To the Victor the Spoils? Post-Battle Looting in the Roman World
By Joanne E. Ball
Abstract: Ball discusses battlefield looting in Rome’s wars, showing that this was a phenomenon which occurred extensively, not least given the absence of fallen swords, shields and armour from areas where it is known that huge numbers of Roman casualties occurred. She demonstrates that almost anything moveable which was of any utility or value to looters and scavengers was taken in the hours, days and weeks after the conclusion of fighting. Ball also explores the Roman practice of burning or burying weapons and metals when the risk of these falling into enemy hands loomed, acknowledging that because we only have archaeological evidence for this, we cannot know whether this was official military policy.
Chapter in the following edited volume: Ancient warfare: introducing current research. Volume 1, edited by Geoff Lee, Helene Whittaker and Graham Wrightson. Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2015. 361 pages.
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