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Ancient Athens: Mobster's Rise, Wife's Tragic Fall
21 Jul
Summary
- Herodes Atticus and Regilla controlled Athens with wealth.
- They funded public works and religious offices.
- Regilla's death led to accusations of murder and downfall.
In 2nd century Athens, a powerful local figure named Herodes Atticus and his young Roman wife, Regilla, amassed vast fortunes and influence. They used their riches to fund impressive public projects, including theaters and stadiums, and sponsored significant religious events, with Regilla herself serving as a priestess.
This era of prestige unraveled with serious allegations of corruption and violence. Herodes, described as a man caught between his Greek heritage and the Roman Empire that had conquered his homeland, displayed a volatile temper from a young age. His public image was irrevocably damaged by the death of Regilla, who was eight months pregnant at the time of her fatal beating by one of his associates.
The murder of a Roman noblewoman, intimately connected to the imperial court, by a Greek acting on Herodes's apparent orders, signaled the inevitable collapse of his power and influence.
