Prompt Cast
The Ancient Roman Practice of Damnatio Memoriae
TLDR The ancient Romans practiced "damnatio memoriae," which involved erasing a person's name and image from public life. This practice was used to erase the names and legacies of despised or threatening individuals, including Roman emperors, but often backfired by drawing attention to those who were condemned.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The ancient Romans practiced "damnatio memoriae," which involved erasing a person's name and image from public life.
01:43
The practice of damnatio memoriae dates back before Rome, with examples such as the erasure of the Egyptian pharaoh Hashepsut from history.
02:59
The Pharaoh Akhnaten and the Greek arsonist Herostratus both attempted to erase their own legacies, but were ultimately unsuccessful.
04:08
The Romans used Damnatio Memoriae to erase the names and legacies of individuals, including Roman emperors, who were despised or deemed a threat to the empire.
05:28
Demnatio Memori, the practice of erasing the names and images of despised or threatening individuals, was a common fate for Roman emperors, with only five emperors over a 400-year period escaping this fate, and often backfired by drawing attention to those who were condemned.
06:53
The practice of removing names and images of despised or threatening individuals from history, known as Damnatio Memoriae, has been seen throughout history, from Revolutionary War generals to Stalin's purges to the current efforts to remove Confederate statues.
08:14
The difficulty of completely eradicating someone from history and the significance of their absence is discussed, along with a positive review of the podcast.
