Public Executions In The Arena

[MICHELE PATRI]

PHILOMENA OF CORFU


“Philomena’s parent were pagans, rulers of the Greek state of Corfu. They became Christians and God blessed them with the birth of a child they named Philomena (whose meaning is “daughter of light”). She was princess of Corfu.

They took her to Rome on a journey that her father was obliged to make. Philomena was then thirteen or fourteen years old. They were admitted for an audience with the emperor Diocletian. As Diocletian saw Philomena, he was enthralled by her beauty and wanted to marry her. But she refused and vowed to give herself to God. He wanted Philomena to be her wife, but she rejected his offer. Finally, in a fit of fury, he had her chained in a dungeon. Still refusing all the emperor’s offers, Philomena was bound upside down and savagely scourged. Seeing she was terribly wounded, Diocletian had her brought to the prison to die. But she didn’t. He ordered her to be thrown in a river with an anchor tied to her neck, but Philomena survived again, so he ordered her killed by arrows, but she was still alive. She was finally beheaded.”

 

[MICHELE PATRI]

Perpetua of Carthago

Vibia Perpetua belonged to a noble pagan family living in Carthago, North Africa, but she and her maidservant Felicitas turned away from the old ways and became Christians. In 203, during a persecution, a group of Christians, among them the two women, were arrested and sentenced to die in the arena. At that time Felicitas was pregnant; she gave birth in prison*. A few days later Perpetua and Felicitas were led into the arena naked. However, the spectators were disgusted to see a young mother from whose heavy breasts even milk was dripping, so the women were given clothing. Then a wild cow was loosened against them. It attacked the women and injured them, but failed to kill them; in the end Perpetua and Felicitas had to be dispatched with swords.

* Perpetua had born a son and was still breastfeeding him when she was arrested, but managed to wean him before her death. Fortunately, the prison warden was a decent man and allowed Perpetua and Felicitas to receive visitors to whom they could entrust their babies.

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Perpetua is prepared forthe scourging

 

[MICHELE PATRI]

Perpetua is scourged

 

[MICHELE PATRI]

Perpetua is tied to be attacked by a bull

 

[MICHELE PATRI]

Perpetua is still alive. She is stabbed in her throat.

 

[MICHELE PATRI]

Perpetua dies as a martyr.

 

[MICHELE PATRI]

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/jesus-rise-to-power/videos/martyrs/

 

[Eulalia]

Perpetua and Felicitas are the best documented female martyrs of the early Church,
their Passio is a very important and, I think, quite moving document,
incorporating what is probably a genuine account by Perpetua herself of the events leading up to her martyrdom.
Plenty of background, and the Greek and Latin texts of the Passio, can easily be found on the internet,
this is a good translation:
http://personal.stthomas.edu/plgavrilyuk/PLGAVRILYUK/101/Readings/Perpetua.pdf

And a very intriguing portrayal of the two martyrs,
by George Hare:

 

[MICHELE PATRI]

Homage to Amy Hesketh.

 

[old slave]

Perpetua looks very battered before her scourging, I wonder what has happened in the dungeon?

And does #018 answer that age-old question "What does a roman wear under his kilt?" Happy hogmanay to all with Scottish blood.

 

[MICHELE PATRI]

WAITING FOR THE FIRST LASH

 

[AlexArts]

View attachment 316497

WAITING FOR THE FIRST LASH

Such a wonderful expression!..

 

[Beate]

great pic

 

[Loxuru]

Such a wonderful expression!..

Yes! As if the crier of the arena has just called "Silence please!"

The rumour of thousands of voices silences, while she feels that the attention of these thousands of spectators is focusing on her. Thousands pairs of eyes scrutinising her nudity, and looking eagerly and lustfully forward to her flogging. It only serves to amplify her fear, her humiliation and her helplesness.

 

[Eulalia]

Such a wonderful expression!..

yes, like she's looking for, and, at this 'crucial' moment not sure she's finding,
God's reassurance - a mixture of determination and doubt,
surely very true to the experience of a girl-martyr.

 

[Kodos the Executioner]

WAITING FOR THE FIRST LASH

Very nice pic -- great expression on her face.

 

[MICHELE PATRI]

MUSTIOLA OF CLUSIUM

 

[MICHELE PATRI]

MUSTIOLA OF CLUSIUM


"Mustiola was a noble woman (possibly related to Emperor Claudius) living in Clusium (today: Chiusi, Tuscany, Italy). She helped imprisoned Christians, provided them with food and treated the wounds of torture victims.

She also tried to comfort the deacon Irenaeus of Sutri, who had buried Christian martyrs and had been arrested, sent to Clusium, and cruelly mistreated at the command of prefect Turcius. Her interference with Irenaeus' punishment led to her own arrest. Irenaeus was killed before her eyes, and she was beaten to death with a whip loaded with leaden weights (or with a lead-filled cudgel)."

 

[Barbaria1]

View attachment 316497

WAITING FOR THE FIRST LASH

I hope I can take it. I want to be brave ... tough it out. But can I do it? Oh, the waiting is so awful. Let's get on with it.

 

[MICHELE PATRI]

MARTINA OF ROME