Roman Human Sacrifice

• Ritual Human Sacrifice existed in the Roman Republic (509-29 BCE) although it was rare.
• It was banned in 97 BCE, along with witchcraft (maleficium), under the Roman Consul Publius Licinius Crassus, father of Marcus Licinius Crassus (115-52 BCE), according to Pliny the Elder.

Human Sacrifice in Wartime

• Livy (c.59 BCE-17 CE) wrote that after Hannibal defeated the Roman Army at Battle of Cannae in 216 BCE, a human sacrifice was made. Two Gauls and two Greeks were buried alive under the Forum Boarium to help protect Rome from Hannibal.
• The same sacrifice was made again in 113 BCE, prior to the Roman army departing for Gaul.

Executions that the Romans did not consider to be a Human Sacrifice:

• 1. Burying a Vestal Virgin alive if she was found to have been immoral.
  2. Executing a captured Enemy King or Leader during a Roman Triumph.
  3. Gladiators fighting each other and executing the defeated rival.
  4. The public execution of criminals during the Games.
  5. The public execution of Christians.