(TheProudRepublic.com) – A recently released interview unveiled the grim finding of a rare Roman prison in Corinth, Greece, believed to be around 1,600 years old, with a grim inscription: “Lord, make them die an awful death.”
This prison in Corinth is one of the few remnants of the Roman Empire’s penal system, as reported in a 2024 study in the journal Hesperia.
Study author Matthew Larsen shared with Live Science his insights into the oppressive conditions faced by the inmates, who were often confined without trial. “You get a sense that they’re in a very dark space,” Larsen said.
Larsen pinpointed the location of the prison through the examination of excavation records dating back to 1901 and the analysis of ancient graffiti etched into the floors.
One message in Greek from the site lamented, “May the fortune of those who suffer in this lawless place prevail. Lord, do not show mercy on the one who threw us in here.”
Another carving implored, “Godbearer, repay [punishment given by] Marinos, the one who threw us in here and made us spend winter,” reflecting the harsh winters that could make the region brutally cold.
Further, a plea for divine intervention read, “Lord God and pure justice, ransom from this place the two brothers. Christ, safeguard both Boudis and John …”
Another mysterious message stated, “The fortune of the beautiful girls who love the unmarried men prevails.”
One particularly stark request was, “Lord, make them die an awful death.”
The prison’s flooring was riddled with cracks, which raised questions about whether the facility was originally in Corinth or if the materials had been transported from another location for reuse.
Larsen noted that Roman prisons were likely common. However, he added, “Yet the archaeological remains of prisons have proven exceedingly hard to identify.”
“There is scant evidence of what a Roman prison would have looked like, or where it would have been located,” he added.
All the carvings discovered were confined within the crack floor’s boundaries, suggesting the prisoners may have etched their messages while encircled by these fissures.
Although Larsen described the discovery as a “small find,” it significantly contributes to our understanding of the harsh conditions faced by those imprisoned under Roman rule.
'Lord, make them die an awful death': Prisoner's dark pleas found etched into Roman-era prison https://t.co/oWDPUHC0wG
— Live Science (@LiveScience) August 11, 2024
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