Grandes chroniques de France Jean Fouquet: Marcienne, illuminated manuscript
Summary
Le martyre de Sainte Marcienne (Martyrdom of Saint Marciana [of Mauretania])
Damnatio ad bestias is a Latin phrase that translates into English as 'condemnation to the beasts'. It refers to a form of capital punishment in ancient Rome where criminals, prisoners or slaves were condemned to be killed by wild animals, typically in public spectacles held in arenas such as the Colosseum. The condemned person would be forced to face dangerous and predatory animals such as lions, bears or leopards in an often brutal and gruesome manner. The practice was used as a form of entertainment and punishment, both to entertain the spectators and to act as a deterrent to potential criminals.
Tags
Date
1300 - 1500
Source
Bibliothèque nationale de France
Copyright info
public domain