Roman steps executions Scalae Gemoniae: a macabre place of thousands of deaths

In Ancient Rome, there was a few places for public executions. As a rule, for justice used a flat area that can accommodate a substantial number of viewers. But this rule has an exception is the Scalae Gemoniae stairs leading from Capitol hill to the Roman forum.

Stairs Scalae Gemoniae, or Gemview staircase was located in the vicinity of St. Peter's prison. It was her prisoners often ended up on the steps of the scary ladder. Such punishment was considered shameful, and were appointed for the most heinous crimes. But this did not prevent the Romans to crack down on the Scalae Gemoniae with several senators and even to the Emperor.

It is believed that Gemview the stairs were built in the early first century of our era and, most likely, it happened under the Emperor Augustus. But as the place of executions began to use later, during the reign of Tiberius, had many political opponents.

The opposition to the policy of Tiberius and were the first victims of the stairs leading down from Capitol hill. Most likely, this was the place he was executed Lucius Sejanus, who was planning to overthrow the Emperor. As it usually happened in Rome, the massacre was condemned immediately after the verdict.

Most often convicted dumped with stairs and miserable rolled down its steep stone steps, crushing limbs and ribs. If he was lucky, he immediately broke his neck and died quickly, but most often fall only led to injury and went in for the kill with swords, daggers, and bare hands. Sometimes sentenced was first strangled, and then his body was dumped on the steps and it was considered a good death.

Did with Lucius Seaoson his lifeless body rolled down the stairs, downstairs waiting crowd. The corpse of a conspirator Romans ripped to shreds and remains of a man once sang duties of the Emperor, a few days rot on the site under the Scalae Gemoniae. When the corpse of a traitor gnawed dogs and pecked birds, his body thrown into the Tiber flowing nearby.

View of the Capitoline hill, where he began his final journey sentenced

In 37 BC, Tiberius did not, and the execution of Gemonio stairs are rare. One of the most famous personalities of Rome, executed here, became the Emperor Vitellius. He was a native of the warlords and became the third Emperor in 69 ill-fated year, called by historians the "Year of the four emperors".

16 April 69 years committed suicide Otho and Vitellius took his place. But he managed to stay in power for only 8 months, until his troops were defeated by the army of Vespasian. As soon as the soldiers of the winner came into Rome, Vitellius learned from the bathroom to his Palace, where he was hiding, and she dragged him to the stairs.

The Death Of Aulus Vitellius

Here the defeated ruler was waiting for the townspeople, who only a few hours ago were calling him their Emperor. The inhabitants of Rome, with the tacit consent of the soldiers of Vespasian, was beaten and humiliated by Vitellius, and then beat him to death. Emitting spirit, the Emperor said, referring to the Eternal city: "And yet I was your Emperor."

But Gemview ladder was used for executions and imminent violence. There was going to Express the indignation of citizens — natural and organized meetings usually end with the requirements to reset the damn ladder another brazen policy.

The St. Peter's prison today

When Caligula was strangled with a pillow Tiberius, who loved to execute enemies in Gemariah the citizens of Rome gathered at the stairs and shouted "Throw Tiberius to the Tiber". Gnaeus PLIP, one of the famous Roman politicians, suspected of killing his own son. The people demanded his death, but is unable to find the guilty, thrown from the stairs, statues and busts PLIP.

In 81 BC, with the coming to power of the Emperor Domitian, Scalae Gemoniae finally lost its importance as the place of punishment. The new ruler of Rome was a good-natured person and allowed criminals to choose their own form of punishment. Wanting to break his neck, or to be torn brutal crowd was a little and a ladder often stood, and was used for walking.

The stairway was in this place

Later, the Emperor showed more mercy and forbade the Romans to mock the bodies of the executed. After that will solve even very rare penalty on Gemonio the stairs completely lost its appeal. When Domitian there was only one bright spot I dropped the head of Decebalus, resisted the Roman army in Dacia in 106.

Currently, the creepy Scalae Gemoniae not gone. It was where is now the Via di San Pietro in Carcere, next to the ancient of St. Peter's prison.