Scourge Flagrum or whip

[Primvs Pavlvs]

Are there any extant pieces considered to be from the above? Any period depictions of such equipment?

[Lugorix]

This guy can back up his reconstructions with some research, but only from written sources, no extant pieces have been found. Interesting write-up.

http://naturesdesignsonline.com/Cat-of-nine-tails.htm

[Robert Vermaat]

I don't know if it's the same thing, but I've come across the plumbata as a torture instrument, too, not referring to the weapon but to the 'cat'?

[hoplite14gr]

Intersting and rationally presented.

In my opinion the Romans had another whip.
The 4rth centuryAD texts especially religious Saints biographies mention the "VOUNEVRON".
It translates as Ox-member. And it refers to the bull's reproduction organ.
It was processed to make it a whip that looked similar to the short version of the South African "sjambok".

Probably this was the "manglavion" carried by the Byzantine Emperor's personal escort.


Kind regards

[Malleus]

A sideways way of looking at it, but the Shroud of Turin clearly shows what are supposed to be the marks of a Roman scourge on the figure of Jesus. These are dumbell-shaped bloodstains which match the shape of the Flagellum's dumbell-shaped inserted tips. 'Course, you gotta believe...

Steve P/Malleus

[Tiberius]

My reconsruction of the Roman flagellum is based upon different sources and impressions. Chiefly, however, it is based upon the research of the Shroud of Turin. And it really does not matter, in this sense, who the victim was. The point is that they appear to have been flogged with a three chorded whip.

My model is based on such a flagellum. The chords are taken from strips of ox back leather. the cubes of bone are cut from sheep pelvis. The lead weights are small, but effective. The scourge did more than I expected on the carcass of a large deer. It seemes that the edges of the pelvic bone cubes fragment after the fourth or fifth blow, causing them to become razor-like. In some cases, you have to protect your eyes, depending upon the savagery of the blow.

While the cat of nine tails looks much more intimidating, don't underestimate the meeker looking three chord flagellum. I can assure you it is a cruel and deadly weapon.

Tiberius/Jeff
LEG~XX

img.photobucket.com/albums/v734/Dillylog/Romanscourge.jpg