Spiritus Naturae
May 15th 2004, 03:46 PM
The Roman Empire is a wonderful glimpse into the depths of human depravity and the inevitable corrupting potential of absolute power. Especially when one looks at the 'games' towards the end of the Empire's reign. One of my favorite books on the subject reads like a sports novel and gives one a virtual 'play by play' of the Roman Games and the gladiators. The following is a tidbit from the book giving an example of a Roman Game style of 'poetic justice'.
The Romans had a robust sense of humour. At the time of Caligula, a gladiator had his right arm cut off so he was helpless. The crowd considered this uproariously funny. Another gladiator, named Bassus, strolled around the arena fending himself with a golden chamber pot. But at least one trick played by Caligula would seem to us today, if not funny, at least a grim form of poetic justice.
There was a group of people who used to wait under the stands by the passageway along which condemned prisoners were let to the arena. These people were degenerates of the most revolting type. They would follow the prisoners, pawing, spitting and mauling them while recounting the tortures they would soon face. The sight of the cringing wretches acted as a sexual stimulus to them. (Ilsa Koch, the wife of the German Supervisor at Buchenwald, was a pervert of this same sort. She used to fondle the condemned prisoners being taken to the gas chamber as they were led past her.)
These perverts were a great nuisance to the guards in charge of the prisoners and strict orders were given to keep them away from under the stands, but somehow they always managed to bribe or force their way in. In their efforts to enjoy the suffering of the prisoners to the last moment, they crowded into the passageways that led to the podium and sometimes even onto the podium itself. On one occasion, Caligula gave orders for the guards not to drive them away. Delighted, the sadists flung themselves on a batch of prisoners headed to the arena, kicking and pinching them as the captives struggled along. These degenerates became so absorbed in their sport that they didn't notice where they were going. Suddenly they heard a gate slammed behind them and found themselves in the arena with the condemned prisoners! The perverts ran wildly up and down before the podium wall, screaming that they were Roman citizens and that a terrible mistake had been made. After enjoying their antics for a while, Caligula ordered the wild beasts to be loosed and the perverts died with the others.
Yowza! I highly recommend this book. Quite an interesting glimpse into decadent Rome. Also "Animals for show and pleasure in Ancient Rome." by George Jennison. Incredibly sick and bizarre detailings of the use of animals in the 'Games' and beyond.
Jonathan
The Romans had a robust sense of humour. At the time of Caligula, a gladiator had his right arm cut off so he was helpless. The crowd considered this uproariously funny. Another gladiator, named Bassus, strolled around the arena fending himself with a golden chamber pot. But at least one trick played by Caligula would seem to us today, if not funny, at least a grim form of poetic justice.
There was a group of people who used to wait under the stands by the passageway along which condemned prisoners were let to the arena. These people were degenerates of the most revolting type. They would follow the prisoners, pawing, spitting and mauling them while recounting the tortures they would soon face. The sight of the cringing wretches acted as a sexual stimulus to them. (Ilsa Koch, the wife of the German Supervisor at Buchenwald, was a pervert of this same sort. She used to fondle the condemned prisoners being taken to the gas chamber as they were led past her.)
These perverts were a great nuisance to the guards in charge of the prisoners and strict orders were given to keep them away from under the stands, but somehow they always managed to bribe or force their way in. In their efforts to enjoy the suffering of the prisoners to the last moment, they crowded into the passageways that led to the podium and sometimes even onto the podium itself. On one occasion, Caligula gave orders for the guards not to drive them away. Delighted, the sadists flung themselves on a batch of prisoners headed to the arena, kicking and pinching them as the captives struggled along. These degenerates became so absorbed in their sport that they didn't notice where they were going. Suddenly they heard a gate slammed behind them and found themselves in the arena with the condemned prisoners! The perverts ran wildly up and down before the podium wall, screaming that they were Roman citizens and that a terrible mistake had been made. After enjoying their antics for a while, Caligula ordered the wild beasts to be loosed and the perverts died with the others.
Yowza! I highly recommend this book. Quite an interesting glimpse into decadent Rome. Also "Animals for show and pleasure in Ancient Rome." by George Jennison. Incredibly sick and bizarre detailings of the use of animals in the 'Games' and beyond.
Jonathan