Ofterdingen and Kropotkin

biosphere 0.98

First, Nero had self-acknowledged Christians arrested. Then, on their information, large numbers of others were condemned - not so much for their incendiarism as for their anti-social tendencies. Their deaths were made farcical. Dressed in wild animals' skin, the were torn to pieces by dogs, or crucified, or made into torches to be ignited after dark as substitutes for torches. [...] Despite their guilt as Christians, and the ruthless punishment it deserved, the victims were pitied. For it was felt that they were being sacrificed to one man's brutality rather than to the national interest.

Tacitus. The Annals of Imperial Rome.

posted by Anonymous @ 5:48 pm