Nikola Benin. Bloodshed and Conquest

 Nikola Benin

The left-hand picture glorifies the warfare and bloodshed involved in the conquest. A Roman officer on horseback is riding down four local warriors. The Roman is armed to the teeth, with helmet, body armour, shield, sword and spear. In contrast, the locals are shown as naked, defended only by rectangular shields; their weapons (a spear and swords) have been cast aside. This is very much a piece of propaganda intended to emphasise the difference between the ‘civilised’ Romans and their ‘savage’ opponents. The scene compresses different events: the slaughter on the battlefield, with one local being ridden down, another dying with a javelin in his back; and the aftermath of the battle, with one captive beheaded and another contemplating his fate. This triumphal image is a brutal and bloody reflection of frontier warfare, seen through the eyes of the victorious Romans.