Expert: Irulan Serena - 8/16/2006

Question
I've read that the punishment for patricide was to be
beaten, then sewn into a sack with a snake, a dog, a cock,
and a monkey.  Why these animals and what do they
symbolize?  

Answer
Roman punishment was the punishment for patricide or killing your father. This was considered an act of ultimate evil during the pagan ages or Rome. The punishment was devised by the Priests of Jupiter rather than the politicians.

The first thing that happened was that the person were taken to the field of Mars outside Rome, stripped of everything, clothes, family relations, citizenship, etc. then feet were placed on two pedestals to expose every part of your body  for a public whipping.    

After the public whipping,  the  naked body was thrust  in a sack with a snake, a chicken and a dog. This was to symbolize the reverse of being born, since the life of the life giver – the father – had been taken, the person was no the unborn.   


Iru