberius. Caligula had him murdered on the pre-text that he was plotting against him in 37AD

His brother Tiberius, who had no expectation of any violence, was suddenly dispatched by a military tribune sent by his order for that purpose.

• A Gladiator who had been practicing with Caligula threw himself at his feet and was stabbed to death

A gladiator who was practising with him, and voluntarily threw himself at his feet, he stabbed with a poniard

• An officer who was attending a sacrifice of a victim that Caligula was about to axe to death, instead took the axe to the officer and cut him into pieces

When a victim was to be offered upon an altar, he, clad in the habit of the Popae [439], and holding the axe aloft for a while, at last, instead of the animal, slaughtered an officer

• Esius Proculus was a fierce and strong soldier with a nickname of Collosal. Caligula had him pulled from the spectators at the amphitheatre and made to fight a light and then a strongly armoured gladiator. He beat them both but was clothed in rages and paraded around the city and then butchered.

him forthwith to be bound, to be led clothed in rags up and down the streets of the city, and, after being exhibited in that plight to the women, to be then butchered.

Suicides to avoid Death at the hand of Caligula

• His father-in-law Silanus committed suyicide by cutting his throat with a razor to avoid execution by Caligula

He forced Silanus, his father-in-law, to kill himself, by cutting his throat with a razor.^[5] Gaius' father-in‑law, Marcus Silanus, though he had made no promise and taken no oath, nevertheless took his own life ^[6]

• • His forced Macro and his wife Ennia and their children to commit suicide.

Macro himself, and Ennia likewise, by whose assistance he had obtained the empire; all of whom, for their alliance and eminent services, he rewarded with violent deaths.^[7] He was blamed likewise for compelling Macro together with Ennia to take their own lives ^[8]

Eaten Alive By Animals

• Criminals were fed to wild animals needed for Gladitorial battles when the price of meat was high

When flesh was only to be had at a high price for feeding his wild beasts reserved for the spectacles, he ordered that criminals should be given them to be devoured^[9] Cassius Dio adds that they had they tongues cut out first and to prevent the possibility of their making an outcry or uttering any reproaches, he first caused their tongues to be cut out ^[10]

Thrown to their death

• A criminal who asked to fight many Gladiator instead of being fed to the lions was thrown off the ramparts even after defeating many gladiators as he had vowed.

he delivered, adorned as a victim, with garlands and fillets, to boys, who were to drive him through the streets, calling on him to fulfil his vow, until he was thrown headlong from the ramparts

• At Puteoli a number of Romans were invited to a dedication. Caligula had them thrown into the sea. Who who survived were beaten to death by oars

At Puteoli, at the dedication of the bridge which he planned, as already mentioned, he invited a number of people to come to him from the shore, and then suddenly, threw them headlong into the sea; thrusting down with poles and oars those who, to save themselves, had got hold of the rudders of the ships.

Torn Apart Limb by Limb

• A Senator that Caligula wanted murdered forced someone to make a false accusation against the Senator and provoked the mob to tear him apart

he employed some persons to call him a public enemy, fall upon him as he entered the senate-house, stab him with their styles, and deliver him to the rest to tear asunder. Nor was he satisfied, until he saw the limbs and bowels of the man, after they had been dragged through the streets, piled up in a heap before him

Beatings and Flayings Leading to Death

• The Overseer of the Spectacle, who was a kind of producer of Gladitorial battles was beaten with iron and leather mannicles. These would have the effect of removing the flesh off the bones of the victim.

overseer of the spectacles and wild beasts to be scourged in fetters, during several days successively, in his own presence, and did not put him to death until he was disgusted with the stench of his putrefied brain

• Victims were routinely beaten slowly and suffered thousands of small wounds so that they would die slowly

He generally prolonged the sufferings of his victims by causing them to be inflicted by slight and frequently repeated strokes; this being his well-known and constant order: (273) "Strike so that he may feel himself die."

Burning Alive

• A writer was burned alive for writing a witty verse with double entendre

He burned alive, in the centre of the arena of the amphitheatre, the writer of a farce, for some witty verse, which had a double meaning

Method of Death Unknown

• King Juba's son, Ptolemy
• His cousin (which one)

Ptolemy, king Juba's son, his cousin (for he was the grandson of Mark Antony by his daughter Selene), and especially Macro himself, and Ennia likewise, by whose assistance he had obtained the empire; all of whom, for their alliance and eminent services, he rewarded with violent deaths

• A Roman of pretorian rank who was executed after going away to recuperate

he ordered him to be put to death; adding these words "Bleeding is necessary for one that has taken hellebore so long, and found no benefit"

• Several Gauls and Greeks who were condemned to death

And having condemned several Gauls and Greeks at one time, he exclaimed in triumph, "I have conquered Gallograecia."

• Common Criminals were routinely executed every ten days on the command of Caligula

It was his custom every tenth day to sign the lists of prisoners appointed for execution; and this he called "clearing his accounts."

• When Caligula was seriously ill at the beginning of his reign a plebian foolishly offered his life in the hopes that Caligula would recover. The real reason was that he believed he would be rewarded for his selfless and loyal act. Caligula took his words at face value and had him executed

Publius Afranius Potitus, a plebeian, perished, because in a burst of foolhardy servility he had promised not only of his own free will but also under oath that he would give his life if only Gaius should recover; and likewise a certain Atanius Secundus, a knight, because he had announced that in the same event he would fight as a gladiator. For these men, instead of the money which they hoped to receive from him in return for offering to give their lives in exchange for his, were compelled to keep their promises, so as not to be guilty of perjury. Such, then, was the cause of these men's deaths ^[11]

• Tewnty-six knights who had fought as gladiators

...put many people to death, among others twenty-six knights, some of whom had devoured their living, while others had merely practised gladiatorial combat ^[12]

• A knight was forced to fight in a gladitorial combat on the pretext of having insulted his mother Agrippina. He won the contest only for his to be handed over to his accusers and slain

Moreover he compelled one of the prominent knights to fight in single combat on the charge of having insulted his mother Agrippina, and when the man proved victorious, handed him over to his accusers and caused him to be slain. ^[13]

• The knight's father was then confined to a cage although he had committed no part in his son's alleged insult and then slain

And the man's father, though guilty of no crime, he confined in a cage, as, indeed, he had treated many others, and there put an end to him ^[14]

• A man was committed to death for committing treason maiestas on the charge of selling hot water

the emperor charged with maiestas and put to death a man who had sold hot water ^[15]

1. ↑ Cassius Dio
2. ↑ Cassius Dio
3. ↑ Cassius Dio
4. ↑ Cassius Dio
5. ↑ Suetonius
6. ↑ Cassius Dio
7. ↑ Suetonius
8. ↑ Cassius Dio
9. ↑ Suetonius
10. ↑ Cassius Dio
11. ↑ Cassius Dio
12. ↑ Cassius Dio
13. ↑ Cassius Dio
14. ↑ Cssius Dio
15. ↑ Cassius Dio