The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-06-14
VOLUME XII. NO. "a.
The Whip Among the Romans.


The whip played a very conspicuous
part in both the public and private life oi
abe Romans. The lictors, always attend.
ing the consuls, wore their bunches OF
rods, not merely for state show. sl.nouuh
1t was not permitted to beat rom.n ciIi.
Eens except in the casa of their being
shieves but slaves were bea,er with
.ea' smooth 'ea'hcr straps, called feruln; more
p"ni". were the iutiv@, made OF several
striips OF Parchment twisted together ;
and the superlativs was the OK hide, called
Aagellum, often right terrible. Most
1errible OF all was an instrument imported
from abroad, the Spanish whip. used only
by very severe masters. They had not
only the right Of whipping slaves at
pleasure, but even Of Killing them.
Some masters, not satisfied with the plain
Spanish whip, made it more terrible by
fastening small nails or bones. and little
lesdeu balls 10 it. Slaves were stripped
their bands tied TO tree or post. and
their feet hindered from kicking by the
clog Of bandred pound weight. The
most trihing faults were punished in this
manner, and poor fellow might be
flogged for the mere amusement OF his
masters guests. II was no rare occur
renee that a slave died under the whip,
and there was no more regret than for
the loss Of pan. or other piece Of house
hold property,
The ladies were particularly cruel to
their slaves. The poor girls in attend.
ance. scratched and bleeding from wounds
made with the long Plus the ladies wore
as ornaments, sometimes filed the whole
house with their cries.
The cruelty toward The slaves increased
so much that the emperors made some
efforts TO check it. Laws were made,
pursuant to which, such m asters as would
forsake their slaves in sickness, forfeited
their rights to them after their recovery ;
and a Roman who would Intentionally
kill q slave, was 10 be banished from
Rome. Any woman who would whip or
order the whipping of slave, TO such a
degree that death ensued before the third
day, was to be excommuncated for lIom
five to seven years.
The young Roman liberline often chose
the disguise of slaves dress for his love
adventures. Rich people kept so great
crowd Of slaves that they did no, know
them all personally, and thus, the in
PRODUCTION to houses was made easy.
Sometimes, however. the master OF a
house got hint, perhaps from the shrewd
lady herself, and the intruder was hogged
as a runaway slave, or spy. Such an
occurrence gave particular delight 10
the real slaves. 1t was a misfortune that
happened to the celebrated historian,
Sallust, who cour'ed Faustina, daughter
of Tula, and wife to Milo. After having
received severe flogging, Sallust was
released on paying considerable sum.
Caligula used the whip with his o~n
hand, and on the spot; ; even upon people
vino. by talking to" loudly at the theater,
spoilt his enjoyment OF the players. tie
did not much care who the offender was.
Even the vesials were not exempt from
this punishment. The vestal Uibinia
was whipped by priest, and led in pro
cession through the streets. Other vestals
we are told, had been whipped for the
same offence. The guilty one, covered
over with thin veil was whipped by a
priest in dark room. Even empresses
were not always spared, at least in the
Christian time, and in Cons.antinople,
where the mother of Justinian II. was so
admonish ed. TO be whipped, however,
was, in the eyes Of Roman, the lowest
disgrace, and for this reason, Judges or.
dered Christians TO be whipped at their
first examination.