Worst prisons in history?

[gumbyk]

As kiwi, that was almost a mandatory statement.....

Yeah, I felt it was my duty...

 

[vikingBerserker]

Actually, the Romans didn't have large prisons and the Colliseum was the end result of a death sentance (for non-Gladiator events). And they had many arenas throughout the empire.

If you ran afoul of the law in Rome for a serious offense (or lesser crimes with a political bent), you were more likely to go to the Copper mines, the Salt mines, the work detail camps (Aquaducts, port constructions, quarries) or ended up as an oarsman aboard a Galley (State owned merchantman or warship).

If you became indebted, you would most likely end up indentured until the debt was worked off (if ever)...

IIRC there was a time when a new Emperor came to power and he called for games that lasted awhile. The result being the prisons where emptied to furnish "contestants".

 

[Torch]

There's a program here that shows prisons,there's a couple in Russia I do not want to visit......ever

 

[GrauGeist]

IIRC there was a time when a new Emperor came to power and he called for games that lasted awhile. The result being the prisons where emptied to furnish "contestants".

There were periods of time when the Christians fell onto disfavor with an Emperor and they were rounded up and used as entertainment either in the Forum or later in the Colliseum. Additionally, captured soldiers (barbarians) were a source of entertainment in the Forum/Colliseum, too. Other regions of the Empire would hold similiar events, but Rome was where the real action was, aparently.

As far as actual prisons go, they were few and far between, the best know and most notorious was near the Forum, at the foot of the Capitoline Hill, accessed by going down steps from the Capitoline and turning to the entrance. (It actually survives to this day) At the prison, was what was called the Tullianum Dungeon: literally a hole in the ground being 12 feet down to the chamber, which was 6 1/2 feet high, 30 feet long by 22 feet wide. This was a place where people went to die by suffocation or starvation and the only way out was when their corpse was dumped through an iron gate into the Cloaca Maxima.

Sallust, at the time, wrote that "Its appearance is disgusting and vile by reason of the filth, the darkness and the stench."

For the most part, a convicted Roman was sentanced to slave labor for a serious crime, for severe crimes they were put to death. If it was a wealthy person convicted, they could expect house arrest (unless it was political intrigue, then death by whatever means). It all sounds terrible, but they have found that the crime rate in and around Rome itself was minimal so large prisons weren't nessecary.

 

[Capt. Vick]

One's own mind and doubt

 

[mikewint]

Good one Vic, No matter where you go, there you are...

 

[GrauGeist]

Good one Vic, No matter where you go, there you are...

I remember that from Road Warrior (Mad Max 2) said by the gyro pilot in a great Aussie accent!

 

[Capt. Vick]

"A fella'...a quick fella'...might have a weapon under there. I'd have to pin his head to the panel." I remember this also from Road Warrior (Mad Max 2), also said by the gyro pilot in a great Aussie accent!

 

[Readie]

Ah, so that's where Cameron got his policies from !

My God Terry, do you mean that Mr Osbourne and Mr Cameron have 'policies' beyond the 'what's in it for me' and '**** you' usual Tory bollocks?

 

[Airframes]

That is their policy, I thought !

 

[Lucky13]

As in F*ck Yous, found and explained in Scr*w You Magazine?

 

[Readie]

As in F*ck Yous, found and explained in Scr*w You Magazine?

The Daily Mail ?