Seneca Hercules furens 697-706: 

Non prata viridi laeta facie germinant; nec adulta leni fluctuat Zephyro seges; non ulla ramos silva pomiferos habet: sterilis profundi vastitas squalet soli, et foeda tellus torpet aeterno situ, rerumque moestus fini? et mundi ultima; immotus aer haeret, et pigro sedet nox atra mundo; cuncta moerore horrida, ipsaque Morte peior est Mortis locus. 

There no lush meadows sprout with greenness; no ripening harvest billows in the gentle West Wind; no orchard has its boughs laden with apples, but one great waste lies barren, of deep soil, neglected, and the unsightly earth is numbed in everlasting idleness, the dolorous goal of things and limit of the universe; the air is stagnant, without motion, black night broods over a lifeless world, and the place of death is worse than death itself.

A Fatal Thing Happened On the Way To The Forum

Murder in Ancient Rome

Author: Emma Southon

Image: The Assassination Of Julius Caesar, Spanish School

Recently, I read a fascinating book by Emma Southon that delved into crime and punishment in the Roman empire. Southon masterfully wove together ancient history with wry humor, making even the grislier aspects of ancient life accessible. Her style in some strange way made the topics relatable to the modern reader. Unlike traditional history books, Southon sheds light on the everyday realities of Roman citizens—including their often bizarre, occasionally brutal, approaches to justice.

The book’s structure follows a thematic rather than chronological organization, breaking down types of murders (parricide, political assassination, gladiatorial bloodshed). She examines them within their social and cultural contexts. From peculiar executions for parricides that involve drowning the offender with snakes in a sack, Southon’s vivid portrayals of Roman law and punishment showcases the often absurd lengths to which Romans would go to maintain societal order. She humanizes ancient figures who are often reduced to myth or caricature, using her wit to emphasize their flaws. Her narrative is both critical and compassionate, raising questions about the complex moral frameworks that influenced these ancient practices.

Southon combines scholarly research with a conversational style, full of contemporary references and humor that makes ancient Rome feel eerily close to our own world. While the anecdotes may be gruesome, Southon never loses sight of the humanity within them. Her book ultimately reads as an invitation to consider how societies past and present navigate the boundaries of justice and morality.

Rating: 4/5 Julius Caesar Assassination Daggers; would read again!