The erased names: Damnatio memoriae in Latin world beween remembrance and oblivion

Abstract

Despite its form, the term damnatio memoriae was never explicitly utilized in antiquity. It is invoked in relation to the Roman world to denote a series of intricate attacks on the memory of vanquished adversaries. This encompasses various public and political actions such as the obliteration of statues and monuments, as well as the effacing of inscriptions. Numerous literary instances, however, indicate that it served not merely as a means of annulment and oblivion, but as a tool for vilifying an enemy, ensuring they were remembered in the most negative light possible. In such a process, the individual’s name becomes deeply entwined.