Vibius Tiberius Costa Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 I have read an account that the streets of Rome crawled with raping theiving crooks called raptores on the surface they were random attacks undergrouind it was an ordered attempt on ruining rome Is what i have read baloney did raptores exist? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primus Pilus Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 I have read an account that the streets of Rome crawled with raping theiving crooks called raptoreson the surface they were random attacks undergrouind it was an ordered attempt on ruining rome Is what i have read baloney did raptores exist? What is the account... Ancient source? I'd like to read it to understand the context before I comment. Generically speaking though. Yes certain streets likely could've been very dangerous places where authority was established by local street gangs, work "unions" etc. General welfare and public safety could depend very much on the scrupulous or unscrupulous nature of these local petty authorities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Neil Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 Is there any reference to Vigiles/Urban cohorts being bribed to turn a blind eye? It must have happened but my quick google search has not turned anything up so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primus Pilus Posted May 4, 2007 Report Share Posted May 4, 2007 Is there any reference to Vigiles/Urban cohorts being bribed to turn a blind eye? It must have happened but my quick google search has not turned anything up so far. I suppose that would depend entirely on the era, though I do indeed get the impression that we are speaking of the imperial era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldrail Posted May 5, 2007 Report Share Posted May 5, 2007 I have read an account that the streets of Rome crawled with raping theiving crooks called raptoreson the surface they were random attacks undergrouind it was an ordered attempt on ruining rome Is what i have read baloney did raptores exist? Rome was a human society and therefore had its share of thieves, rapists , and murderors. We know that thieving was widespread because of the laws against it and the number of people prosecuted for these crimes. Homes and apartment blocks in Rome rarely had windows at street level and if they did, it was likely there were iron guards to prevent entry. I recall someone offering a monetary reward for the return of a stolen kitchen pot for instance. Rape is an unpleasant side of human behaviour and the romans weren't so keen to punish it as we do today. Partly because of the difficulty of proof, but also because many women were operating in areas like brothels and taverns, and if a man took her, well what did she expect working in a place like that? Extreme cases were punished severly though. One young man of good birth was prosecuted for rape having broken in through the door of her house to get her. The magistrate was unimpressed with his defence. Murder? All too common in violent Rome. Sicarii waited in dark alleys to mug or kill passers-by for their purse. It wouldn't suprise me at all to learn that some men bribed vigiles to turn a blind eye. Some of this would have been down to organised crime. A wealthy man drops a few coins in the lap of a poor vigile to go away whilst the men working for him clean up the area for a very healthy profit? I doubt individual men would bribe a vigile if their own hand was dirty - the risk of treachery and justice was very great. Raptores? Now thats a class I haven't heard of. I gather the word means 'plunderer' which might refer to looters, after a fire for instance? Now thats a good excuse to bribe a vigile and one they might not baulk at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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