The Scarecrow!

Rome had zero tolerance of those who questioned her right to rule or challenged her authority to do so. Retribution, at the hands of her near invincible legions was swift and brutal.

The Roman army was ruthlessly efficient in putting down any rebellions by Rome's subjugated peoples and merciless in subduing them. Any subject province or city that  rose against Rome suffered at the hands of her vengeful legions.

No quarter was given and no mercy shown as cities were destroyed and their citizens put to the sword or marched off into slavery. And the"rebel leaders" were hunted down and, depending on their importance, were summarily executed or taken back in triumph to Rome to be ignominiously paraded through the streets before being garroted. 

Here, we see one such rebel leader caught while attempting to flee his doomed city. Taken prisoner by the army, he is being crucified in the doorway of his home where he'll be left to hang and die a slow agonising death as he watches his city being looted and her citizens placed in chains and consigned to slave-markets in Rome, Ephesus or the island of Delos.

Like the scarecrows of later eras used to protect crops by frightening away scavenging  birds, his writhing suffering and cries of agony will serve as a warning to all those who dare to challenge Rome's might or to disrupt the "Pax Romana".

Picture used is the artwork of the great and highly talented Baron. Text is mine.