The above image is a still from the television hit Spartacus which can be found in the third and final season "War of the Damned"; episode four "Decimation". This specific episode contains a very graphic death scene dealing with the Roman act of decimation. Decimation was reserved as a punishment for soldiers, regardless of rank, who coward in battle or did not follow the commands of their superiors. These superiors would be punished or executed separately as a general rule. In the Spartacus episode however, the leaders take their place with the troops. It was a group punishment; one screw up and everybody pays. According to good ol' Wikipedia, the first recorded decimation occurred in 471BC and was then reinstated in 71BC by Carassus against his battle with Spartacus. It was also rarely used as a form of punishment in both World Wars by the Russians and Italians.
Decimation is done through a sort of lottery. Soldiers line up in groups of ten and are each forced to "pick straws"... probably rocks.... to determine who will be on the receiving end of this deadly act. Once every group has chosen their receiver, the killing would begin. The remaining nine soldiers would to bludgeon the soldier who pulled the short stick or off-coloured stone to death. Killing was usually accomplished by clubbing or stoning and was very messy. Afterwards, the remaining soldiers would be banished outside city walls or the encampment at which they were staying. What an unpleasant way to die.
– Maia B
No comments:
Post a Comment