Rome and Human Sacrifices

Authors

  • Kapi Péter University of Debrecen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14232/suc.2022.3.277-290

Keywords:

Posidonius, Caesar, Diodorus, Strabo, Gauls, Druids, human sacrifice

Abstract

This study examines how the Romans judged the custom of human sacrifices at the end of the Republic and during the Principate. The beginning of the study focuses on the period when Romans still practiced human sacrifices. Following this is an examination of Strabo’s, Diodorus’ and Caesar’s descriptions concerning Celtic human sacrifices. At the end of the study, the question is posed whether these authors were independent or not. The theory of J. J. Tierney is also scrutinized. Regarding Caesar’s account, it is also proposed that he may have been more independent of Posidonius’ description than scholars believe, and thus his description seems less suitable for reconstructing Posidonius’ work.

Author Biography

Kapi Péter, University of Debrecen

is an assistant lecturer at the University of Debrecen Department of Classical Philology and Ancient History. He got a bachelor’s degree in history and Latin language, and a master’s degree in teaching history and Latin language from the University of Szeged. He is interested in the Druids, the integration policy of the Roman Empire, and the ethnographic descriptions of Pomponius Mela.

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Published

2023-05-22

How to Cite

Kapi, P. (2023). Rome and Human Sacrifices. Sapiens Ubique Civis, 3, 277–290. https://doi.org/10.14232/suc.2022.3.277-290