Roman senators seated in discussion as books burn behind them

[Augsburg]: [1531]

1 print : woodcut on paper; 13.7 x 15.6 cm

print published in: Officia M.T.C.. (b31038578)

Bears two inscriptions in German

This work is untitled: the title has been supplied by the cataloguer

Book burning was rare in the Roman Empire but incidents did occur between 213 BCE until the 2nd century CE for a number of reasons: subversive religious writings; texts that senators believed slanderous or a means by which emperors dealt with conflict within the senatorial order. (See Rohmann, D. (2013). Book Burning as Conflict Management int he Roman Empire (213 BCE - 200 CE). Ancient Society, 43, 115–149.)

Mounted with 3334565i

INV.2021/776

Purchased from Puttick & Simpson on 13/08/09 [13th August 1909]