Enslavement!

Writhing in unimaginable agony on their crosses high on a hilltop, the barbarian tribal leaders gaze through unfocused, pain-filled eyes down into the valley below where the surviving members of their army are being processed into Roman slavery.

So absorbed are they with their own pain and misery, it is doubtful that they spare much thought for the men they led into futile rebellion against the superior Romans. Now, they have time to reflect on their own stupidity; did they really think they could defeat the invincible Roman war machine?

Already, annoying insects swarm over their naked bodies quenching their thirst on the sweat of their suffering and feeding on the drying blood of their wounds. During the long, dark hours of the night, scavenging animals will prowl impatiently around the base of their crosses ready to feast on their flesh and with the coming of daylight, the sky above them will fill with circling carrion birds noisily cawing and squawking as they too await their opportunity to peck at the tasty morsels on offer.

Meanwhile, down in the valley, the Roman soldiers are being rewarded for their victory. As always, an opportunistic slave-trader has suddenly appeared from nowhere and is buying new slaves to add to his coffle before returning to the slave-markets of Rome. He is the first of the despised slavers to arrive - others will follow very soon - and for now, he is free to choose the primest specimens.

Under the supervision of the Roman soldiers, the 'spoils-of-war' are made to strip naked and three by three, they are driven forward so that the vile pedlar of human flesh can make his choices.

After making his selections the unfortunate new slaves are taken away for branding before being chained into his coffle and they will remain naked for the long journey back to Rome. That way, their bodies are accessible to his drivers' whips and no time is lost in attending to the 'calls of nature'.

Richly garbed in his red tunic, the slaver is making his latest selections. As we can see, he has chosen a young red-headed youth to add to his livestock. Red-haired slaves are a novelty with Rome's elite and this slave with his fiery hair and pubes with fetch a high price when he takes his place on the auction-block.  

They most likely won't agree but the crucified are lucky and within, two or three days, their suffering will be over. However, their swollen, blackened carcasses will be  left suspended on their crosses to serve as a warning to all barbarians of the punishment that awaits those foolish enough to rebel against Rome's authority.

For the newly enslaved their fates will be very different as they face years of backbreaking labour under the cruel whips of their new Roman masters.

This magnificent art is by Baron of Prague which he named 'Enslavement'. I don't know if Baron had a particular story in mind when he created 'Enslavement'. However,  this text is purely my interpretation. 

Note: While searching my collection for more of GaryRo's artwork, I discovered I also have a few of Baron's masterpieces. From time to time, I will share these with you in the blog.