The Tarpeian Rock (/tɑːrˈpiːən/; Latin: Rupes Tarpeia or Saxum Tarpeium; Italian: Rupe Tarpea) is a steep cliff on the south side of the Capitoline Hill that was used in Ancient Rome as a site of execution. Murderers, traitors, perjurors, and larcenous slaves, if convicted by the quaestores parricidii, were flung from the cliff to their deaths.[1] The cliff was about 25 meters (80 ft) high.[2]
- ^ Platner (1929). A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome, Tarpeius Mons Archived 2024-02-17 at the Wayback Machine, pp509-510. London. Oxford University Press.
- ^ Lemprière, John (1827). A Classical Dictionary. E. Duychinck, Collin & co. p. 797. Retrieved 17 December 2010.