Brutality and cruelty are often associated with ancient Rome, and one of the most horrific customs was the practice of using convicts as “human lanterns”. What did this cruel way of punishment look like and what does it say about the mentality of the Roman empire? More about this in the article below.
Although ancient Rome is primarily associated with military power, culture and architecture, it also had its share of brutal practices. One of the most terrible customs that took place during the reign of Emperor Nero was the use of convicts to act as “human lanterns”. This cruel method of punishment involved the condemned being smeared with tar or oil and then lit to act as street lights at night. This phenomenon, although still terrifying, is an example of shocking brutality and the desire to intimidate citizens.
Nero, known for his cruel persecution and repression, came up with the idea of using convicts as a source of lighting on the streets of Rome. Lubricated with tar and lit, they acted as “living beacons”, and their suffering was not only a deterrent to the population but also a display of brutal imperial power. Such executions also had a public dimension – they were shown to the entire city, and thus were intended to maintain order through intimidation and to show that the emperor’s power was absolute and unquestionable.
This phenomenon took place in the times of Nero, who – in addition to persecuting Christians – did not hesitate to use such cruel forms of punishment. The convicts who were used in this brutal practice wore chains, and their suffering was immortalized by the Romans as an example of how they punished enemies of the state. These were events that, despite their macabre nature, took place in front of the entire society, intended to demonstrate the strength and authority of the emperor.
Although this form of execution seems to be part of the darkest pages of history, its record in historical sources remains a testimony to the brutality of power in ancient Rome. It is worth remembering that such methods were used for a very limited time and in specific circumstances, but they remain one of the most horrific and inhumane practices in the history of the ancient world.
“Human Lanterns” is a warning against too much concentration of power in the hands of individuals and shows the darker side of Roman power. Today, in hindsight, such practices remain among the most horrific and tragic events in the history of humanity. Of course, they were not common, but their record in history is proof of the great price paid not only by Rome’s enemies, but also by ordinary citizens whose fate could be sealed by an imperial decision.
