Silurian 0 Report post Posted February 26, 2010 Hello everyone, I am reading Tom Holland's 'Rubicon' at the moment and have just read a passage about an annual crucifixion of guard dogs. Apparently, this was a belated punishment for failing to bark and warn about the imminent sacking of Rome by the Gauls. Geese, however, were celebrated. Does anyone know of the primary source(s) for this dog crucifixion? I'd be interested to find out if this was true or a fiction of anti-Roman propaganda from later sources. Thanks Silurian Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
caldrail 152 Report post Posted February 26, 2010 That's a curious one. It is true that the Romans used animals in some criminal punishments, but to crucify dogs in religious ceremonies? Not exactly a practical proposition given canine anatomy. A sacrifice of dogs perhaps, but I find it hard to accept they were crucified, since cricifixion was intended to be, quote, a nasty 'orrible death... It goes on for hours..., and if the idea was a religious ritual why were dogs veing punished by such a severe punishment instead of being 'humanely' despatched? Still, I might be wrong, so I too await any confirmation. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Melvadius 4 Report post Posted February 26, 2010 That's a curious one. It is true that the Romans used animals in some criminal punishments, but to crucify dogs in religious ceremonies? Not exactly a practical proposition given canine anatomy. A sacrifice of dogs perhaps, but I find it hard to accept they were crucified, since cricifixion was intended to be, quote, a nasty 'orrible death... It goes on for hours..., and if the idea was a religious ritual why were dogs veing punished by such a severe punishment instead of being 'humanely' despatched? Still, I might be wrong, so I too await any confirmation. I need to check if it is in my abbreviated copy of Pliny but various on-line religeous sites quote Pliny Natural History 29.57 as the source for this particular story. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nephele 4 Report post Posted February 26, 2010 We've had this question of dog crucifixion before, although it was some years back (Pantagathus cited some sources): http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=4686 Dogs were also sacrificed during the annual observance of the Robigalia, as Ovid mentions in his Fasti (Book IV). But Ovid doesn't say how the dogs were killed. I'm in agreement with Maty that the act of canine crucifixion should be counted among The Top Ten Roman Atrocities. -- Nephele Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Silurian 0 Report post Posted February 26, 2010 We've had this question of dog crucifixion before, although it was some years back (Pantagathus cited some sources): http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=4686 Dogs were also sacrificed during the annual observance of the Robigalia, as Ovid mentions in his Fasti (Book IV). But Ovid doesn't say how the dogs were killed. I'm in agreement with Maty that the act of canine crucifixion should be counted among The Top Ten Roman Atrocities. -- Nephele Thanks for that Nephele. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
caesar novus 52 Report post Posted February 27, 2010 I heard a professor say that it was exactly 1 pair crucified per year, so although it was a needless gratuitious act... the bodycount seems tiny compared to what the plural form might envision. Not to justify animal cruelty (I'm vegetarian myself), but it can be somewhat refreshing when a culture doesn't 100% sentimentalize pets (and especially dogs just for being indiscriminately devoted to an owner regardless of their qualities). In my area there are silly helicopter rescues of dogs just for looking sick, even when that deprives scarce equipment from being available to rescue humans - maybe for a month if there is a breakdown or accident. Les Mccann put it in crude perspective with other urgencies in his antiwar song "Compared To What": Slaughterhouse is killin' hogsTwisted children killin' frogs Poor dumb rednecks rollin' logs Tired old lady kissin' dogs I hate the human love of that stinking mutt (I can't use it!) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
caldrail 152 Report post Posted February 28, 2010 (edited) Now that really is interesting. The religious connations of the cross only ought to arise from christianity in the later empire because before that the cross was merely the preferred Roman means of executing criminals in a lingering torturous manner publicly. But now it seems there was a pagan significance to it, albeit a minor one. Treating criminals as they would a dog? As for crucifying a dog because one didn't bark a warning in 390BC, doesn't that seem a little odd? Animals were after all not human and could not make decisions in the Roman mindset. They behaved as dogs do. But it seems as if the Romans are seeking a cultural scapegoat for their embarrasement. This does of course highlight Roman attitudes to animals, which were regarded as no more than resources in exactly the same way you would view a quarry, although some animals were obviously more useful in agricultural or utility functions. Edited February 28, 2010 by caldrail Share this post Link to post Share on other sites