“There is a place called the Tullianum, about twelve feet below the earth. It is enclosed on all sides by walls, and above it is a chamber with a vaulted roof of stone. Neglect, darkness, and stench make it hideous and fearsome to behold.”
Sallust, The War against Catiline 55
Few sites embody the punitive ruthlessness of Roman justice like the Tullianum, more famously known as the Mamertine Prison.
Situated at the foot of the Capitoline Hill near the Roman Forum, this ancient prison dates from around the dawn of Roman history, from the reign of Rome’s legendary fourth king, Ancus Marcius, in the 7th century BC. According to the historian Livy, it was founded in response to a surge in crime and lawlessness that accompanied the rapid expansion of the city, especially around Rome’s plebeian neighbourhood on the Aventine Hill.
“With the completion of these enormous additions to the community, it was deemed that for many the distinction between right and wrong had become obscured, and crimes were being secretly committed. Accordingly, to overawe men’s growing lawlessness, a prison was built in the midst of the city, above the [Roman] Forum.”
Livy, From the Founding of Rome, 1.33
The carcer (the Latin term for prison, from which we get the word ‘incarcerated’) consisted of two cells set behind a travertine wall, one above the other. The upper cell was trapezoidal, and probably one of several dug into the hill at the same level, exploiting old subterranean stone quarries. Indeed, the earliest stonework, composed of heavy tufa blocks, dates back as far as the eighth or ninth century BC, hinting at the structure’s mysterious origin as a sacred spring — hence its name, derived from the Latin ‘tullus,’ meaning “water spring” — and then a cistern.
Sacredness would, however, soon give way to infamy. Repurposed as a prison around the fourth century BC, the Tullianum quickly became synonymous with fear and finality.
Incarceration & Capital Punishment in Ancient Rome
The Romans did not use incarceration in prison as a disincentive, despite what Livy suggests. Instead, they served as holding cells pending (usually capital) punishment.
Ulpian, a Roman jurist writing in the 3rd century AD, wrote that prisons should be used for holding men, and not for punishing them (ad continendos homines non ad puniendos haberi). During the reign of Hadrian (117-138 AD), life imprisonment was outlawed on the grounds that it was too inhumane.
Don’t let this lead you to believe that the Romans were remotely merciful. Crucifixion and condemnation to death in the arena are the two public modes of execution we are most familiar with, but the Romans had many more means of enacting capital punishment. Burning was the method metted out for those convicted of arson; being hurled from the Tarpeian Cliff was the punishment prescribed for those found guilty of perfury; composers of slanderous songs who libeled citizens could expect to be clubbed to death; hanging awaited thieves who stole crops—apparently serving as a form of punitive human sacrifice to the goddess Ceres).
Famous Inmates of the Mamertine Prison
The Mamertine Prison was where Rome’s most notorious prisoners were incarcerated, lowered through a grate, awaiting either death by strangulation or starvation.
Among the Tullianum’s most infamous inmates was Jugurtha of Numidia (died 104 BC), whose defeat by Rome marked a significant turning point in North African history, and whose name receives a cameo in the form of the Numidian warlord at the beginning of Gladiator II. His humiliating end, being paraded and stripped before eventually succumbing to starvation, is recounted in full by the ancient biographer Plutarch.
“We are told that Jugurtha lost his mind when being paraded in triumph, and when cast into prison after his triumph, where some tore his tunic from his body, and others tore away his ear-lobe in desperation to snatch his golden ear-ring. When he had been thrust down naked into the dungeon pit, in utter bewilderment and with a grin on his lips he said: “Hercules! How cold this Roman bath is!” But the wretch, after struggling with hunger for six days and up to the last moment clinging to the desire of life, paid the penalty which his crimes deserved.”
Plutarch, Life of Marius, 22.3–4
Another celebrated captive was Vercingetorix (died 46 BC), the Gallic chieftain famously captured by Julius Caesar after the siege of Alesia. His exact fate is unclear: Cassius Dio tells us that Caesar had him confined in bonds and, after the triumph, put to death. He may well have languished in the Tullianum for six years before his execution, where he was perhaps beheaded in the Roman Forum or strangled to death (as depicted in the HBO series Rome).
Strangulation would the fate that met five of the leading conspirators against Cicero, some 60 years later. Sallust tells us that they were executed in private within the walls of the Tullianum
It was into this place that Lentulus was lowered down, and then the executioners carried out their orders and strangled him. Thus, that patrician, of the illustrious family of the Cornelii, who had held consular authority at Rome, ended his life in a manner befitting his character and his crimes. Cethegus, Statilius, Gabinius, and Caeparius suffered the same punishment.
Sallust, The War Against Catiline, 55
Later, during the turbulent reign of the emperor Tiberius, the ambitious and ruthless Praetorian Prefect Sejanus was executed here following his spectacular fall from imperial favour, vividly recounted by Roman historian Cassius Dio:
The people also assailed Sejanus, shouting many reproaches at him for the lives he had taken and many jeers for the hopes he had cherished. They hurled down, beat down, and dragged down all his images, as though it were the man himself…. For a moment, he was merely cast into prison; but a little later, in fact that very day, the senate met in the Temple of Concord not far from the jail, when they saw the attitude of the populace and that none of the Pretorians was about, and condemned him to death. By their order he was executed and his body cast down the Germonian Stairs, where the rabble abused it for three whole days and afterwards threw it into the river. His children also were put to death by decree, the girl (whom he had betrothed to the son of Claudius) having been first outraged by the public executioner on the principle that it was unlawful for a virgin to be put to death in the prison.
Cassius Dio, Roman History, 58.11
Simon ben Giora, a prominent leader during the Jewish revolt of AD 66, suffered a similar fate. Captured after the siege and destruction of Jerusalem, Simon was brought to Rome and publicly paraded during the triumph of Titus. The Jewish historian Josephus vividly describes his final moments:
“The procession finished at the Temple of Jupiter on the Capitol, where they came to a halt… Simon, son of Gioras… with a noose thrown around him was being dragged to the usual spot in the Forum… When the news of his end arrived it was received with universal acclamation, and the sacrifices were begun”
Josephus, Jewish War, 7.5-6
Peter and Paul in the Mamertine Prison
While historical evidence remains sparse, Christian tradition firmly links Saints Peter and Paul to the Mamertine Prison. According to local legends, both apostles were held here before their martyrdoms during the emperor Nero’s persecutions. These accounts are not definitively proven, but they transformed the prison into a significant Christian pilgrimage site by the seventh century, protecting it from neglect and desecration and preserving much of its present state.
Christian imagery greets today’s visitors at the entrance, with medieval frescoes of martyrs adorning the walls. But descending into the prison itself is to confront Rome’s brutal pagan past, and standing before the grate through which Rome’s condemned were once lowered into darkness is a sombre and sobering experience.
Visiting the Mamertine Prison
If you’re planning a visit, note that the Mamertine Prison is centrally located near major attractions, making it convenient to combine your visit with Colosseum and Roman Forum tickets. Due to the site’s compact size and historical significance, it’s advisable to book Mamertine Prison tickets online in advance to avoid queues, especially during peak tourist seasons.
Guided tours typically last around 30 minutes, and provide deeper insights into the prison’s chilling history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Roman Forum ticket for the Mamertine Prison?
No, the Mamertine Prison requires its own ticket. You can purchase online or at the ticket office.
How much is the ticket for the Mamertine Prison?
Adult tickets cost €10. Reduced tickets (for children aged 6-17 and EU students under 25) cost €5.
What is included with the ticket?
Guaranteed access by reservation and a multilingual audio guide in Italian, English, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese. To listen to the audio guide, download the Vatican & Rome App from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
When is the Mamertine Prison open?
Monday – Sunday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
