Mass Crucifixion of the House of Lucius Pedanius Secundus (Ad Navseam, Gurgle 9)

About this episode

Jeff and Dave discuss the brutal aftermath of the murder of Lucius Pedanius Secundus and the mass crucifixion of his household slaves.

Tune in this week for a quick eructation as Jeff and Dave review the disturbing story of Lucius Pedanius Secundus, Roman aristocrat, who in A.D. 61 was murdered by one of his household slaves. The aftermath of this violent act was notoriously brutal: Tacitus tells us all 400 other slaves in Pedanius' house, whether implicated in the crime or ignorant of it, including women and infants, were scheduled for crucifixion. Tacitus also records that a mob of Roman citizens rioted and stormed the senate building, seeking to prevent the enforcement of the ancient law. Drawing from Annales XIV.42-45, the hosts look at arguments for and against the justice of such an act, the constraints of mos maiorum, and the final outcome of the whole nasty affair, because of Nero's intervention. Grim, yes, but history, as Edward Gibbon says, "...is, indeed, little more than the register of the crimes, follies, and misfortunes of mankind."

People in this episode

Hosts: Jeff, Dave

Topics covered

• Roman history
• slavery
• crucifixion
• justice
• Nero
• Tacitus

Keywords

• Lucius Pedanius Secundus
• crucifixion
• Tacitus
• Roman citizens
• Nero
• slavery
• A.D. 61

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Annales

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