2018/06/22 by Alexander Thein · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · Mathematics · #Classical Antiquity Studies #Classical Studies and Legal History #Historical and Religious Studies of Rome #Proscription #Proclamation #Politics #Political science #Meaning (existential) #Law #State (computer science) #Humanities #Art #Philosophy #Mathematics
paper · doi:10.1002/9781444338386.wbeah30481
openalex publication_date 2018/06/22 · openalex created_date 2022/05/12 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/14
Abstract Proscription was a system of state‐sponsored political violence attested twice in the civil wars of the Late Roman Republic: it was invented by Sulla after the civil war of 83–82 bce and revived by Antony, Octavian, and Lepidus after the formation of the Second Triumvirate in 43 bce . The distinctive feature of proscription was the mass condemnation of political enemies, without trial or judicial process, and the publication of their names on death lists posted in the forum at Rome. The property of the proscribed was confiscated and sold at public auction, and the death sentence was enforced by the proclamation of penalties and rewards for assisting or killing the proscribed. The original meaning of the Latin word proscriptio was “publication,” often the advertisement of items for sale at auction. After Sulla it also acquired the meaning of “death list.”