Professional Assassins in Ancient Rome

Twice, a mysterious ring of killers armed with poisoned needles struck down victims on the crowded streets of Rome. The frumentarii - the emperor's secret police - sometimes moonlighted as murderers. Nero's arch-poisoner, Locusta, was so busy that she had a workshop and apprentices busy devising new ways to eliminate the emperor's enemies...

This video presents a short excerpt from my book “Naked Statues, Fat Gladiators, and War Elephants: Frequently Asked Questions about the Ancient Greeks and Romans.”

If you're so inclined, you can follow me elsewhere on the web:

Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
0:22 Infamous Roman Assassins
1:46 Frumentarii
3:11 Assassins Abroad
3:44 The Botched Assassination of Attila
4:34 For the full answer, read the book!

Thanks for watching!

[Spoon]

The Praetorian Guards were the best Assassins because you didn't even need to pay them to kill the Emperor, they'd just do it for the sport of it.

[hasan]

Assassins Creed in Rome would definitely bring me back to the series

[Smell-O-Vision-Citrus]

I DESPERATELY need to know more about the famous Roman lion tamer who single handedly wiped out a whole squad of assassins and fled to Persia. Is that info in your book?

[jeremyd]

"Classical wet work." Love your way with words, Dr. Ryan.

[ericvosselmans]

By the way, thanks for all these videos. Free of charge and full of knowledge. Just amazing.

[theofficialsteven]

Your videos got me hooked on Ancient Rome

[taterkaze]

"golden age of professional wetwork" - pro quality.

[robmarino]

You cannot believe how happy I am that you exist and that you make these videos and that I am actually here while u are an active YouTube historian! 🥺

[derrickpeterson]

I just might have to pick up a copy of your book. It sounds like a good read.

[stephenh]

Thank you,
Dr. Ryan. You remind me of the finest history tutor I ever had. He simply made it fun.

[simonmcnicholas]

I really like your channel, watching my way through your library... finding all this very interesting 10/10 👍🏻

[KainedbutAble]

Is there a textual reference for the lion-hunter who killed all the assassins sent after him, that story sounds badass! (I do have your book pre-ordered but am impatient to know)

[NavidIsANoob]

Ubisoft could make a priceless historical 3D model of ancient Rome and make an amazing AC game out of it. Add the discovery mode to it and you'll have an invaluable teaching tool for years to come. Do it already Ubisoft!

[thompkins]

Broke: paying an assassin to kill the Emperor
Woke: paying the praetorian guard to kill the Emperor
Bespoke: paying a mob of angry drunks to kill the Emperor

[traviswebb]

@Toldinstone just ordered your book, so excited to read

[arshdixit]

I really like your videos, it's always stuff I never considered, always fascinating, keep up the good work man, I love to listen to it while doing other stuff.

[violetrose]

"someone should tell Ubisoft" I EXPLODED LAUGHING!!

yes, they made viking assassins somehow but can't make Roman or Japanese assassins AUGH!

[samthespy]

Great stuff. Looking forward to your book, I have ordered it. Best of luck.

[sushiplug]

This channel is so so so good. Just watched most of your videos. In my humble viewers opinion, you have some of the best historical content on YouTube, If you simply had better thumbnails/editing I bet you could go absolutely viral

[daviddantonio]

Great video! Preordered the book just now.