The Poison Murders in Ancient Rome – Riddles, Scandals and the Shadow of Death

In 331 BC, Rome was hit by a disturbing and enigmatic wave of death, while in the eastern Mediterranean, Alexander the Great led his campaigns in the Levant. In Rome, however, a mysterious disease is spreading, which primarily affects members of the city’s most respected families. The disease is rapid and almost always fatal. All victimsshow identical symptoms, the origin of which the doctors cannot explain to the time. Fear is spreading, for no one knows whether a contagious plague, a curse of the gods or another, hidden threat is responsible for the numerous deaths.

The revelation: A maid brings light into the darkness

One day a maid will contact Quintus Fabius Maximus, who holds an important office in Rome as Aedil. The woman claims to be able to solve the secret of sudden deaths, however, requires protection from possible retribution. The Aedil, aware of the scope of their statement, hesitates at first and relates the two consuls Marcus Claudius Marcellus and Gaius Valerius to thedecision. Finally, the Senate is also consulted, which assures the maid’s immunity. Now the woman reports: Not an illness, but a network of poisoners from the highest circles of society is responsible for the death of numerous patricians.

The Recovery of Crime: Evidence and Confessions

The authorities have no time to doubt, because poisoning in ancient Rome is considered a particularly insidious, but quite typically female crime. A group of women is caught in the act as they are making deadly mixtures. Twenty Roman matrons houses are found and are being taken to the forum. theAccused housekeepers, including Cornelia and Sergia from respected patrician families, protest their innocence and pretend they are remedies. However, the maid asks her to drink from her supposedly harmless potions in front of the assembled public. After a short consultation with the other women, the accused decide to take the poison and soto forestall public execution. Livius, the historian, comments: “They all drank the poison and perfidated by their own perfidious actions.”

The expansion of the investigation: A scandal shakes Rome

However, with the death of these women, the matter is by no means complete. The authorities take up extensive investigations, question slaves and continue to scour the network. In the end, 170 women from honorable houses are found guilty and convicted. Livius is silent about the motives, which leaves room for speculation: it was about political intrigues, inheritance disputesOr personal feuds? The uncertainty remains, because the source situation is incomplete and historiography is often biased.

Poison Murder as a Recurring Phenomenon: The Next Scandal

Around a century and a half later, in 180 BC, another mass murder shook the city of Rome by poison. The Praetor Tiberius Minucius, the Consul Gaius Calpurnius Piso and numerous prominent citizens of various stalls die under mysterious circumstances. First one searches for religious explanations, consecrates gifts to the gods and consults old prophecies. but asMore and more cases occur, Praetor Gaius Claudius is entrusted with investigations. The death of the consul Piso appears suspicious, especially because his wife Quarta Hostilia is considered bitter: Her son Quintus Fulvius Flaccus failed several times in the consul elections. According to witnesses, she had promised him to make him a consul within a few months – after the death of herhusband’s husband is actually clearing the way. quarta Hostilia is convicted, but the investigation continues: Praetor Claudius reports a total of 3,000 convictions related to the poisonings – a magnitude that is amazing even by Roman standards.

Poison and Power: Famous cases and the role of women

Poison murders remain an issue even in the imperial period. The poisoner Locusta gains a sad fame because she is said to have committed numerous murders on behalf of high-person personalities – including on Emperor Claudius. Nevertheless, serial murders remain the exception; Mostly it is a casual crime that involves personal enrichment or the elimination of rivals in the foregroundstand

Everyday Murder: Violence and Crime in the Roman World

Not only spectacular poison attacks, but also everyday violent crimes characterize the image of the Roman Empire. Numerous tombstones throughout the ancient world report murder cases: In Augustodunum Haedui (today’s Autun), the soldier of January falls victim to robbers. In Lugdunum (now Lyon), 61-year-old Julius Aventinus is murdered by “bad people”. The boyValerius Marcus died at only 19 years old at Timacum Minus in Moesia Superior from a raid. Travelers, often at the mercy of bandits, are particularly at risk – even soldiers who are actually armed are victims because they are particularly lucrative for robbers due to their regular pay. Their families can often afford tombstones that give their name and thecause of death for posterity.

Dangers for officials, soldiers and children

Roman officials are not sure either: The Aedil Condonius is murdered from behind with five soldiers in Mauretania Caesariensis. Even children are not protected from violence: The tombstone of the Siricus tells of his violent death at the age of only two months and 27 days. Teachers and students fall victim to robberies, such as the case of Julius Timotheus and his students near Romeshows. Reports about stationarii, soldiers who are actually supposed to secure the streets but become perpetrators themselves, are particularly frightening. The tombstone of a stranger and his son in Timacum Minus reports on their murder by this very stationarii.

Intrigues and betrayals: violence in your own home

Even in a family environment, no one is safe from violent crime. Slaves or soldiers sometimes become murderers of their masters or superiors. In Virunum, the Hexarch Aggaeus, a non-commissioned officer in a cavalry unit, dies through the “violence of the soldiers” – presumably his own men. The fate of Jucundus from Mainz is particularly tragic: The freedman is from his ownSlave killed, who then plunges into the river.

The dark side of Roman life

The numerous cases of murder, poison attacks and violent crimes have been shown to show that crime and insecurity had a permanent place in the everyday life of the Roman Empire. Whether spectacular scandals with poisoners in the highest circles or everyday raids on travelers – life in ancient times was characterized by constant dangers. The Roman society developedHowever, strategies to deal with this have always remained vulnerable to the dark sides of human action. The tomb inscriptions, court files and reports of ancient historians are impressive testimonies of these dark side of a world that is often only known for its brilliant pages.