damnatio memoriae

World History

(noun)

Latin for "condemnation of memory," a form of dishonor that could be passed by the Roman Senate on traitors or others who brought discredit to the Roman State; the intent was to erase the malefactor from history, a task somewhat easier in ancient times, when documentation was limited.

Related Terms

Art History

(noun)

A phrase from Latin meaning "the condemnation of one's memory", a dishonor given by the Roman Senate to particularly hated Emperors. It attempted to erase all memory and history of the person by removing their name from all documents and destroying all their portraits.

Related Terms

Examples of damnatio memoriae in the following topics:

  • Fall of the Flavian Emperors

    • The Senate nonetheless rejoiced at the death of Domitian, and immediately following Nerva's accession as Emperor, passed damnatio memoriae on his memory: his coins and statues were melted, his arches were torn down and his name was erased from all public records.
    • Domitian and, over a century later, Publius Septimius Geta were the only emperors known to have officially received a damnatio memoriae, though others may have received de facto ones.

  • Architecture of the Early Roman Empire

    • His memory was condemned formally through damnatio memoriae.