Public Executions in

Ancient Rome
What was it? And type of executions
 Public execution was a form of capital punishment and was used in Ancient
Rome until around the 2nd century CE.
 Types:
 Beheading =
 head was chopped off by an axe.
 Crucifixion =
 left to die hanging from a cross.
 Torture =
 Put into a leather sack filled with dangerous small animals, then thrown
into a river.
 Strangulation
 Damnatio ad bestia thrown into a pit/arena with dangerous wild animals.
Damnatio ad
bestia
Mosaic of Damnatio ad bestia
from Zliten near Tripoli.
Who was executed?
 Execution was reserved as a punishment for those who did not
deserve the honor of a proper death.
 For example, Roman Citizens were not sentenced to capital
punishment if they murdered another Roman Citizen of equal status,
instead were fined or exiled, and if they were executed, they were
beheaded, which was regarded as a more honourable way to die.  
 If a Roman Citizen killed a slave or any person of lesser status then
there was no punishment at all.
 Public executions were events put on to execute runaway slaves,
prisoners of war, common criminals and army deserters.
Who watched?

 Public executions were for all members of the public, rich, poor and people of
every class came to enjoy what was considered the entertainment.

 Those with a higher status or who were richer did get first dibs as to where they
wanted to watch the execution from, but except for that anyone and everyone
attended, with their friends and family.
What happened to the bodies?

 When crucified it took several days for the person to die and this was used
as a warning to the public.

 The body was left on the cross for the birds to pick at, which was in order
to ensure the body was not able to receive an honorable burial

 Early Christians were also often publicly executed because of their refusal
to worship or make sacrifices to the Roman gods or the Emperor. Because
of this they were not allowed a religious burial of any kind.
The calcaneus of Yehohanon ben Hagkol, with transfixed
nail, which provided insights into the death of Jesus.