Damnatio memoriae facts for kids

The face at the bottom left was erased because of damnatio memoriae.

Damnatio memoriae is a Latin phrase that means "condemnation of memory". It was a practice used in ancient times, especially in Ancient Rome. The goal was to erase a person's existence from history and public records. Imagine someone trying to make it seem like a person never even lived!

While it was a strong punishment, it was never fully successful. People still found ways to remember or record information about those who were "condemned." In practice, it meant removing their name from official documents, statues, and monuments. This is why historians today can still learn about these people from other letters and scrolls that survived.

What Was Damnatio Memoriae?

Damnatio memoriae was a harsh punishment. It was like saying, "You were so bad, we want to forget you ever existed." The Roman Senate or a powerful emperor would decide to use it. This usually happened after someone was seen as a traitor, an enemy of the state, or a very unpopular ruler.

The main idea was to destroy all traces of that person. This included their name, images, and any honors they had received. It was meant to be a warning to others. It showed what could happen if you went against the powerful leaders or the Roman state.

How Was Memory Erased?

When someone faced damnatio memoriae, several things would happen:

• Their name would be chipped away from public buildings, monuments, and official lists.
• Statues of the person would be pulled down and destroyed. Sometimes, new faces were carved onto old statues.
• Coins with their image or name would be melted down.
• Any laws or decisions made by that person might be canceled.
• Their family members could also suffer. They might lose their status or property.

Even though people tried to erase these individuals completely, it was very hard to do. Many records were kept on different materials, like papyrus or wax tablets. These were harder to find and destroy. This is why we still know about many people who suffered damnatio memoriae today.

Why Erase Someone from History?

Leaders used damnatio memoriae for several reasons. The main goal was to control how history was remembered. If a ruler was very unpopular or did terrible things, erasing their memory could help the new leaders look better. It was a way to rewrite the past.

Sometimes, it was used against people who tried to take power but failed. For example, if someone tried to overthrow an emperor and was caught, they would likely face this punishment. It sent a clear message: loyalty was very important. It also helped to prevent future rebellions.

Famous Examples of Damnatio Memoriae

Many famous figures from ancient times suffered damnatio memoriae. Their stories help us understand this practice better.

Emperor Commodus

Commodus was a Roman emperor who ruled from 180 to 192 AD. He was known for being very cruel and acting like a gladiator. After he was killed, the Roman Senate declared damnatio memoriae against him. His statues were destroyed, and his name was removed from public records. However, a later emperor, Septimius Severus, restored his memory. This shows that the effects of damnatio memoriae could sometimes be reversed.

Emperor Geta

Geta was the son of Emperor Septimius Severus and brother of Caracalla. They ruled together for a short time. Caracalla murdered Geta in 211 AD. After Geta's death, Caracalla ordered damnatio memoriae against him. Caracalla wanted to be the only emperor. He tried to erase Geta from all public records and monuments. This included removing Geta's face from family portraits.

Lucius Aelius Sejanus

Lucius Aelius Sejanus was a powerful Roman official. He was a close friend and advisor to Emperor Tiberius. Sejanus became very ambitious and tried to plot against Tiberius. When his plot was discovered in 31 AD, he was executed. Tiberius then ordered damnatio memoriae for Sejanus. His statues were destroyed, and his name was removed from all public records. Coins that once showed his name were defaced.

Akhenaten of Egypt

While damnatio memoriae is a Latin term, similar practices existed in other ancient cultures. In ancient Egypt, Akhenaten was a pharaoh who tried to change the religion of Egypt. He wanted people to worship only one god, the sun god Aten. After his death, later pharaohs tried to erase his memory. They destroyed his temples and monuments. They also removed his name from king lists. This was done to restore the old religious traditions.

Legacy of Damnatio Memoriae

The practice of damnatio memoriae shows how important memory and history were in ancient societies. It was a powerful tool to control the past and influence the future. Even though it rarely worked perfectly, it left a lasting mark on the historical record. Today, historians can often spot where names or images were removed. This helps us learn about the people who were once considered too dangerous or too bad to be remembered.

Images for kids

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  Damnatio memoriae of 'Commodus' on an inscription in the Museum of Roman History Osterburken. The abbreviation "CO" was later restored with paint.

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  Coffin believed to belong to Akhenaten found in Tomb KV55. Note the typical obliteration of the face.

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  Deleted mention of Geta in an inscription after his damnatio memoriae (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Cagliari)

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  Lucius Aelius Sejanus suffered damnatio memoriae following a failed conspiracy to overthrow emperor Tiberius in AD 31. His statues were destroyed and his name obliterated from all public records. The above coin from Augusta Bilbilis, originally struck to mark the consulship of Sejanus, has the words L. Aelio Seiano obliterated.

See also

In Spanish: Damnatio memoriae para niños