"Battle of Mursa: Bodies in a well" Topic
5 Posts
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 Editor in Chief Bill   | 10 Nov 2025 4:46 a.m. PST |
Warriors found stacked in ancient well reveal violent tale of battlefield defeat: archaeologistsFox News: link |
35thOVI  | 10 Nov 2025 6:42 a.m. PST |
I heard the archeologists are pretty certain of their findings, as they have two eyewitnesses to the battle. Mitch McConnell and Nancy Pelosi, who both had recently retired from the Roman Senate.
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| Red Jacket | 10 Nov 2025 9:31 a.m. PST |
The article is slightly confusing; at one point the bodies are identified as "Roman warriors" and then further on, they are described as soldiers that lost to Rome? Aside from the offered reason of wanting to shame the warriors in death, was it common to throw bodies in wells to contaminate the water supply? |
| 35thOVI | 10 Nov 2025 12:10 p.m. PST |
There were 2 battles of Mursa. The article refers to the first I believe. Both were internal battles between Roman armies. Battle of Mursa (c. 258/260 CE), between Gallienus and the usurper Ingenuus. Ingenuus' troops were defeated, as Gallienus' general Aureolus adequately used the advantage given by the mobility of an improved cavalry component of the army (a remarkable military innovation of Gallienus's), and the usurper was killed in battle, or took his own life to avoid capture. Battle of Mursa Major (351 CE), between Constantius II and Magnentius So technically both Romans. The first won by the current Roman emperor against a usurper. Hence the reason for humiliation. |
| DBS303 | 11 Nov 2025 1:40 a.m. PST |
If you read the actual archaeological report ( link ) you will see that the authors accept the alternative possibility that, after the battle of Mursa, with both sides having taken losses, the Sarmatians and Quadi are known to have upped their raiding of the weakened frontier, so the bodies could have been fatalities suffered during such a raid. Also, they all showed signs of having suffered from an epidemic infection just before their deaths, so would presumably not have been very fit when they fought and died. |
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