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Explanation: Decimation was a military punishment in the Roman Empire, used primarily in the days of the Republic, and even then only rarely. In the case of extreme cowardice or mutiny of an entire unit, the unit would be condemned to decimation - in which they would be split into groups of 10 men, and draw lots or straws. The one who drew the shortest straw was then condemned to be beaten to death by the other 9. This was seen, to the Romans, both as a punishment and a redemption, as by participating as executors, the surviving soldiers are punished, but also are resubmitting to military discipline and enforcing it in the unit.
It was considered, even by Roman standards, to be a very harsh punishment, and only a handful of examples of the punishment are known to have been carried out, and each time it was considered a major and shocking event.
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Interesting as well, as well … disgusting! I'm glad, that I wasn't born into that era.
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I thought maybe his name was Decimus.
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Funny enough, Decimus means something similar - 'Tenth'. A lot of Roman praenomina (first names) were like that. Primus, Secundus, Tertius, Quartus, Quintus, Sextus, Septimus, Octavius, Nonus, Decimus. First through tenth! Not the most creative fellows, the Romans.
In their defense, birth order rarely correlated with their name - Decimus could just as easily be a firstborn child, or the fifth son.
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Holy shit that’s brutal. Makes being killed by a firing squad or hung (broken neck variation) sound “humane”.
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Remember, folks, if you're trying to describe more than 10% of something being destroyed, don't call it "decimation" because it's worse than that.
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This meme is decimating.
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Decimating the countryside.
Decimating all the peasants.
Decimating all the villagers in their THATCH-ROOFED COTTAGES!
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TROGDOOOOOOR!!
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Trogdor was a man... I mean... he was a dragon man.... or maybe he was just a dragon...? But he was still
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Decimate your surroundings!
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I always wondered why would happen if the dude appeared dead but managed to live over the following days
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Some of your mates will start a cult about you.
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I imagine if he was a smart fellow, he would take the opportunity to quietly disappear and start a new life before anyone got the bright idea to cut his throat to make sure.
Or perhaps it'd be regarded as a good omen. Romans were always fond of odd happenings being interpreted as some omen or another from the gods.
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I theorized the latter, and the legate would keep him in court, probably with a chicken on his head (due to massive concussion)
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I am sure there might have had happened, but I strongly doubt it with the commander watching over the proceedings to assert their displeasure. I am sure the rare times it happened, the commander probably did a bit of shanking himself.
Would not be surprised if they "double-tapped" with the bodies being imspected and finished off with a unceremonious stab or throat cut to show mercy to a convulsing body, to then strip and dump it before moving on.
Just my uneducated guesswork ¯_(ツ)_/¯
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Well I guess call them a prophet and create a new religion
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I'm decimated seeing this...
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The weight of this word makes much more sense now.
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Yeah, this was a truly brutal practice.
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[This post was made by Iron Warriors gang]
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Oh hey I got this one. I was one... Of the...
I must go
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Permanently Deleted
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Le frommage est battu~ ! Le frommage est battu~ ! Ho hé, ho hé, ho hé, le fromage est~ ba~ttu 🎶
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He's not black so it isn't Rodney King.
