Roman Punishments Were SO Much Worse Than You Think

Ancient Rome didn’t just punish criminals—it turned execution into brutal spectacle. From crucifixions and lion maulings to being sewn in sacks with animals, these methods were designed to terrify and entertain. Discover the darkest corners of Roman justice.

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Further Reading:

Denova, Rebecca. “Crucifixion.” World History Encyclopedia. May 12, 2022. https://www.worldhistory.org/crucifix...

Killgrove, Kristina. “This Bone Is The Only Skeletal Evidence For Crucifixion In The Ancient World.” Forbes.com. December 8, 2015. https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristina...

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "crucifixion." Encyclopedia Britannica, April 14, 2025. https://www.britannica.com/topic/cruc....

Retief, F P, and L Cilliers. “The history and pathology of crucifixion.” South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde vol. 93,12 (2003): 938-41.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14750...

“Roman Crucifixion Methods Reveal History of Crucifixion.” Biblicalarcheology.org. August 17, 2024. https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/d...

“Damnatio ad Bestias.” Penelope.uchicago.edu. https://penelope.uchicago.edu/encyclo...

“Damnatio ad Bestias et Venatio.” Archeology Museum in Zagreb. https://www.amz.hr/en/exhibitions/arc...
Aptowicz, Cristin O’keefe. “Could You Stomach the Horrors of 'Halftime' in Ancient Rome?” Livescience.com. July 21, 2022. https://www.livescience.com/53615-hor...

“Damnatio ad Bestias.” British Columbia/Yukon Pressbooks. https://pressbooks.bccampus.ca/specta...

Taub, Benjamin. “Damnatio Ad Bestias: This Roman Execution Method Was As Wild As It Gets.” IFLScience.com. June 14, 2024. https://www.iflscience.com/damnatio-a...

Davenport, Caillan and Sushama Malik. “Mythbusting Ancient Rome: Cruel and Unusual Punishment.” TheConversation.com. January 28, 2016. https://theconversation.com/mythbusti...

Eldridge, A. "Cruel and Unusual Punishments: 15 Types of Torture." Encyclopedia Britannica, May 4, 2023. https://www.britannica.com/story/crue....

Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome by Titus Livius, with the epitomes and fragments of the lost books, literally translated, with notes and illustrations
William A. McDevitte, Book 68. https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/...

Credit:
Simple History Creator: Daniel Turner (B.A. (Hons) in History, University College London)
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